POLICY AGREEMENT AND GROOMER SAFETY

HOT DOG GROOMING POLICY AGREEMENT PET(S) AND GROOMER SAFETY

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICING AGREEMENT

Welcome to Hot Dog Grooming, thank you for entrusting your pet with us. The following are
some everyday policies to ensure a positive and safe grooming experience. Others are policies
that will only apply to some pets who do not enjoy grooming as much as others. Hot Dog
Grooming is a small grooming facility. We try to take less dogs than other salons. This ensures
your pet gets individualized attention and that the grooming is not rushed.

FOUR-WEEK MAINTAINCE SCHEDULE

With our four-week maintenance schedule it is of the utmost importance that our clients stay
as committed to their schedule as possible. While we do understand circumstances may arise
that would prevent you from coming to an appointment, full payment will be required for any
missed appointments not previously discussed with your specific groomer. Due to the nature
of this type of scheduling, there may not be room to adjust or modify your appointment after
they have been set. Please schedule your time accordingly to avoid missing appointments.

It is at Hot Dog Grooming discretion to terminate a client at any time due to missed or late
appointments.

  • Note: These appointments are first come-first serve. Once they are fully booked we will
    have a wait list and application process available for future clients.

DROP-OFFS

Please arrive on time for your pets appointment to ensure that there is enough time to groom
your pet and to help keep our schedule for the day on time. Hot Dog Grooming opens at 8 am,
we are not at the shop prior to opening. Please arrive at the time of opening and not prior so
we can make sure that someone is there to check in your dog. If you are running late for your
appointment please call us to make sure we can still take your pet for the given day. Our
scheduling system relies on accuracy of pick-ups and drop-offs to be able to accommodate all
clients for the day – arriving late can negatively affect all subsequent appointments. Arriving 15
minutes or later for an appointment can void your appointment. Any appointments of the day
can have their appointment cancelled after 15 minutes. Full payment of the missed
appointment must be paid to schedule another appointment. If we are able to take in your
dog after 15 minutes a $20 late take in fee may be added to your bill.

PICKING UP

All of our appointments are one to three hour appointments, unless your dog is oversized or
requires special handling and care. If your dog is finished before the time you have been given
to pick up your pet, you will receive a call or text letting you know. Due to our smaller facility
and to ensure a lower stress environment for other pets, pets with a morning/midmorning
appointment should be picked up within one hour of their scheduled out time. Pets left at our
salon beyond that may have a daycare fee of $10 added to their grooming bill. If you need to
leave your pet longer at the salon arrangements need to be made with us prior to your appt.

All 1pm and afternoon drop offs mean your pet/pet’s are the last appointments for the day.
Our salon closes at 4pm. Arrive late and a $1 a minute daycare fee may be added to your bill.
If you do not arrive for your pet after 30 minutes and we cannot get a hold of you, your pet will
be taken to go potty and will be kenneled with water and food for the night. A $30 boarding fee
will be added to your bill.

§ Note: Sometimes our scheduling is light and a morning or midmorning drop-off
could mean your pet will be the last pet of the day and you will be notified of that
during scheduling.

NEW CLIENT AND PUPPY APPOINTMENTS

New clients and puppies are always exciting and we feel very lucky to have been chosen by you
to care for your pet. We will schedule our day to ensure that you have time to go over
grooming and care instructions for your pet. It is not necessary to arrive early and doing so
causes an interruption in the grooming of another client and can cause their appoint to go late
or cause the pet to become too excited to have their groom finished. Please bring a current
copy of your pet’s vaccination records.

§ DHLP-Parvo and Rabies Vaccinations are needed for the protection of your pet.
(rabies vaccination isn’t required for puppies under 6 months of age).

We want your puppy’s first few visits to be as pleasant as possible and will make every effort to
do so. To make sure your puppy learns to enjoy grooming we ask for that you be flexible with
the time your puppy is at our salon. Grooming is a new and overwhelming experience and lots
of puppies need rest breaks during the grooming process. Clippers can also be overwhelming
for your young puppy and they also might not have the patience yet for grooming. This can
result in a simpler cut than requested or skipping specific aspects of the requested cut. We feel
that it is better for your puppy to gain trust and learn to accept grooming rather than finishing a
cut that is making your pet nervous.

PET HEALTH CONDITIONS

Your dog’s safety and comfort is our primary concern. Please do not come to an appointment
with an ill or injured pet. If your dog is showing signs of illness, has open wounds, or has an
injury please call and reschedule your appt. For the safety of your pet and other pets we will
not groom an ill or injured pet.

Allergies and Sensitivities: Please advise us of any allergies, sensitivities, or pre-existing medical
conditions so we can avoid aggravating the health issue and even help alleviate the discomfort.
Please let us know of any prior grooming history you or your dog may not have found
satisfactory. We want to avoid the repetition of poor or unpleasant experiences or situations.

