Dog Walking Liability Waiver and Policies
1. Small & Mighty Dogs will endeavour to offer only sound, safe, and responsible care for each dog. There are risks inherent in having a dog walked outdoors, including but not limited to interactions with other dogs and potential exposure to injury, disease, and parasites. The client must provide Small & Mighty Dogs with full and complete, accurate information (via a form completed prior to the meet & greet session) regarding any bite history and similar incidents or hazardous tendencies of their dog, and the client must update that information if it changes. The client is and will remain responsible for the actions of their dog at all times and must agree to indemnify, release, and hold harmless Small & Mighty Dogs of any and all claims, whether made by myself or others, of injury, expense, costs, or damages caused by the actions of my dog while under Small & Mighty Dogs care and under my own care as a result of following any instructions given me by Small & Mighty Dogs. Small & Mighty Dogs will act with all due respect and caution in the client’s home in their absence and the client must agree to indemnify, release, and hold harmless Small & Mighty Dogs of any and all claims of damages to their home. The recommendation of any other product or service is not a guarantee of the client’s satisfaction with that product or service. The client must agree to sign a contract at the meet & greet. This contract, together with language expressly incorporated into it in writing, is the full and complete agreement between the client and Small & Mighty Dogs. A complete and accurate copy of this contract is as valid as the original. This contract is made valid by in-person signatures, electronically signed signatures, or upon receipt of a signed, scanned copy by email. |
2. In the event of illness or injury while under the care of Small & Mighty Dogs, Small & Mighty Dogs will administer or seek first aid and resuscitative care as determined appropriate by Small & Mighty Dogs. The client has a right to not authorise first aid and/or resuscitative care. The client must agree to indemnify, release, and hold harmless Small & Mighty Dogs for all and any results thereof. Small & Mighty Dogs will seek necessary emergency medical care. This will be provided by the veterinarian as specified by the client, or an appropriate alternate to be determined by Small & Mighty Dogs in the event the client’s regular veterinarian is not available or that closer care is required. The client must immediately reimburse Small & Mighty Dogs for any charges related to emergency care. |
3. Service Policy: All walks begin with a 60 minute complimentary meet & greet. After this, the first walk is a paid trial walk, both for Small & Mighty Dogs to decide if the dog is suitable for the service and for the client to decide if the service is right for them. Small & Mighty Dogs reserves the right to not continue services after the meet and greet or the paid trial walk if they do not feel your dog is suitable for the service. On signing up, group walks and regular private walks have a minimum sign up of 2 days a week for 4 weeks (see vacation policy below). The walking days chosen at the beginning of the 4 week period are set for that 4 week period (e.g. Tuesday/Thursday can’t be changed to Monday/Wednesday). Casual walks (walks booked singularly on an as needed basis) are dependent on availability. Small & Mighty Dogs reserves the right to unilaterally terminate or postpone services without penalty or liability of any kind in the event that Small & Mighty Dogs, deems your dog’s behavior makes it unsafe to provide further services. |
4. Vacation Policy: Small & Mighty Dogs does not offer walks on NSW stated public holidays. Small & Mighty Dogs will take holiday leave at times during the year. The client will be given at least 3 months notice of these periods of time (or at time of meet & greet if planned leave falls less than 3 months from signing up). It is the client’s responsibility to find an alternative dog walker for these time periods. Client’s must agree to indemnify, release, and hold harmless Small & Mighty Dogs of any and all claims, whether made by the client or others, of injury, expense, costs or damages incurred as a result of the alternative dog walker. Client’s who have booked group walks or regular individual walks will not be charged for walking days that fall on a public holiday or a Small & Mighty Dogs scheduled vacation day within the 4 week period. |
5. Sick Leave Policy: If Katie from Small & Mighty Dogs is unable to conduct services due to illness (particularly if Covid-19 positive), Small & Mighty Dogs reserves the right to cancel walks that day. In the case a walk is cancelled due to the above, a credit will be applied to the client’s account (no refunds). |
6. Payment Policy: All payments are required in advance. For group walks and regular individual walks, all walks will be invoiced for a 4 weekly period with payment required in advance prior to the first walk within that 4 week period. |
7. Cancellation Policy: Payment for services reserves a spot in Small & Mighty Dogs’ schedule. I understand that in the event that my dog can’t attend their scheduled walk, I must notify Small & Mighty Dogs at least 24 hours prior. In the case that illness or injury within 24 hrs prior to a scheduled service precludes attendance of services, I must notify Small & Mighty Dogs as soon as possible. Casual Services (individual walks only): All casual services must be cancelled 24 hours prior for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours prior shall incur a full forfeiture of payment made for the dog walking service. Regular Services (group or individual walks 2-4 walks a week): Regular services are entitled to only 1 refunded cancellation per 4 week period. Further cancellations will not be refunded. |
8. Safety Policy: Small & Mighty Dogs ensure each dog’s health and safety are a priority. Small & Mighty Dogs use their own secure and clean walking equipment to reduce the risk of escape, injury and infection. |
9. Grooming Policy: Small & Mighty Dogs towel dry and wipe each dog’s paws on arrival home after wet weather. If the client’s dog is attending group walks during wet weather, a dog drying coat will be put on for the drive home. If the client’s dog has a medium to long length coat Small & Mighty Dogs will check the dog’s coat for grass seeds and remove them using a slicker brush. The client must inform Small & Mighty Dogs if their dog does not tolerate any of these procedures. If the client’s dog does not tolerate checking and brushing out grass seeds, it is the responsibility of the client to check their dog for grass seeds on the client’s reuniting with their dog. The client must agree to indemnify, release, and hold harmless Small & Mighty Dogs if grass seeds are found in their dog’s coat or for any resulting medical issues. It is the client’s responsibility to conduct a full physical check on their dog for ticks on return home (see preventative policy below). Small & Mighty Dogs cannot guarantee that the client’s dog is tick free. The client must agree to indemnify, release, and hold harmless Small & Mighty Dogs if ticks are found on their dog or for any resulting medical issues. |
10. Preventative Care Policy Small & Mighty Dogs requires all dogs to be fully vaccinated (1 week past 16 week vaccination for puppies). This means a C5 vaccination (Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis, Bordatella, Parainfluenza). Parvovirus, Distemper and Hepatitis can be given as a 3 yearly C3 or an annual C3, whereas Bordatella and Parainfluenza (Kennel Cough) must be given annually. A copy of each dog’s vaccination certificate must be submitted to Small & Mighty Dogs at initial sign up and on each update of the vaccines. Small & Mighty Dogs walks dogs in areas that are prevalent for paralysis ticks. Small & Mighty Dogs requires all dogs to be up to date with a paralysis tick preventative such as Simparica, Nexgard or Bravecto (relevant to the particular tick product, i.e. monthly for Simparica and Nexgard, 3 monthly for Bravecto chews and spot ons and annually for the Bravecto Quantum injection). A dog being on a paralysis tick preventative is not a guarantee that the dog will be free of ticks. |
9. Extreme Weather Policy Small & Mighty Dogs walks dogs in a wide range of weather conditions (including in the case of wet and/or windy weather). Small & Mighty Dogs reserves the right to cancel walks that fall on days with: · Lightning. · Hail. · Temperatures over 32 degrees in the shade. If the client’s dog(s) are Brachycephalic/Short Nosed (including, but not limited to French Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu), are less than 6 months or 10 yrs and older, that in addition to the above conditions, Small & Mighty Dogs reserves the right to cancel walks that fall on days with temperatures over 29 degrees in the shade. In the case a walk is cancelled due to the above, a credit will be applied to the client’s account for the next payment period. |
