1. Mandatory Disclosure

The client must disclose all known medical conditions, injuries, allergies, and behavioral issues (including, but not limited to):

1. Heart conditions, seizures, or fainting history
2. Recent surgeries (within the last 6 months)
3. Orthopedic issues (arthritis, hip/joint problems, luxating patella, disc disease)
4. Respiratory issues (collapsed trachea, asthma)
5. Skin conditions, cysts, lumps, or moles
6. Anxiety, stress, or known sensitivity to noise or touch

2. Risk and Aggravation Acknowledgment

You understand and agree that the stress, physical manipulation, or time required for grooming may inadvertently expose a hidden medical problem or temporarily aggravate a current one, including:

1. Elderly/Geriatric Pets: Senior pets (typically over 8 years old) are at a higher risk of stress, fatigue, or injury due to underlying conditions. Grooming may cause stiffness, soreness, or agitation.
2. Stress-Related Conditions: The anxiety or agitation associated with the grooming environment (noise, handling, restraint) may trigger or worsen conditions such as seizures, anxiety attacks, or breathing difficulties.
3. Physical Aggravation: Handling the pet may aggravate existing joint, back, or neck pain that may not be apparent outside of the grooming environment.

If your pet is presented with severe matting:

1. Mandatory Shave-Down: We will not attempt to de-matt or brush out a coat that is heavily or tightly matted. The process of pulling a matted coat causes significant pain, stress, and trauma to the pet's skin, which we refuse to inflict. The only humane course of action is to safely shave the coat short using clippers placed underneath the matting.
2. Health Risks: You understand and accept that a shave-down of a matted coat may reveal or cause underlying issues that were hidden, including: skin irritation, redness, bruising, sores, hematomas (especially on extremities), and itchiness as the skin begins to breathe again. We are not responsible for these conditions revealed by the mat removal.
3. Matting Fee: Due to the specialized care, time, and wear-and-tear on equipment required to safely clip a matted coat, an additional Matting Fee (e.g., $25 - $50/hour) will be added to the standard grooming price.
4. No Guarantee of Appearance: We will make every effort to safely and evenly remove the matted coat, but due to the nature of the matting, the final appearance of the coat may be uneven or very short.
5. Owner Consent: By signing this form, you authorize us to proceed with the necessary shave-down for the welfare of your pet, even if we are unable to reach you by phone during the groom.

We operate One- On-One, which means we dedicate a specific appointment slot exclusively to your pet. When an appointment is missed or canceled without sufficient notice, it directly impacts our groomers' livelihood and prevents other pets from receiving needed services.

Late Cancellation (Less than 48 hours notice) & No-Show Policy

1. Late Cancellation Policy

Communication to cancel or reschedule an appointment must be received a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time.

2. No-Show occurs when the client fails to arrive for a scheduled appointment without giving any prior notification.

***We send a 72-hour reminder as a courtesy; please note this does not negate your responsibility to provide 48 hours' notice.

A mandatory fee equal to 50% of the original services booked will be charged.

All fees (Cancellation and No-Show) will be applied to the payment card on file (if provided) or immediately added as an active balance owed on your account.

This balance must be paid in full to book, reschedule, or receive any future services from Passionate Paws Co.

Any late cancellation (less than 48-hour notice) or no-show counts as one strike against the client account.

1. Strike 1 & 2: You will be charged the standard cancellation/no-show fee, and a written warning will be issued to remind you of this policy.
2. Strike 3 (Termination/Pre-Payment): Upon incurring the third strike, (1) you will be charged the standard cancellation/no-show fee, and (2) your account will be marked as ineligible for future bookings, and you will be notified that your business relationship with Passionate Paws Co has been terminated.

The Alternative: Pre-Payment Option

If a client reaches Strike 3 but wishes to continue using our services, they may agree to the following mandatory alternative:

1. 100% Pre-Payment Requirement: All future appointments must be paid for in full at the time of booking.
2. Non-Refundable: The pre-paid amount is non-refundable if the client cancels late or fails to show up for the appointment. The fee is forfeited to cover the groomer's lost time.

1. Sanitation Fee (Excessive Fecal Matter)

If excessive fecal matter is found on any part of your pet upon arrival or during the grooming process, a mandatory Sanitation Fee of $10.00 will be added to your invoice.

1. Rationale: Excessive waste is a biohazard that carries and can spread harmful bacteria and disease, requiring specialized cleaning and extended time for the groomer.

2. Mandatory Flea & Tick Treatment Policy

If any fleas or ticks are discovered on your pet at any point during the grooming process, we must take immediate action to prevent infestation of our facility and other pets.

You will be immediately contacted with two options:

1. Immediate Pick-Up: You must arrange for the immediate pick-up of your pet, and you will be charged for any services rendered up to that point.
2. Mandatory Treatment: We will administer immediate treatment to eliminate the parasites. A non-negotiable Flea & Tick Treatment Fee of $35.00 will be added to your invoice.
3. Treatment Consists Of: Administration of an oral flea treatment (Capstar) and a specialized flea-killing bath, in addition to all other scheduled grooming services.

The safety and health of our staff and all pets in our care is our highest priority. Passionate Paws Co. reserves the right to refuse, suspend, or discontinue service at any time if the pet's presence poses a risk to itself, staff, or other patrons.

Should any of the following scenarios occur, we will make immediate contact to arrange for your pet to be sent home, and the client will be charged for any services rendered up to that point.

Scenarios for Immediate Refusal and Sending Pet Home:

- Persistent Aggression or Hazardous Behavior

1. Scenario: Discontinue service if the pet exhibits persistent aggression, poses a safety risk, or if behavior is beyond the scope of a pre-booked grooming rehabilitation appointment.
2. Rebooking Requirement: Rebooking will be at the sole discretion of management.

- Active Skin Infections or Open Lesions

1. Scenario: Discovery of open lesions, excessive scabs, severe hot spots, or obvious signs of bacterial or fungal skin infections.
2. Rebooking Requirement: Veterinary Clearance Required. Cannot rebook without a signed Veterinarians Note certifying a clean bill of health and completion of treatment.

- Contagious or Systemic Illness

1. Scenario: The pet exhibits symptoms of contagious illness, including (but not limited to): excessive sneezing, respiratory distress, coughing, wheezing, fever, lethargy, or excessive nasal/eye discharge (unless related to a pre-diagnosed and cleared ailment).
2. Rebooking Requirement: Veterinary Clearance Required. Cannot rebook without a signed Veterinarians Note certifying a clean bill of health and completion of treatment.

- Internal or External Parasites

1. Scenario: Discovery of any kind of internal worm or excessive external parasite infestation (e.g., lice, mites, or severe flea presence not immediately treatable).
2. Rebooking Requirement: Veterinary Clearance Required. Cannot rebook without a signed Veterinarians Note certifying a clean bill of health and negative parasite test results.