Terms & Conditions.
Agreement to Terms & Conditions is a requirement for service
Service Completion:
The sitter agrees to complete the agreed-upon services in an attentive, reliable, and caring manner.
Pet Health and Safety:
The owner is responsible for ensuring that the pet is free from fleas, mites, ticks, worms, or other parasites, and must promptly inform Jen’s Pet Care if this status changes.
The owner must confirm that the pet has not been diagnosed with any contagious diseases such as parvovirus or kennel cough and does not exhibit any signs of illness. Any changes in the pet's health must be immediately communicated to Jen’s Pet Care.
New Client Meet and Greet:
New clients will receive a complimentary in-person Meet and Greet prior to booking the first service. Additional Meet and Greets/Visits may be requested by clients for an additional fee.
Key Handling:
Clients are required to provide spare house keys or instructions for property entry either during the Meet and Greet or securely hidden for the sitter to retrieve on the first day of service.
Clients may choose to leave a key with the sitter for future bookings, and all keys will be promptly returned upon request or termination of services.
If the client prefers key return after each service, the sitter will leave keys in a designated, secure location on the final day of service. In-person pick-up and drop-off options are available for an additional fee.
In the event of lost, stolen, or misplaced keys, the sitter will immediately notify the client. The sitter may be responsible for the cost of replacements, new locks, or hiring a locksmith if necessary.
Surveillance and Access:
Clients must disclose the presence and location of any surveillance cameras on or around the premises.
Any expected entry by other individuals during the service period must be communicated to the sitter.
Cameras in bathrooms or bedrooms will not be tolerated, and the discovery of cameras in these spaces may result in immediate cancellation of services without a refund.
Accurate Information:
Clients must ensure that all information provided, whether in forms, messages, or verbally, is true and accurate.
Equipment Usage:
The sitter will typically use their own leash but requires owners to provide suitable collars, harnesses, etc. for services.
The sitter will ensure all equipment, excluding owner-provided items, is of high quality and free from damage that may pose a risk to the pet's safety.
Clients must ensure suitable, appropriate, well-fitting equipment the sitter may need to complete services is easily accessible. If equipment is not accessible/cannot be found, the sitter may use their own suitable and appropriate equipment instead. Below is a list of suitable and unsuitable equipment (please note the preferred equipment is a flat collar or back-clip harness).
Suitable: Back clip harness, front clip harness, flat collar, martingale collar, headcollar (commonly known as a Halti)
Not suitable: Prong collar, E-collar/shock collar, choke chain, flexi-lead/retractable lead, bungee lead/no-pull lead
Behavioural and Health Issues:
Clients must inform the sitter of any pre-existing behavioural or health issues affecting their pets, including but not limited to anxiety, aggression, reactivity, and allergies.
Clients must promptly notify the sitter of any new medical issues that arise during the service period for proper care and attention.
In Case Of Emergency:
If the sitter is having an emergency that delays or prevents the required pet care, the sitter is to notify the client immediately. If the owner and emergency contacts cannot be reached, the sitter will contact a trusted emergency backup of their own to take over the service until the client can give further instructions.
If the sitter needs to cancel at any point prior to the start of the service for any reason, the client can choose to receive a full refund for any pending services or use payment as a credit for future service.
At NO point is the sitter to stop services without the client and emergency contact being notified, and making sure the pets will continue to be cared for in the sitter's absence.
Veterinary & Emergency Information:
In the event of an emergency, the sitter will make every attempt to contact you and your emergency contact(s). The animal's well-being and safety are most important, and the sitter will seek appropriate medical care for your pet in an emergency, even if you cannot be reached immediately. Jen’s Pet Care will request your written consent in the release form that even if the sitter cannot reach you, it is still appropriate and necessary for the sitter to seek medical care for your pet in a life-threatening emergency.
The sitter will do their best to reach your preferred veterinarian, however, if your preferred veterinarian is not available, the sitter will bring your pet to another appropriate veterinarian clinic.
Insurance & Liability:
There is no requirement for a pet sitter to hold a license or certificate, or have schooling of any kind, in order to carry out these services.
While this title does not require a license or certification, the Jen’s Pet Care sitter has enough training and experience to offer these services professionally.
For reference, Jen’s Pet Care is insured under QBE Insurance (policy number: DSU076966BPK). The sitter has also completed a certificate in pet first-aid and CPR through the Australian Red Cross, and a short course in dog-trainer foundations through the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA).
License or not, there is always the risk an accident may occur, but every effort will be made to ensure your pet is handled and cared for as safely as possible.
Jen’s Pet Care will exercise all precautions against, and is not responsible for, any damages, injuries, sicknesses, accidents, escapes, losses or deaths beyond the control of the pet sitter.
In the case of an incident, the client agrees to assume full responsibility for payment for any and all veterinary services rendered, unless the incident arose from negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the pet sitter.
The client understands that Jen’s Pet Care assumes no financial responsibility related to transportation, treatment, and expenses.
The client waives and releases any and all liability claims against Jen’s Pet Care and their sitters, except those arising from negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the pet sitter.
The client accepts responsibility for all medical expenses and other damages resulting from an injury to the pet sitter, or other persons or animals caused by the client's pet or negligent act.
The client also agrees to hold harmless and defend Jen’s Pet Care in the event of a claim for any person or animal injured, or otherwise damaged, by the client's pet or negligent act.
Compensation:
Jen’s Pet Care accepts payment by Cash, bank transfer, Bpay or Paypal.
Payment for pet-sitting/overnight stays is to be paid within 7 days of the final day of service.
Payment for Local walks, adventure walks, visits, and other one-off, short-term, or repeated scheduled bookings will be due on Sunday of each week.
The price of pet-sitting/overnight stays on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve will be doubled. Outside of pet-sitting/an overnight stay, no other services will be available on Christmas Day. The sitter may spend hours at a time away from the house/pets on Christmas Day for an agreed amount of time. This time will need to be agreed prior to the beginning of services.
Acknowledgement:
All clients must accept the terms of this agreement.
All clients must acknowledge this agreement as valid approval for all future services with Jen’s Pet Care until this agreement is terminated.
All clients must understand that these Terms and Conditions are subject to change and it is the clients responsibility to read these changes and inform the sitter if they choose to no longer accept them andwish to terminate services. It is the responsibility of Jen’s Pet Care to inform clients of this change, either though a public announcement such as a social media post, or privately in a direct message or email to the client.