EXPRESS SERVICE DISCLAIMER

Express services are available for pets that need to be in the salon for as little time as possible.
This could be for mental or physical health reasons or you have to have your pet returned
earlier than normal. An ‘Express Service’ means that your groomer will receive your pet and
immediately begin grooming from start to finish with no interruptions. Sometimes a dog may
be required to have an express service by the groomer if a dog is disruptive before or after the
groom (i.e. excessive barking, digging at gates or kennel doors). Appointment slots for Express
Services are only available at 7AM. A charge of $25 for small dogs and $50 for large dogs will
be added to a pet’s bill for this service. If the client does not pick up a pet within 10 minutes
of the groom’s completion, $1 per minute will also be added to the pet’s bill.

MATTED OR NEGLECTED COAT AND SHAVE-DOWNS OR CUSTOM CUTS

Allowing a pet’s coat to get matted is not only very uncomfortable, but unhealthy for your pet.
Excessive matting can be avoided with regular grooming appointments. We will de-mat your
pet (if possible) at $2 per minute (minimum $10) in addition to the regular grooming fee. De-
matting will not be done if it causes pet undue stress or pain or if the pet is under a year old.
Excessive de-matting is a painful, time-consuming, and costly procedure that can cause extreme
discomfort and can aggravate (or cause) skin problems. In the circumstance where your pet
cannot have its mats brushed out or the expense is too much, your pet will receive a “shave
down” to remove the mats. Under this circumstance, a shave down is the more compassionate
or economical way to groom your pet. Mats are constantly pulling the skin of your pet and are
always painful. When ears become matted, it is possible for swelling and break-through
bleeding to happen, especially from head shaking and around the tips of the ears. Shaving mats
can show bruises, scrapes or other health issues that were hidden before. Hot Dog Grooming
will not be held liable if this should arise. Shave downs or custom cuts that are outside a basic
pet trim or breed standard cut will be discussed and the groomer will perform the cuts to the
best of his/her understanding of client’s directions and his/her ability but no other guarantee is
made.

§ Note: Shaving of your pet may dramatically change your pet’s appearance and
the hair will be very close to the skin. This may expose pre-existing skin conditions.

AGGRESSIVE PETS

Hot Dog Grooming does not take aggressive pets or pets who bite for the grooming process. You must inform us if your pet has ever been turned away from another groomer or if they have ever shown signs of aggression such as growling, scratching, snarling or biting. We consider the terms “nipping and snapping” to be biting. We requires you to inform a groomer if your pet has bitten a person before. Withholding this information and your pet bites someone in the salon you will be held liable. If your pet is biting and cannot be calmed or safely groomed you will be called to pick up your pet and the full grooming bill must be paid. If you know your pet becomes upset or is sensitive about a part of the grooming process, for the safety of your pet and us, you must inform us before your appointment date. Knowledge of your pets fear of nail clipping, de-matting, drying, etc. helps us successfully groom your pet and make the experience easier and, in most cases, help your pet overcome this fear. Pets who struggle for aspects of grooming are at greater risk for nicks, quicked nails, or a haircut that isn’t quite perfect looking. We always take great care to ensure your pet is not injured during grooming, but pets who are biting or struggling put themselves at greater risk for this happening. Hot Dog Grooming will not be held liable for these types of injuries or for haircuts that are less than satisfactory.

PAYMENT

Payment for grooming services is due at the time the services are rendered. There is a $36 non sufficient funds/returned check charge and client will be placed on a cash only basis thereafter. We accept ZELLE,PAYPAL,VENMO,CASHAPP,APPLE PAY,

CANCELLATIONS

Though we strive to confirm our clients’ appointments 24 hours in advance, it is the pet owner’s sole responsibility to remember their appointment. Hot Dog Grooming must be notified at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment of any cancellations. This allows us time to try to book a replacement for your vacated appointment. The client may be billed for the full grooming price if 24 hour cancellation notice is not provided. If an emergency cancellation is made there may be a $25 fee added to the next grooming bill. Service may be terminated for repeated cancellations without 24 hr. notice.

“NO SHOWS”

No shows and last minute cancellations are subject to the deposit fee. The charge must be paid prior to rescheduling. Pre-Payment will be required before another appointment is booked. Please be respectful of our time as we are a by appointment business, and another client could have taken your appointment if we had known.

• Note: Clients that are 15 minutes late or more will have their appointment cancelled and full payment of the missed appointment must be paid to schedule another appt. If we are able to take in your dog after 15 minutes a $20 late take in fee will be added to your bill.

REFUSAL OF SERVICE

We reserve the right to alter or cease any groom in the event that we determine it is in your pet’s best interest or your pet displays aggressive behavior. Hot Dog Grooming has the right to refuse service to your pet at any time for any reason. The client may be charged the full price of the groom even if we are unable to complete it.

ELDERLY PETS

We will use extra care and patience for older pets. Elderly pets are a special appointment and require extra time. Please let us know if your pet needs this specialized appointment. Grooming elderly pets can cause mental or physical stress due to grooming being much more tiring for the pet, especially arthritic pets. Due to this, we will at times have to do a much simpler cut for your pet’s health and safety or stop the grooming process. Pets who can no longer stand for long periods or require lots of breaks during the grooming process may have an extra charge added to their bill. Please be sure to notify us of any health conditions that might make your pet uncomfortable during the bathing, drying, or clipping phases.

Any grooming which takes place on an elderly or frail pet is conducted at your risk and Hot Dog Grooming will not be held liable for mental or physical stress the grooming process may cause.

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