Terms and ConditionsNew Client Consultation & Behavioral Assessment: We come to your home, meet you and your pet(s), and complete a profile. We require one working emergency key for office use only, the code to a lockbox or garage for on property access for your dog walker/pet sitter, and a 100% deposit for initial services, and then we can get started!Key Pick-up/Drop Off: We collect one emergency key at your consultation and get the code to your lockbox or garage code for on property access. Your emergency key will remain in a locked safe and is for office use only. If you do not have service after two years, we reserve the right to destroy your key. Charges apply for emergency key services.Lockbox: If you choose a lockbox, please put it in an area that your walker or sitter can safely reach it (not down a hill in rain, snow or ice for example). It is the client’s responsibility to keep the lockbox functioning (example—not covered in ice or water) and replace broken units. Always test the lockbox prior to service if it has not been used in more than two weeks.Payment: We reserve the right to discontinue service if payments are not made as scheduled. We accept cash and checks only. There is a $40 fee for returned payments, including online errors. Invoices are emailed out at the beginning of the following month after services have been completed, and are due by the 8th of the month. (For example — for May service, you will get an emailed invoice on the 1st of June, and payment is due on June 8th.)New Clients: 100% deposit due before first service.Existing Clients: 100% of the payment is due upon completion of services.Emailed invoices are sent on the first of the month. Payment is due on the 8th of the month.Late Fee: Late fee will be applied after 30 days. Recurring service will be terminated after 2 consecutive months of non-payment, and pre-payment will be required for any future services.Cancellation Policy: In order to avoid a fee, you must meet the following requirements:Recurring Dog Walking: You must notify the office before 9am on the day of service.Pet Sitting/Occasional Dog Walking: You must notify the office 24 hours before service begins.Overnight Stays: You must notify the office 24 hours before service begins.Failure to meet these conditions will result in a 50% charge, unless you are within one hour of your arrival window, in which case there is a 100% charge. Advanced notice of cancellations is most appreciated.Adding Appointment Policy: Please allow as much time for additional scheduling visits as possible. Last minute requests may be scheduled but are not always guaranteed. You can schedule by emailing contact@doodlebugdogwalker.com, or requesting services or messaging in the Time to Pet portal. An email confirmation will always be sent for your records.Late Notice Requests: If you request a visit with less than 1 business day notice, or if you request a service for the next business day while the office is closed, it will be a $25 fee. Your request WILL be handled even if the office is closed. Even when the office is 'closed' there is always an administrator observing for last minute requests, and they will handle and respond as soon as they are able. Doodlebug Holidays: There will be an additional $25 charge for peak holidays including: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. *Recurring daily walks do not occur on holidays, unless separately scheduled.*Recurring Dog Walking Clients: Please provide 2 weeks notice if you will be ending recurring dog walking service so your walker can replace that time spot.Meet and Greets: $25 fee per Meet and Greet with your walker or pet sitter. This fee entitles you to meet with your walker or pet sitter for a maximum of 30 minutes.Office Hours: You can expect a response from the office during our Office Hours only. If after Office Hours, please expect a response after we reopen the following business day. Office Hours are Monday through Friday at 8am to 5pm. On Doodlebug Holidays the office will be closed.Inclement Weather Policy: Because inclement weather provides travel and traffic challenges for our team to arrive safely at your home to take care of your beloved pets, Doodlebug has implemented an official inclement weather policy, as follows below:During inclement weather, if your walks or visits are not essential OR you are changing your plans to stay in town or work from home, please cancel your services.If you are out of town and have an alternative caregiver close by, please make arrangements to have them on-call to care for your pets. Note that in order to make emergency arrangements, we need their contact number. Due to inclement weather, if it is not safe to travel to your home, we will contact your alternative caregiver to begin caring for your pets. When this happens, we will send you an email notification and you will not be charged for any visits we can not attend.If you are out of town and have no alternative caregivers, we will contact you to work with you on a plan to care for your pets.Inclement Weather Policy for Dog Walking Clients:If Doodlebug Dog Walker is closed due to inclement weather, you will be notified via email and the Time to Pet portal messaging service.
Important additional notes:If we are open for service, and you will be staying home that day OR your company is closed, please email contact@doodlebugdogwalker.com or text/call 571-969-5717 or message through the Time To Pet portal by 9am.If we are open, and you do not cancel, please clear a parking spot and a safe path to your entry way for your walker.If you live in an area where our walker cannot reach your home safely, because of poor road conditions, service will not be provided. You will receive an email notification if this happens.Inclement Weather Policy for Pet Sitting Clients (Two Options)Option One: During inclement weather, our policies require a local resource (friend or neighbor) as a point of contact we can call if inclement weather threatens our ability to service your pet while we are pet sitting. If this happens to be the case, you will be notified via Time to Pet, and not charged for any services we are unable to provide.Option Two: Alternatively, when possible (after determined by our pet sitter availability), we can provide round the clock service, and stay in your home at a rate of $275 per 24 hours, prorated after the first 24 hours until it is safe for our walker to resume going to and from your home as scheduled.Cameras: Please let the office know if you have cameras as a courtesy. If there are cameras inside or outside the home, you are not permitted to share footage without Doodlebug Dog Walker, LLC approval. Doodlebug Dog Walker, LLC owns 100% of the video footage of our staff.Non-solicitation of Doodlebug Dog Walker, LLC Team Members: When entering into an agreement for services with Doodlebug Dog Walker, LLC you agree not to solicit for hire any staff member introduced to you by Doodlebug Dog Walker, LLC for any pet care related services. We spend a lot of time and resources finding, interviewing, conducting background and reference checks, and training our team members. When hired, they sign an agreement barring them from performing any pet related service for any of our past or present customers. If you are found to have solicited one of our staff, please be advised that our referral/training fee is $2,500 per hired team member. Payment is due within 30 days from the date on the invoice. We consider our team members our most valuable asset and charge accordingly.