While all care will be taken to ensure your dog is safe while with HTDS and always supervised by trained employees, you agree that, due to the way that dogs interact with each other, cuts, scratches and other minor injuries can occur. You agree that if an incident occurs where your dog becomes injured or sick, at HTDS discretion and wherever possible, HTDS will attempt to resolve the situation internally. If it is not possible, HTDS will take your dog to receive veterinary attention.

You agree for HTDS to deal with any minor sickness and/or injuries to your dog without contacting you about each individual incident (including but not limited to: minimal vomiting or diarrhea, fleas, ticks, minor cuts and scratches). Any cost relating to and/or bills arising from any minor injury to your dog will be charged to you. You agree to pay HTDS within three (3) business days of being notified of any outstanding charges. Those payments can be made, by clicking here, with a debit or credit card.

You agree that if at any point while in HTDS care it is determined that your dog requires emergency veterinary attention that HTDS should make every effort to ensure your dog will receive treatment and you give HTDS permission to seek this veterinary attention without your consent for each individual incident. Where possible HTDS will attempt to contact you and discuss all the options that are available prior to seeking this veterinary attention.

Any cost related to and/or bills arising from seeking veterinary attention will be charged to you. You agree to pay HTDS within three (3) business days of being notified of any outstanding charges. This payment can be made with a debit or credit card.

You also agree that HTDS may contact your emergency nominated party (if you are unavailable) to discuss the same options with them. You agree to make your emergency contact aware that HTDS has their name and contact information and you agree to confirm with them that they will be able to assist HTDS in your absence.

CONNECT FORM [1 DOG] | EXTRA CONNECT [2+ DOGS]

Connect Forms are a mandatory part of being a client of HTDS. All clients, regardless of what service they require or how many services, will need to fill out a Connect Form and submit it through our website before they can have any services started for them.

You agree to ensure you complete a Connect Form at the outset of our business relationship and will be honest and upfront about any of your dogs medical, behavioural condition(s) or any other condition they have.

In the case of clients who would like Minding or Walking services started, they will also require proof of valid C5 vaccination, trial services and to give us contact information for their nominated emergency contact. Click here for more information about emergency contacts.

GENERAL INFO You agree to pay for your dog’s services (including walking, minding, training, grooming, forthcoming adventures, photography and/or any other service with HTDS) in advance through our online bookings system, Acuity Scheduling. Payment on this system can be made with a credit or debit card or through any alternative payment method linked to your PayPal account. Please be aware that our services can fill up quickly and some may not be available at late notice. We recommend you book standard social walks a minimum of seven (7) days prior to them occuring. Bookings close twenty four (24) hours prior to the scheduled service commencing.

REFUNDS If a service is cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the booking, you will recieve credit for your service. If a service is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, you may be charged for the service. HTDS does not offer refunds for change of mind; HTDS will only offer refunds in extenuating circumstances. You will need to contact HTDS to discuss your refund request.

DISCOUNTS Are ONLY VALID ONE AT A TIME and can only be redeemed through our online bookings system, Acuity Scheduling, unless expressly stated otherwise. Varied discounts exist for our services for loyal clients and members. Other discounts will be available for new clients, specific events, services and products. These may be made available to the general public or to a select group of clients, at HTDS discretion. Please check our website regularly for more information about discounts.

CREDIT TRANSFERS There are many possible reasons why you might need to transfer your credits from one type of service to another. When you arrange a credit transfer with us we will figure out how many credits of the other type of service you need are possible and then arrange a unique coupon code that you will be able to use (with an expiry or not, at HTDS discretion) that you will be able to use on our Acuity bookings page.

You agree to let anyone working or volunteering for HTDS take photos and/or videos of your dog that may be posted on the HTDS Facebook, Instagram, business website (thehappiestoftails.com.au) and/or any other related web pages. You also agree that these photos and/or videos may be published in HTDS future blogs and/or newsletters, and/or published in our Photography Galleries and made available for purchase.

You agree to let HTDS use any photo(s) and/or video(s) of your dog for promotional and/or advertising purposes. HTDS will be the exclusive owner to the results and/or proceeds of such media.

Please note: HTDS respects your right to request that photos of your dog, of which you do not approve, be removed. If a photo or video is posted to which you strongly object you can notify HTDS and that photo or video will be removed from HTDS social media, business website and/or any other related web pages.

HTDS does not discriminate against dogs based on their breed or for any other reason. We do understand though, that some types of dogs are more at risk than others to become injured and/or experience potentially life-threatening conditions. These include: highly anxious, flat-faced and large/overweight dogs.

Some common risk factors include but are not limited to: heat stroke and/or respiratory distress, severe anxiety, hip dysplasia, and severe allergies. Breeds that commonly experience these issues include but are not limited to: Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Australian Cattle Dogs, American and English Staffordshire Terriers.

Any dog may be considered by HTDS to be high risk and may require extra documentation for HTDS to commence services. If your dog has ever been to the vet for any reason other than vaccinations and general check ups, HTDS may consider your dog to be of high risk and you agree to provide a medical history of your dog from your vet (with a letterhead).

You must disclose ALL relevant information to HTDS about your dog’s care and/or health requirements.

Additionally, dogs who are considered high risk by HTDS will be required to have a minimum of one (1) walk for one (1) hour per week for a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to any minding services commencing. This is to ensure a rapport is built between HTDS and your dog and to help lessen the likelihood of any anxiety based issues occurring while your dog is in HTDS care. More walks may be needed before HTDS may approve any future minding services, these will be added at HTDS discretion.

Not all dogs are friendly while others are too friendly - both can potentially become risky. Many dogs can be well behaved most of the time, but some things trigger them, like other dogs being around their food or toys, or in their face too much. Other dogs are overly excited and friendly, some to the point where they annoy or trigger other dogs. Whatever quirks, triggers or behaviours your dog has, we need to get to know them and their personality and how their socialisation works.

This is another important part of why we ask for FULL DISCLOSURE of your dogs BEHAVIOUR and MEDICAL RECORD (excluding regular check ups).

You agree to ensure all information about your dog’s behaviour is communicated clearly to HTDS. Some of the questions you may be asked at any time while a client of HTDS are: has your dog been involved in any fights, if they are likely to wander from our group or scavange, how they have been interacting with other dogs, how their training and obedience is, particularly their recall, if they have ever bitten you, and more.

You agree that HTDS may cancel your services at any time for reasons including, but not limited to, a breach of the terms outlined in this contract, not disclosing information or disclosing wrongful or misleading information relating to the care and/or nature of your dog, or refusal to pay the agreed rate.

You agree that should your dog become accidentally injured, ill or lost HTDS will not be held responsible and you release HTDS and it’s employees and volunteers, including Matthew Sean Pels, from any claims arising from said injury or loss.

In addition to this, if your dog bites or otherwise injures any human, dog or any other animal you will indemnify and protect HTDS and it’s employees and/or volunteers, including Matthew Sean Pels, from any claim or suit filed by anyone as a result of such an incident.

You certify that you are eighteen (18) years of age or older and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract. Further, you certify that you have read and understand the rules and regulations set forth in this agreement.

You agree to abide by the rules and regulations and accept all the terms, conditions and statements of this agreement.