Pets and Peeps Personal Assistant Services Policies
What are your policies?
- Scheduling and Visit Times: Scheduling is on a first come first service basis and Pets and Peeps will do our best to accommodate your needs. Upon requesting an overnight, boarding, or drop-in service, Client should provide his/her anticipated departure/drop-off and return/pick-up times. These times are relative to the time the Client leaves and returns to his/her home OR the time the Client plans to drop off and pick up their pet(s) for boarding. The Client agrees to notify Pets and Peeps of changes to their travel schedule as soon as reasonably possible.
- Confirmation Call: (Prior to out-of-town departure) Client will make a confirmation call email or text no less than two days before departure to verify that all information is still correct (no changes to original dates and times).
- Early Returns: Pets and Peeps understands that your plans may change and we are very flexible if notified. If you return home, please notify us immediately; however, if you do not notify Pets and Peeps of an early return and we make a trip and find you home, the regular pet visit fee will apply.
- Cancellations: Pets and Peeps understands your plans may change and we generally do not charge for cancellations with adequate notice. However, if you cancel 24 hours or less prior to the date of the first visit there will be a cancellation fee of 100% of your scheduled service. Emergencies will be taken into consideration.
- Holiday Cancellations: Please understand that pet sitting services receive more requests for reservations during holiday time periods and we may have turned away other clients because we have reserved time for you during a busy season. If you cancel seven days or less before a major holiday, you will be charged the full amount for the overnight/visit. Major holidays are New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
- Inclement Weather: This policy item refers primarily to severe storms, snow/ice conditions etc. You will entrust Pets and Peeps to use best judgment in caring for your pets(s) and home if we are servicing you at the time of inclement weather. Pets and Peeps will try to carry out your instructions to the best of our ability. The care we provide to our customer’s pets and their safety is our first concern. Client selection of a nearby emergency contact is requested. The inclement weather plan will be as follows: 1) Every effort will be made to drive to your home; 2) The service schedule may be changed, interrupted, or altered due to circumstances beyond our control; 3) If it is not possible to drive safely to your home, your emergency contact will be notified; 4) You will be notified that the above-mentioned contingency plan has been activated.
- Emergency Contact: Pets and Peeps will request the name and phone number of a person living nearby (with access to your home). This should be a person close enough to walk to your home if roads are impassable (for example, a neighbor). If we are physically unable to drive to your home this information is needed so that we can contact this person to request their assistance to check on your pet(s). Please remember that garage door openers are not operational in the event of power outages. In the event that the client does not provide a nearby emergency contact with access to their home, Client understands that we will provide services to the best of our ability, but not until conditions allow us to reach your home safely.
- Medications/Vaccinations: Pets and Peeps will attempt to administer medications as directed but cannot be held responsible for complications that arise as a result. Excessively shy cats with medical problems can be a serious risk. If you have such an animal, this must be thoroughly discussed. Pets and Peeps will not service any pet that has any form of contagious illness. This is for the safety of other clients. Pets and Peeps requires that all pets have the necessary vaccinations, immunizations or titers before service begins. If a Pets and Peeps pet care provider is bitten or exposed to any disease or ailment received from the client’s pet(s) which has not been properly or currently vaccinated, the client will be responsible for all costs and damages that may incur.
- Access to your Home by Others: If you allow any other person(s) access to your home during Pets and Peeps’ contracted period, we cannot be held liable for any damages to property or pets as a result. Please notify Pets and Peeps if someone will be in your home. Please also notify the person(s) in your home that Pets and Peeps is coming so that your visitor is not surprised by our entrance.
- Fences: Fenced in yards are wonderful play spaces for pets, however, no fence system is totally secure for your pet’s safety. Pets and Peeps does not accept responsibility or liability for any customer’s pets that escape, are injured, fatally or otherwise, or become lost when pets are left out or given access to a fenced in area. This includes electronic, wood, metal or any other fence types.
- Pet and House Clean-Up: Pets and Peeps will properly dispose of pet waste and do our best to clean up any accidents your pet may have. We are not responsible for carpet/flooring stains created by your pet(s).
- Leashes: All dogs will be required to be on leash during outdoor walks.
- Necessary Expenses: Any additional necessary costs such as food, litter, cleaning supplies or other necessary items that contribute to the health and well-being of your pet will be purchased by Pets and Peeps. We will retain a receipt and the client will be responsible for reimbursement of these items. A trip fee will be applied.
