Terms and Conditions
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Before performing any services, you must read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
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Terms and conditions
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Your animal is critical to Barks & Bubbles; I assure you that every effort will be made to make your animal's grooming experience as safe and pleasant as possible.
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Health or Medical Problems
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We will undertake grooming with the utmost professionalism and care for your pet; however, occasionally, grooming may expose a hidden medical problem or aggravate a current one. This may occur during or after grooming. Upon signing this agreement, the animal's owner will cover all medical expenses for veterinary care.
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Undisclosed Medical / Behavioural issues
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Barks and Bubbles will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred during the grooming process if medical problems have not been disclosed.
Barks and Bubbles will not be held responsible for any skin problems or irritations during or after grooming if any allergies have not been disclosed.
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Accidents
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Although accidents are infrequent, there is a risk when handling pets. Although we use extreme caution and care in all situations, grooming equipment is exceptionally sharp, and possible accidents can occur. This could include (but is not limited to): cuts, nicks, scratches, or clips to the quick of the claw.
In most cases, this can happen when a pet is wiggling or moving around. Your pet's safety and comfort are our priority, but I will notify you if an accident occurs. If Barks & Bubbles feels it is an accident requiring veterinary attention and the pet owner is not on-site, Barks & Bubbles will seek immediate veterinary care for your animal.
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Veterinarian Authorization /Medical Emergencies
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This release gives Barks & Bubbles full authorisation to seek medical treatment from the nearest licensed veterinarian in the case of any medical emergencies. At the same time, the pet is in Barks & Bubbles' care. However, all veterinary costs and expenses will be the responsibility of the animal's owner.
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Dangerous or Aggressive Animals
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Refusal of Services – Barks & Bubbles retains the right to refuse any services. If your animal is too stressed or becomes dangerous to groom, Barks & Bubbles maintains the right to refuse services, stop grooming services, or cancel the services at any time before, during, or after grooming. The client will be charged for the entire appointment.
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Sedated Pets
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We do NOT work on sedated pets, as there is a risk of side effects from the sedation, which we are not medically trained to handle. If you sedate your pet for its appointment and do not inform us of it, you understand that we will not be held liable for any repercussions of the sedation. If we believe your pet has been sedated, we will refuse services or stop services, and a fee will be charged for services rendered.
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Vaccination, Flea & Worm Treatment Policies
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All pets must be up to date with vaccinations; you should prove that they are up to date. We cannot accept pets without up-to-date vaccinations and retain the right to turn away your pet should the matter arise.
Flea and worm treatment must be within the guidelines of dosage every three months for worms, and Flea & tick treatment should be done every month.
If your dog is found to have fleas, a £10 charge will be added to your bill, as the salon will need to be cleaned to deal with the parasites. This could result in me having to cancel my next customer.
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Matted Coats
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Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Barks and Bubbles will only attempt to de-mat a dog's coat for a maximum of 20 minutes if it is severely matted.
If a dog's coat needs to be clipped, we will call you before proceeding with the work to obtain your permission.
A matted coat charge of £20 will be added to your final bill.
If the dog is too matted, Barks and Bubbles reserve the right not to carry out the groom for health and safety reasons. For some dogs, it may be necessary to recommend a vet-sedated clip-off. The decision to advise this is never taken lightly, but, in some cases, it can be advisable so that we can start working on your dog with a very short coat, so we don’t risk catching small mats or clipping claws before they are ready.
Please note that I will retain a matted coat for up to six months; this fur is bagged, named and dated.
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Puppy Packages
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I will ask for the puppy package payment before the sessions are booked into my diary. As explained, these sessions are non-refundable. However, please be aware that although I can progress with more confident puppies within their six sessions, some can take much longer. I will not be able to give you a progress timescale. Please let me know if my grooming style is not for you, and I will try to pass you on to a more suitable groomer.
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Pricing/Payment
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A guide price will be agreed upon with you before the groom. Guide prices are based on the length of time it will take to groom your dog, your dog's behaviour, and the condition of your dog's coat. All these factors will affect the final price.
Payment must be received within 24 hours of your groom.
