Healdsburg Dog Grooming Client Agreement & Release

Version 1

Your pet is very important to us. Healdsburg Dog Grooming makes every reasonable effort to provide a grooming experience that is as safe, comfortable, and pleasant as possible. Safety comes first for everyone— people as well as animals—during the grooming process.

This agreement only needs to be signed once and applies to all dogs you currently own as well as any dogs you may own in the future. If you have any questions about these policies, please do not hesitate to ask.

Grooming & Pickup

Please be aware that your dog may need to stay with us for several hours or for most of the day. Our salon operates using a production-style grooming process. Dogs are dropped off and bathed first, then completed based on the order in which they are dried, brushed out, and ready for their haircuts or finishing services.

We make every reasonable effort to accommodate your schedule. We will text or call you when your pet is ready for pickup.

Health or Medical Problems

Grooming can occasionally expose a previously unknown medical condition or aggravate an existing condition. This may occur during or after grooming.

Please inform Healdsburg Dog Grooming of any current or previous health, medical, behavioral, or physical issues that could affect your pet during grooming so that we can watch for them and take appropriate precautions.

Any veterinary expenses or other medical costs associated with your pet remain the responsibility of the pet owner.

Accidents

Although accidents are uncommon, working with animals and grooming equipment involves inherent risks. Grooming equipment is sharp, and even when extreme caution and care are used, injuries may occur.

These can include cuts, nicks, scratches, nail quicking, or other accidental injuries, particularly when an animal moves suddenly or is difficult to keep still.

Your pet's safety and comfort are our highest priorities. If an accident occurs, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you.

If Healdsburg Dog Grooming believes an injury or medical condition requires immediate veterinary attention and the owner cannot be reached or is not on-site, Healdsburg Dog Grooming is authorized to seek veterinary care for the pet.

Veterinarian Authorization — Medical Emergencies

By signing this agreement, you authorize Healdsburg Dog Grooming to seek veterinary evaluation or treatment from a nearby veterinary clinic in the event of a medical emergency involving your pet while the pet is in our care.

Veterinary treatment and associated costs remain the responsibility of the pet owner.

Vaccinations

For the health and safety of all pets visiting Healdsburg Dog Grooming, we recommend that your dog be kept current on vaccinations as advised by your veterinarian.

We do not require clients to provide vaccination records or proof of vaccination. By bringing your pet to Healdsburg Dog Grooming, you acknowledge that you are responsible for making appropriate vaccination and health-care decisions for your pet in consultation with your veterinarian.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory condition that can be caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria and may spread between dogs in environments where dogs are in close proximity.

Healdsburg Dog Grooming recommends discussing the Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccine with your veterinarian and keeping your dog current if your veterinarian recommends it.

While we take reasonable precautions to maintain a clean and safe environment, exposure to contagious illnesses can occur anywhere dogs are together. If your pet becomes ill, veterinary treatment and associated costs are the responsibility of the pet owner.

Fleas & Ticks

Healdsburg Dog Grooming strives to maintain a flea- and tick-free salon. Please take appropriate measures to ensure that your pet arrives at the salon free of fleas and ticks.

Dangerous, Aggressive, or Highly Stressed Animals — Refusal of Services

Healdsburg Dog Grooming reserves the right to refuse or discontinue services at any time.

If your pet becomes excessively stressed, aggressive, or otherwise unsafe to groom, Healdsburg Dog Grooming may refuse services, stop the grooming process, or cancel grooming services before or during the appointment.

If grooming has already begun, you may be charged for the services completed up to the point at which grooming was stopped.

Use of Muzzles

When necessary, a muzzle may be used to protect your pet and the grooming staff. A properly used muzzle does not harm your pet and, in some situations, may help a stressed animal remain calm enough for grooming to continue.

We do not routinely muzzle dogs. Other reasonable handling methods will be attempted first when appropriate, and muzzling is used only when we believe it is necessary for safety.

If your pet continues to behave in a way that makes grooming unsafe, Healdsburg Dog Grooming may stop services at any time and charge for services already performed.

Dogs requiring additional handling, muzzling, or additional staff assistance because of aggression or significant nervousness may be charged a higher grooming rate because these pets generally require additional time and staff resources.

Interruptions During Grooming

For the safety of the animals being groomed and the grooming staff, please do not interrupt the grooming process.

An excited or distracted pet can become difficult or unsafe to continue grooming. After dropping your pet off, please do not return to the salon until we have contacted you to let you know your pet is ready for pickup.

If you have questions while your pet is with us, please call or contact the salon rather than entering the grooming area.

Matted Coats

Pets with severely matted coats require additional care. Mats can tighten against the skin and may cause or conceal skin irritation, sores, parasites, moisture, urine, bacteria, fungus, or other conditions.

Healdsburg Dog Grooming will not subject a pet to serious or undue stress through extensive dematting. When matting cannot reasonably or safely be brushed out, shaving the affected coat may be necessary.

Removing a heavily matted coat carries additional risks. Skin may be pulled into or hidden within mats, increasing the possibility of nicks, cuts, abrasions, or irritation during removal.

Conditions concealed beneath the coat may become visible only after the matted hair has been removed.

After mat removal, pets may experience temporary itching, redness, sensitivity, self-inflicted irritation or abrasions, and, in some cases, changes in coat regrowth or brief behavioral changes.

By signing this agreement, you authorize Healdsburg Dog Grooming to shave or remove matted coat when we determine that doing so is the safest and most humane grooming option for your pet, and you acknowledge the risks associated with that process.

Additional charges may apply for significant mat removal because the process requires additional time and causes increased wear on grooming equipment.

Regular grooming appointments, generally every 4–8 weeks depending on the pet's coat and needs, are the best way to help prevent severe matting.

Cancellations & No-Shows

Healdsburg Dog Grooming sends an appointment reminder by text or email before scheduled appointments when current contact information is available. Please make sure we have the correct phone number and email address for you.

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please contact us as soon as possible. We require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling so that we have an opportunity to offer the appointment to another customer.

We will generally hold a grooming appointment for 15 minutes past the scheduled drop-off time. Appointments arriving more than 15 minutes late may be released depending on the day's schedule and demand.

No-shows and appointments canceled with less than 24 hours' notice may incur a $50 fee, payable before or when scheduling the next appointment.

Acknowledgment & Electronic Signature

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the Healdsburg Dog Grooming Client Agreement & Release, including the policies concerning grooming risks, medical emergencies, vaccinations, contagious illness, matting, aggressive or stressed animals, cancellations, and no-shows.

I authorize Healdsburg Dog Grooming to provide grooming services for my pets subject to these terms. I understand that this agreement applies to all dogs I currently own and any dogs I may own in the future.

I understand that typing my full legal name and submitting this agreement constitutes my electronic signature and indicates my intent to sign and agree to this agreement electronically.

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