Terms and Conditions for Service Provision
All clients will be asked to read and sign a copy prior to any service being carried out.
Booking
- Safe Hands Pet Care will provide a time interval during which visits will occur. If an unforeseen situation arises, the time interval may be adjusted.
- Bank Holidays may incur additional fees which you will be advised of at the time of booking.
- An in-home consultation is required FOR ALL NEW CLIENTS, prior to commencement of services.
- All bookings must be made at least 24 hours before service start date.
Payment
- Safe Hands Pet Care accepts cash / PayPal / bank transfer (please ask for bank and/or PayPal details). An invoice for payments received will be sent by email to the client.
- A 25% non-refundable deposit of the total sum due is payable to Safe Hands Pet Care at the time of booking for all Holiday Home Visits and Holiday Care Packages.
- The remaining balance is due on or before the first date of service start date.
- Where services are required long term, the client may make payment on a monthly basis.
- Where payment is not received in accordance with these terms and conditions of business, the company reserves the right not to proceed with any previously agreed arrangements, and a cancellation fee will be payable.
Cancellations
- In the event of cancellations that are notified to us 14 days prior to the start of the booking period, all fees minus the non-refundable deposit, will be refunded, or held over for subsequent bookings.
- Any bookings that are cancelled between 14 days and 48 hours prior to the start date of the booking will be subject to a 50% payment for services.
- All bookings cancelled within 48 hours will be payable in full.
- If Safe Hands Pet Care cannot provide the service agreed, we will do our best to arrange an alternative, unless in extreme circumstances, where we will endeavour to give 24 hours notice.
Changes to return date
- Safe Hands Pet Care carefully schedules our time to serve you and our other clients, therefore, there are no refunds or credits for early returns or last minute changes to pet care.
- In the event that the client is delayed on return they must inform Safe Hands Pet Care immediately. Best efforts will be madeto make alternative arrangements for continued cover, this may incur a further charge.
Keys
- Safe Hands Pet Care will require a copy of your house key(s) and alarm code during the in-home consultation or if the service is not starting immediately, a minimum of 48 hours prior to service commencement. The key(s) and access details will be retained by Safe Hands Pet Care and will be coded for security and kept securely in a locked container.
- It is recommended that your keys remain in Safe Hands Pet Care’s custody for convenience of future use of our service and to confirm services via telephone.
Additional Pet Care Assistance and Other Scheduled Services
- Safe Hands Pet Care does not accept liability for other persons who will be in your home prior to, during or immediately after our services have been performed.
- Please inform us at the time of consultation of anyone who may have access to your home while you are away. This includes cleaning services, maintenance personnel, friends, family and neighbours.
- The client is requested to notify anyone with access to the home that the services of Safe Hands Pet Care have been engaged.
Update
The pet owner will inform Safe Hands Pet Care of any changes regarding contact numbers, alarm codes, pet’s care needs, emergency contact details and any other pertinent information.
Inclement Weather
You will entrust Safe Hands Pet Care to use best judgment in caring for your pet(s) and home at the time of inclement weather. Safe Hands Pet Care will try to carry out your instructions to the best of their ability. However, in cases of extreme weather, we will contact you with alternative arrangements.
Aggressive Animals
- Safe Hands Pet Care will not accept to look after aggressive animals.
- The client agrees to be responsible for all costs (including but not limited to medical care, legal fees, etc) if the client’s pet(s) should bite another animal.
- The Client agrees that on booking services for their dog(s) that they have represented that the dog(s) to have not shown aggression, threatening behaviour or caused harm or to any individual and/or any pet(s), and the client agrees to contact the provider as soon as possible if any of these behavioural changes presents itself or if it has the potential to cause harm to any individual or pet(s).
- We will not walk unruly or untrained dogs.
