SIT STAY PAWS

1. Acceptance of These Terms

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before booking. They explain how Sit Stay Paws operates and the responsibilities of both Sit Stay Paws and our clients.

No booking will be confirmed until:

• A meet and greet has taken place with the client and the relevant pets present.

• All necessary information has been provided.

• The service arrangements have been agreed

• These Terms and Conditions have been signed by the client.

In these Terms and Conditions, "you" and "the client" mean the person booking the service. "We", "us", and "Sit Stay Paws" mean Sit Stay Paws.

 

2. Equipment and Supplies

You must provide everything reasonably required for us to carry out the agreed service safely. For dog walks you agree to provide a well fitting harness or collar and ID tags for your dog. For pet sits you agree to leave all required items for the duration of the service in an accessible place ahead of your departure.

If your pet needs additional food, medication, equipment, or other supplies while in our care, you authorise us to obtain these where reasonably necessary. You agree to reimburse us the full cost.

You are responsible for the reasonable cost of repair or replacement of property or equipment belonging  Sit Stay Paws that is damaged by your pet beyond normal wear and tear.

You are responsible for ensuring that your pets ID tags, tracking devices and other personal items are securely fitted and maintained. Sit Stay Paws will take reasonable care of your pets equipment, however we cannot take responsibility for the loss, damage or malfunction of such devices, including where they become detached during normal activities.

 

3. Keys and Access to Your Property

You must provide a spare key for each property before services begin. This can be supplied during the meet and greet or delivered to our home address by prior arrangement.

If we cannot access your property for a reason outside our control, the full service fee will still apply. This includes circumstances where:

• A key has been left inside the lock on the other side of the door.

• The key provided does not work.

• We have not been given the correct alarm or access details.

• Your pet is not at the property when we arrive.

If you ask us to collect a key, collection must be prearranged on a working day and will incur a charge. The exact charge will be agreed before collection.

 

4. Emergency Contacts and Veterinary Treatment

Administering first aid including CPR in an attempt to preserve the life of your pet can result in other injuries such as broken ribs or trauma, you permit Sit Stay Paws to administer such treatment where they we believe the potential benefit outweighs the risk.

You must provide the details of two emergency contacts who are authorised to make decisions concerning your pet.

If an emergency occurs and neither you nor your emergency contacts can be reached within a reasonable time, you authorise Sit Stay Paws to:

• Contact and consult a veterinary professional.

• Transport your pet for veterinary attention where reasonably possible.

• Authorise treatment considered necessary and in your pet's best interests.

You are responsible for all veterinary, transport, medication, and related costs unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.

You must tell us during the meet and greet about any financial limits, treatment restrictions, preferred veterinary practice, or other wishes relating to emergency care.

 

5. Suitability, behaviour and safety during walks

You understand that group dog walks involve an unavoidable risk of accident, injury contagious illness, or conflict between dogs.

We will take reasonable care when assessing dogs, matching temperaments, supervising groups, and managing behaviour. However, these precautions cannot remove all risk.

Acceptance onto group walks is subject to an assessment, and we reserve the right to reassess a dogs suitability at any time. We may need to remove a dog from group walks where we believe this is necessary for the safety or welfare of the dog, other animals, us, or the public. This does not guarantee that a solo walking space will be available for them.

Due to the nature of group walks we reserve the right to adjust group composition, routes and timings where necessary, you will be kept informed of planned changes.

Unless you instruct us otherwise in writing, you authorise Sit Stay Paws to exercise your dog off lead where we consider it appropriate.

You understand that walks may take place in rural or open areas that are not fully enclosed or securely fenced. Off-lead walking therefore carries risks, including escape, injury, encounters with animals, and failure to return when called.

We will use reasonable care and judgement, but we may keep your dog on lead or use management such as long lines whenever we consider this safer or more appropriate. Owner requests for dogs to be offlead will not override safety procedures and protocol.

You must provide a complete and accurate account of any behaviour that may affect our ability to care for your pet safely. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Aggression, biting, or snapping.

• Fear, anxiety, or reactivity.

• Resource guarding.

• Escape behaviour or poor recall.

• Chasing animals, livestock, vehicles, or people.

• Any previous incident involving injury to a person or animal.

You must keep us informed of any change in your pet's behaviour.

If your pet behaves aggressively or presents an unacceptable safety risk, we may immediately suspend or terminate services. If this happens during a pet sit and you cannot collect or take responsibility for your pet, your emergency contact will be expected to take over their care.

No refund will be issued for a service that cannot safely continue because relevant behaviour was not disclosed or because your pet presents an immediate risk. Any other refund will be considered in light of the circumstances and work already completed.

 

6. Transport in the Vehicle

Dogs will travel in individual crates or secured with a seatbelt restraint attached to their harness at all times. Dogs will be segregated from others for the duration of the journey unless from the same household and permission has been given. You authorise Sit Stay Paws to transport your pet as part of the agreed service or in an emergency situation.

Excessive damage to the vehicle as a result of your pet may be charged to you the client.

 

7. Training Services

Sit Stay Paws uses reward based training methods and will not use aversive equipment or techniques. Training progress is not guaranteed as outcomes depend on consistency outside of sessions.

 

8. Health, Vaccinations, and Parasite Treatment

You confirm that your pet is fit and healthy enough for the agreed service, unless a medical condition has been disclosed and accepted by us.

You must provide full and accurate information about:

• Existing or previous medical conditions.

• Allergies and dietary requirements.

• Medication and treatment instructions.

• Injuries, mobility issues, or exercise restrictions.