- Animal Behavior: Animal behavior can be unpredictable. Pets and Peeps does not accept responsibility or liability for animal behavior, normal or otherwise, which results in injury to the client’s animals or property. Further, if a Pets and Peeps pet care provider is harmed or injured by the client’s animals, the Client accepts full responsibility for the cost of any necessary medical attention required by either the Pets or Peeps pet care provider or by the animals.
- Updates: Please provide us with any changes regarding your pet’s care and other pertinent information prior to your first date of service.
- Payment: Invoices are processed on the 16th and end of month. Payment is due 10 days after receiving a Pets and Peeps invoice. Preferred forms of payment are cash, checks, and credit card. Payments may be made through our online Pet Sitter client portal. Pets and Peeps will add $25.00 plus bank fees for any returned check.
- Keys: Please provide two working copies of your house keys approximately 5 days before service is to be provided. If you live in a gated community, provide a gate card, remote control or appropriate access codes in the client portal. Keys will be returned via hidden outdoors or locked in homes at last visit (we will need to discuss the key exchange during the initial visit). If you are not already doing so, consider having Pets and Peeps retain your house key, you’ll be glad you did. Keys are kept in a secured locked environment and are coded for client’s confidentiality. If you choose not to have Pets and Peeps retain a key, picking up and returning your keys requires two extra trips and there will be a $5.00 charge per trip for time and mileage. Please check the key you provide Pets and Peeps. Should keys become unusable, lock malfunctions, client fails to leave a key or for any other reasons beyond the control of Pets and Peeps control, client authorizes Pets and Peeps to employ the services of a locksmith to gain entry into client’s home on client’s behalf. Client will be responsible for all expenses incurred and reimburse Pets and Peeps upon return.
- Thermostat: Please leave your thermostat settings within a normal comfortable range (60-73°F). If the house temperature is outside of this range, the Pets and Peeps pet care provider will adjust the thermostat. This is to ensure the health and comfort of your pets and Pets and Peeps, LLC pet care provider during our time of service.
- Client Return: Client notifies Pets and Peeps when you have returned home. It is important to know that your pets are being cared for and no additional visits are required.
- Animal Emergency: Client authorizes Pets and Peeps to transport your pet(s) to a veterinarian in the event of their illness or injury and authorize treatment deemed necessary by the veterinarian. In the event the pet is in need of hospitalization; Pets and Peeps is authorized to leave the pet until the pet can be transported home. If at-home medication is prescribed, Pets and Peeps has my permission to administer the directed dosage.
- Liability: The Sitter accepts no liability for any breach of security or loss of or damage to the Client’s property if any other person has access to the property during the terms of this agreement. The Sitter shall not be liable for any mishap of whatsoever nature which may befall a pet or caused by a pet who has unsupervised access to the outdoors (e.g., doggy doors). The Client shall be liable for all medical expenses and damages resulting from an injury to the Sitter or the general public caused by the pet as well as damage to the Client’s property. The Sitter is released from all liability related to transporting pet(s) to and from any veterinary clinic or kennel, the medical treatment of the pet(s) and the expense thereof. Client shall, at Client’s sole expense, defend Pet Sitter against any claim or demand, whether or not well founded arising from any act(s) of Client’s pet(s) or relation to Client’s property. The Client agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Pets and Peeps, as well as its respective employees, staff, successors, and assigns free and harmless from all cost, expenses and liabilities in connection with such claims or demands. These costs, expenses and liabilities include amounts paid in settlement before or after suit is commenced, attorney’s fees, and costs incurred by Pet Sitter in defending against such claims or demands.
- Termination provision: Pets and Peeps reserves the right to terminate this contract at any time before or during its term if it, in its sole discretion, determines that Client’s Pet(s) pose a danger to the health and/or safety of Pet Sitter. If this occurs Pet Sitter will notify the Client immediately of the problem and determine whether the Client will return or if pet(s) will need to be placed in a kennel with all charges to be charged to the Client.
- Relaxation of Terms: No relaxation, indulgence, waiver or release by any party of any of the rights in terms of this Pet Sitting Contract on one occasion shall prevent the subsequent enforcement of such rights and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach of any of the terms.
- Binding Effect: The terms of this Contract shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit and be enforceable by either party’s successors, legal representatives, or assigns. This Pet Sitting Contract and Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, and should any provision of this Contract be judged by an appropriate court as invalid, it shall not affect any of the remaining provisions whatsoever.