General Obligations

Suitability: We reserve the right to refuse service to any pet that is deemed unsuitable due to aggressive behaviour, extreme anxiety, or unmanageable traits.

Updates: You must inform us of any changes to your pet’s health, behaviour, or care requirements prior to any scheduled service.

Collar and Tags: In accordance with the Control of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a suitable collar and an ID tag with the owner's name and address when in a public place.

Health and Safety

Vaccinations and Parasite Control:  Pets must be fully vaccinated and on a regular flea, tick, and worming prevention programme, especially dogs. We reserve the right to request veterinary records as proof.

Contagious Illness: If your pet shows signs of a contagious illness (e.g., Kennel Cough, sickness, diarrhoea), you must notify us immediately. We reserve the right to cancel or modify services to prevent cross-contamination to other pets in our care.

Bitches in Season / Intact Males: We must be notified if a female dog is in season. We reserve the right to walk them individually or refuse service during this time. We must also be informed if your male dog is unneutered.

Bookings, Payments, and Cancellations

Advance Payment Requirement: All dog walking and pet sitting services must be paid for in full prior to the commencement of the service. Services are only officially confirmed and secured on our schedule once payment has been received.

Cancellation Policy: We operate a strict 48-hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel or reschedule a scheduled walk or visit (including last-minute changes where you decide to work from home), you must notify us at least 24 hours before the service start time. 

Invoicing and Payment Terms

Monthly Invoicing: Invoices for the upcoming month’s services are issued via email or WhatsApp on the 25th of each month.

Payment Due Date: Payment must be settled in full via bank transfer by the 1st of the month before any services commence.

Unpaid Invoices: We reserve the right to remove your pet from the schedule and suspend all services with immediate effect if an invoice remains unpaid past the 1st of the month.

Weather Conditions

Extreme Weather: In the event of extreme weather conditions (e.g., severe heat, thunderstorms, heavy snow, or ice), we will prioritise your pet's safety.

Modifications: This may mean shortening walk times, switching a walk to an indoor playtime/garden let-out, or adjusting the schedule. The full standard rate will still apply for these adjusted visits.

Emergencies and Veterinary Care

Authorisation: In a medical emergency, we will attempt to contact you immediately. If we cannot reach you, you authorise us to seek veterinary care from your designated vet or the nearest available emergency clinic.

Injuries Under Our Care: If your pet sustains an accidental injury directly while under our active care and supervision, Love for tiny paws will cover the associated veterinary costs for that specific injury.

Illnesses and Pre-Existing Conditions: You remain fully financially responsible for all veterinary fees related to illnesses (e.g., sudden sickness, infections), pre-existing medical conditions, age-related ailments, or injuries sustained outside of our scheduled service hours (e.g., if your pet injures itself while alone in the house between our visits).

Keys, Security, and Property

Keyless Access & Codes: Where keyless entry (e.g., smart locks, keypads, or lockboxes) is used, the Client must ensure that active, valid access codes or digital keys are provided prior to the scheduled service.

System Reliability: The Client is solely responsible for ensuring the locking mechanism is functional. Love for Tiny Paws is not liable for any failure to provide services due to mechanical lock failure.

Other Individuals: We do not accept liability for the property or the pet if other individuals (e.g., cleaners, family members, tradespeople) are given access to your home during the service period.

Cleanliness: We will clean up after your pets to the best of our ability (e.g., muddy paws, toileting accidents) using the cleaning supplies you provide. We are not liable for permanent stains or damage caused by your pets.

Liability and Insurance

Our Insurance: Love for tiny paws holds comprehensive public liability insurance, as well as Care, Custody, and Control insurance.

Injury Liability: As stated in Section 4, we accept financial responsibility for accidental injuries that occur to your pet as a direct result of being under our active supervision, up to the limits of our insurance policy.

Your Liability: You are solely liable for any damage or injury caused by your pet to third parties, other animals, or our staff, provided we have followed your instructions and exercised reasonable care.

Escape: While we take every precaution, we cannot be held responsible for a pet that escapes from a poorly secured house or garden (e.g., broken fences, faulty gates) or any injuries sustained as a result of that escape.

Off-Lead Walking

Dogs will only be walked off-lead if you have signed a separate Off-Lead Consent Form. Even with consent, the final decision to let a dog off-lead rests with the walker, based on the environment and the dog's recall on the day.

Photography and Social Media

We love taking photos of the pets in our care! We may take photographs or videos of your pets to send to you as updates or to use on our business social media pages and website.

(Please let us know in writing if you prefer your pet not to feature on our public platforms).