Barks Pet Sitting Guidelines and Policies

  1. Pet Sitting visits are available 7 days a week beginning between 6:30 and 8 a.m. The latest regular visits are scheduled from 7:30 -8 pm. Additional visits are available up until 9 pm for an additional $10. Barks and Blooms does have increased charges for holidays of $10
  2. Barks Business Hours – Barks business hours are 8:30 am- 5 pm Monday through Friday. Business calls will be returned during these hours only. Barks employees and management do receive texts and will respond during business hours. Due to the nature of our business, please try to respect management and walkers off hours.
  3. Visit times: Barks will visit at the requested times as closely as possible. However, if we are caring for multiple pets, the times may be shifted a little to accommodate our clients. We will do our very best to arrive at the appointed times.
  4. Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, Barks has requested on your profile the name and phone number of a person living nearby. If Barks is physically unable to reach your home due to impassable roads, please provide us with this information so that we can contact this person to request assistance. Your pets’ health and well-being are our utmost concern and we will contact you as soon as possible to keep you informed of these events. Barks also asks that you keep beach towels available on very rainy days. We do walk dogs in the rain, but on days with very heavy downpours, we do get our dogs out for bathroom breaks and use the remainder of our time with inside play. It is our goal to keep dogs and walkers healthy
  5. Additional Pet Care Assistance And Other Scheduled Services: We all want our pets to have all the love and attention they deserve, but please be advised that if there are other persons entering and leaving your home, Barks cannot be held liable for any damages or problems that may arise as a result. Please inform us at the time of the consultation of anyone who may have access to your home while you are away. This includes cleaning services, repairpersons, friends, family, and neighbors. Barks does not accept liability for other persons who will be in your home during pet care and health services.
  6. Vaccinations/Immunizations: Barks requires that all pets have the necessary vaccinations and immunizations before service begins.
  7. Unforeseen purchases: Barks will purchase pet food, litter, cleaning supplies or other necessary items that contribute to the health and well being of your pet while you are absent. We will retain a receipt and the pet owner is responsible for reimbursement of these items. In addition, a $10.00 trip fee will be charged to the pet owner.
  8. Pet waste: Barks will properly dispose of all pet waste. We do request that you provide plastic bags for this purpose and indicate where you would like these waste bags disposed of.
  9. Leashes: All dogs will be required to be on leash during outdoor walks.
  10. Animal Behavior: Animals’ behavior can be unpredictable. Barks does not accept responsibility or liability for animal behavior, normal or otherwise, which results in injury to the client’s animals. . This basically means, if your dog does something crazy or out of our control, it is not our fault. (i.e- eats your couch and gets sick while you are gone )
  11. Fences: Fenced in yards are wonderful playgrounds for our dogs and allow them additional space to exercise and play. However, no fence system is totally secure. Barks does not accept responsibility or liability for any client’s animals that escape or become lost or injured, fatal or otherwise when instructed to leave the clients animals in a fenced-in area. This includes electronic, wood, metal or any other type of fence. BARKS does NOT like to leave pets unattended outside.
  12. Other dogs: We will not permit your dogs to interact with strange dogs. If stray dogs that are off-leash approach, we will do our best to keep interaction at a minimum and move away from them.
  13. Accidents Barks will clean up after your pets to the best of our ability. Please inform us of the designated area for the appropriate cleaning supplies. If there are accidents above and beyond the normal amount anticipated, Barks will charge a reasonable fee for clean up time. Barks will leave very dark stains and simply cover them with a paper towel. Only an owner knows how to clean their carpets effectively.
  14. Privacy Policy: All of your information will be kept private and confidential. Barks highly respects our clients’ entrusting us with the care of their home and their loving pets. We do recommend that you inform a trusted neighbor that while you are away, Barks will be caring for your pets and your home.
  15. Household Emergencies: Please leave the name and number of a trusted maintenance company or a person you can rely on to attend to any household emergencies that may arise during your absence. This includes but is not limited to; leaking pipes, malfunctioning water heaters and heating, and air units.
  16. Thermostats: Please leave your thermostat settings within a normal comfortable range (65-74°F). If the house temperature is outside of this range, Barks will adjust the thermostat. This is to ensure the health and comfort of your pets and Barks during our time of service.
  17. Early Returns/Last minute Changes: It is not unusual for trip plans to change at the last minute. However, please understand that Barks carefully schedules our time to service you and our other clients. Therefore, there are no refunds or credits for early returns or last-minute changes to pet care. Once pet care begins, payment is due for the original dates scheduled.
  18. Cancellations for traveling customers: Barks requires a full 2-day notice prior to the date of the first visit. Failure to provide notice in less than four days will result in a $5.00 cancellation fee payable by the pet owner for one visit. A 20% fee will be charged to customers traveling three days or more.
  19. Holiday Cancellations: With the exception of severe weather, life-threatening emergencies or a death in the family, Any cancellations prior to a major holiday; ie: Christmas, New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Thanksgiving with less than a four day notice will result in 25% of the total invoice for scheduled pet care to be paid. We request your understanding that Holiday travel is a peak service time for pet care.
  20. Cancellations for Mid-Day Service: A 24-hour notice is required prior to the next scheduled visit. Otherwise, payment is 50% of the originally agreed upon to compensate for the walkers’ regular, dependable income.
  21. Termination of Mid-Day Service: Please provide Barks with a full -week or 7- day notice in the event mid-day service is no longer needed. If a full week or 7-day notice is not provided, payment is due for the service originally agreed upon.
  22. Payment: Barks accepts cash or checks. Payment is due at the time of or prior to the first visit. Please make all checks payable to Barks and Blooms. Regular customers are billed bi-weekly.
  23. Returned Check Charges: There is a $25.00 fee for all returned checks.
  24. Late Payments: There is a $10.00 late charge fee for all late payments. Payments are greatly appreciated upon receipt. We do allow a 15 day grace period, after this time a $10.00 late fee will be applied for each late passing week.
  25. If a client emails or text’s us on the date of service and we do not receive it or show up, the customer is still responsible for payment.

    I, ,, have read, understand and agree to the policies and guidelines of (Provider). I further understand that a copy of this form will be kept on file for documentary purposes. All policies and guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of (Provider).

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