All new clients are required to leave a deposit of half of the groom's cost. This deposit will be taken off the price of your groom or can be carried over to the next groom. This deposit is not refundable; you will lose your deposit if you cancel or do not show up for your appointment.
If payment is not received, you have broken your contract, and grooming services will cease. I will pursue payment through small claims court.
Drop off and collect your dog
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Please ensure your dog has been to the toilet before coming to the salon.
Unfortunately, if you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, the groom will be canceled, and you will be charged the total price of the groom.
I will call you when your dog is ready to be collected; please only show up after I call you. If you are running late, please let me know as soon as possible. As I am a small salon, I do not have kennelling facilities. If your lateness stops me from seeing my next customer, a £45 holding charge will be added to your bill.
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Cancellations/ No Shows
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We book hourly, and cancellations can leave an empty block in the schedule that another customer could have otherwise used. We ask that any rescheduling or cancellations be made at least 48 hours in advance, or a late cancellation fee of half the total groom cost will apply.
If you do not call to cancel and do not show up to your appointment, this is considered a "no call, no show", and the cost of the full groom will apply; this will need to be paid in full before you may schedule another appointment.
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Communication
I will always be open and honest about your dog and how it behaves in the grooming environment. In return, I expect you to do me the same courtesy. Ignoring important messages from me is not acceptable. If you no longer need my services, please let me know so that I can remove you from my client list.
Unfortunately, if I don't hear from you within 12 weeks of your last appointment, I will remove you as a client.
Unfortunately, once you have left, I will not be able to take you back. It takes time and effort to build a bond with your dog, and if they have visited another groomer, I then have to start building trust again.
Clarity is key when it comes to grooming instructions.
If you say "I'll leave it to you," I will always err on the side of caution and leave the coat slightly longer. Without clear guidance, I have to make a judgment call based on your dog’s coat, comfort, and overall condition.
Please be considerate of this process — if you have a specific style or length in mind, let me know beforehand. Calling to complain after the groom isn’t fair, as you’ve had every opportunity to communicate your preferences.
I always want you (and your dog!) to be happy with the result, and clear instructions help make that possible.
Satisfaction /Complaints
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Your satisfaction is important to us. If you are unhappy and want something adjusted, we will happily make any reasonable adjustments when picking up your pet from their appointment. We understand that your pet is excited to see you when you pick them up, making it hard to evaluate the groom. If you decide you would like something adjusted, please call us within 24 hours, and we'll arrange to book you another appointment.
A quick reminder:
Threatening to post negative things about me or my business on social media to get a reaction or refund is not acceptable — and it won’t be tolerated.
I work hard to provide a kind, professional service where your dog’s welfare comes first. If you ever have a genuine concern, I’m more than happy to have a respectful conversation. But using threats or intimidation is not the way.
Mutual respect is the foundation of how I work — with dogs and with their humans.
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Data Protection
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As part of the Data Protection Act, it is now necessary for me to inform you of the information I keep about you and your dog, how it is used and stored, and to receive permission for specific information to be stored and used. Client information is paper-based. This is stored in a locked file in my home office; client information is also stored on my Shake a tail account, which is password-protected. This information will only be accessible by Lorna Williams. I use Shake a Tail Software on my mobile phone and desktop to keep records of your name, dog's name, mobile telephone and details of each grooming appointment; I am happy to share this information with you if you wish. Both my Mobile Phone and desktop are
secure using number pins, facial recognition and passwords.
Your data will not be shared with anyone.
It is the guardian’s responsibility to read and understand these terms and conditions in full. I will not accept responsibility for any misunderstandings resulting from a guardian not reading this protocol thoroughly.
By signing below, you acknowledge and accept this protocol, helping to ensure a calm and positive experience for your dog.
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I have read the Terms and Conditions for accuracy and understand the contents of this contract. I affirm that I am the rightful legal owner of the dog(s) for which services are being rendered.
I agree with my dog's image being used on social media.
I permit Lorna to perform emergency first aid if needed.
I permit Lorna to use food during the groom
I understand that pricing is subject to change.
I have read, signed, and agreed to the above.
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