• Any infectious or contagious illness.

Dogs and cats must have appropriate species-specific vaccinations or evidence of a recent titre test, where applicable. They must also receive regular flea, tick, and worming treatment suitable for their needs and veterinary advice. If fleas are found during a service we will take reasonable steps to prevent spread to other animals, and our property. Any additional cleaning, treatment or related costs are to be reimbursed by the client and services will be terminated until the infestation has been eradicated.

You must tell us promptly if your pet becomes unwell. We may decline to walk or care for a pet that we reasonably believe may be infectious, contagious, or unfit for the planned service. An alternative service, including a solo walk or home visit, cannot be guaranteed to protect other animals in our care.

You must tell us immediately if your female dog comes into season.

Dogs in season cannot attend group walks during their season or for two weeks after the last visible signs. A solo walk may be offered, subject to availability and any applicable price difference.

 

9. Shared Care and Other People at the Property

Unless agreed with us in advance, we do not provide shared care with another person or pet-care provider.

We will not normally carry out a home visit while another person is present. We may also suspend or end a pet-sitting arrangement if another person enters or stays at the property between visits without prior agreement.

You must inform us in advance if anyone else will:

• Enter the property.

• Stay at the property.

• Feed, walk, medicate, or otherwise care for your pet.

• Have access to the property during the booking.

Where another person is involved in your pet's care, we cannot accept responsibility for their actions or for incidents that cannot reasonably be attributed to Sit Stay Paws.

 

10. Outdoor Access During Pet Sits

Sit Stay Paws is not responsible for loss, injury, illness, or other incidents occurring between scheduled services where a pet has unsupervised access to the outdoors, including through a cat flap or dog flap, except where directly caused by our negligence or misconduct.

 

11.  Data Protection

Sit Stay Paws will collect and store personal information only for the purpose of providing pet care services, managing bookings, communicating with clients, and dealing with emergencies. Information will be handled securely and will not be shared with third parties except where necessary to provide care, including veterinary professionals, emergency services, or where required by law.

 

12. Photography and Social Media
You consent to Sit Stay Paws taking photographs or videos of your pet during services for the purpose of record keeping, updates, and promotional content. We will not share personal information, addresses, or identifying details about you. If you do not wish your pet to appear on social media, please notify us in writing.

 

13. Booking, Payments and Cancellations

We offer two types of dog-walking booking.

• Weekly Rolling Bookings

A weekly rolling booking reserves the same spaces in our schedule each week.

You must give at least one week's notice of holidays or other planned absences.

Up to two weeks of planned holiday per calendar year may be taken without a holding charge. For additional holiday periods, 50% of the usual weekly fee will be charged to retain your dog's regular space. Christmas shutdown, and any periods where your pet is unable to walk due to illness/injury is excluded from the holding charge clause.

• Ad Hoc Bookings

Ad hoc walks must be requested no later than Friday evening for the following week.

Bookings cannot be requested more than six weeks in advance. They are subject to availability, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and scheduled around weekly rolling clients.

A request is not confirmed until Sit Stay Paws has accepted it.

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Pet-sitting and chaperone services may be booked up to one year in advance.

A 50% booking payment is required at the time of booking. The booking is not confirmed until this payment has been received.

Any remaining balance must be paid by the Friday before the service is due to take place.

Last-minute changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. Cancellation charges are calculated from the scheduled start time of the service.

 

Dog Walks

More than 48 hours = No charge

Between 24 and 48 hours = 50% of the service fee

Less than 24 hours = 100% of the service fee

 

Pet Sits and Chaperone Services

At least six weeks = No cancellation charge

Less than six weeks =50% of the service fee

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All routine services must be paid weekly in advance by Friday, unless another arrangement has been agreed in writing.

You are responsible for keeping an accurate record of the services you have requested and paying the correct amount on time.

We reserve the right to suspend future services if payment is overdue.

If you require a weekly itemised invoice, an administration charge of £12 per week will apply. Any invoice or receipt that must be provided by law will not be subject to this charge.

 

14. Service Times and the Weather

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your schedule, but exact service times are not guaranteed.

Timings may vary due to adverse weather or other factors out of our control

Where reasonably possible, we will offer a home visit for those alone, a walk at a different time or a credit towards a future service within the same calendar month.

If severe snow, flooding or ice prevents us from reaching your property safely, the value of the affected service will be applied as credit toward a future service within the same calendar month

The safety of your Pets and Sit Stay Paws personal takes priority over completing the original service as planned and will not be up for negotiation.

 

15. Liability and Client Responsibility

Sit Stay Paws will take reasonable care to keep your pet safe, comfortable, and healthy while providing the agreed services.

We are not responsible for loss, injury, illness, death, damage, or other costs unless caused by our negligence, breach of contract, or misconduct. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or restricts liability where doing so would be unlawful.

You remain responsible for your pet's behaviour and for information you provide about their health, temperament, training, and history.

If your pet injures a person or another animal, or causes damage to property, you will be responsible for resulting losses and expenses to the extent permitted by law, except where the incident was caused by our negligence or misconduct.

We strongly recommend that you maintain suitable pet insurance, including veterinary and third-party liability cover where appropriate.

 

16. Ongoing Authority and Changes to Services

Once signed, these Terms and Conditions will apply to future services booked with Sit Stay Paws. A new agreement will not be required for every individual booking.

However, each booking remains subject to availability, the agreed service details, current prices, and any later changes agreed in writing.

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any significant changes will be provided to you before they apply to a future booking.