- If the client’s dog(s) whilst being walked shows aggressive tendencies towards Safe Hands Pet Care or their family, or should its behaviour become unacceptable or a nuisance beyond reasonable acceptance, the client agrees that the service is terminated with immediate effect and the dog is to be returned to the location from where it was collected.
Unforeseen Purchases
In the event that additional items need to be purchased in the absence of the client – i.e. pet food, litter, cleaning supplies or other necessary items that contribute to the health and well being of your pet, Safe Hands Pet Care will purchase these, retain a receipt and the pet owner will reimburse Safe Hands Pet Care for the cost of these items on their return.
Privacy Policy
- All of your information will be kept private and confidential.
- Safe Hands Pet Care highly respects our clients entrusting us with the care of their home and pets.
- All of our records will be stored in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018.
Insurance
- All reasonable care is taken to ensure the integrity and suitability of the care provided.
- Safe Hands Pet Care has valid public liability insurance, for the peace of mind of its clients.
- The insurance only covers Safe Hands Pet Care, for the duration of the selected service, and only for services agreed.
- It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that the property, its contents and pets are adequately insured throughout the duration of the assignment.
Medication/Vaccinations/Immunisations
- Safe Hands Pet Care will follow instructions to administer medications as directed but cannot be held responsible for complications that arise as a result.
- Under no circumstances will Safe Hands Pet Care service any pet that has any form of active contagious illness.
- For Dog Walking we require a copy of a valid vaccination certificate.
- If Safe Hands Pet Care is bitten or exposed to any disease or ailment received from the clients pet(s) which has not been properly or currently vaccinated, the client will be responsible for all costs and damages that may be incurred as a result.
Pet Waste
- Safe Hands Pet Care will properly dispose of your pet(s) waste. For cat litter trays we do request that you provide all necessary items such as scooper, cat litter and plastic bags and indicate where you would like these waste bags disposed of. The same for any other home based animal.
- For dog walking we will properly dispose of pet waste and we will provide waste bags for this, we may, however need to sometimes bring the waste back to dispose of in your outside waste bin.
Collars/Leads
- For dog walking please provide secure collars with appropriate tags for all visits.
- All dogs will be walked on leads at all times.
Fences and cat flaps
- Safe Hands Pet Care does not accept any responsibility or liability for any clients animals that escape or become lost or injured (either fatal or otherwise), when instructed to leave the clients animals in a fenced area such as a garden or yard.
- This includes electronic, wood, brick, metal or any other type of fence, or in a premises that contains an unlocked cat flap.
House Cleanliness
- Safe Hands Pet Care will clean up after your pet(s) to the best of their ability. Please inform them of the designated area for the appropriate cleaning supplies.
- Safe Hands Pet Care is not responsible for carpet/ flooring stains created by your pet(s).
- We request that you provide plastic bags, towels, cleaning products, paper towels and bin bags.
- If there are accidents above and beyond the normal amount anticipated, we will charge a reasonable fee for clean-up time.
Household Emergencies
- Details of shut off points for services into the property are to be provided on the Home Information Sheet.
- In the event of a household emergency, you or your emergency contact will be contacted by Safe Hands Pet Care to arrange any remedial work.
Thermostats
- Please leave your thermostat settings within a normal comfortable range.
- If the house temperature is outside of this range, Safe Hands Pet Care will adjust the thermostat to ensure the health and comfort of your pet(s). You or your emergency contact will be notified.
Accompanying Visitors
- A dog walker or sitter may wish to have either a companion or spouse accompany them on an assignment at no additional costs to the client. This may happen if personal safety is thought to be an issue.
- This must be agreed with the client, and the companion/spouse will have been vetted by Safe Hands Pet Care and will be subject to all necessary checks.
Liability
Safe Hands Pet Care shall not be liable to the client or be deemed to be in breach of the contract by reason of any delay in performing, or any failure to perform, any of it’s obligations in relation to the services, if the delay or failure was due to any cause beyond Safe Hands Pet Care’s reasonable control.