Laura's Paw Spaw Policies & Procedures

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At Laura’s Paw Spaw LLC, our top priority is the safety of the pets in our care, our clients, and our staff. 

Pets shall be accepted for grooming only under the following circumstances:

• The pet is 8 weeks or older.
• The pet, if older than 16 weeks, is up-to-date on their rabies vaccine, as required by law. Geriatric pets or pets with severe reactions to the vaccine may be accepted with a current titer test and/or a note from their veterinarian. These exceptions are made at our discretion. 
• The pet, to the best of your knowledge, is safe and healthy enough to groom. If the Laura’s Paw Spaw LLC staff has a concern about your pet’s health or safety, we may require clearance from their veterinarian prior to the grooming process.

Please be advised:

• We reserve the right to refuse service to any pet or client for any reason.
• We do not allow shock collars in the salon. If your pet is wearing an electronic collar at check-in, you will be asked to remove it. 
• Grooming may expose pre-existing skin and health issues for which Laura’s Paw Spaw LLC cannot be held liable. 
• Grooming geriatric or lame pets will be done at the owner’s risk. 
• Pets with heart murmurs may be turned away, depending on severity.
• Pets that come in with health issues such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy will have their appointment canceled or rescheduled.
• Pets that come in with skin infections or open wounds may have their appointments canceled or rescheduled.
• We do not accept pets during their heat cycle. 
• We do not accept pets that are pregnant or nursing. 
• In case of emergency, Laura’s Paw Spaw LLC will contact the nearest veterinarian and authorize necessary treatment at your expense.
• Payment must be made at time of service. Accepted payment types include credit card, debit card, and cash. We do not accept checks.
• Our prices are based on size, breed, coat condition, behavior, temperament, and duration of service. For this reason, your price may change from visit to visit. 
• Nail trimming, nail filing, and ear cleaning will be included in all bath or haircut appointments, provided that these services do not compromise the pet or groomer’s safety.
• Anal gland expression is a medical procedure that should be performed by a veterinary care provider. We do not offer this service. 
• We do not offer extensive dematting services. If your pet is matted, it will be partially or completely shaved. This may drastically change your pet’s appearance. 
• The process of removing matted coat may expose skin and health issues for which Laura’s Paw Spaw LLC will not be held responsible. These issues may include dry or flaky skin, open wounds, bruising, and hematomas. 

Cancellations and No-Shows

• The cancellation or rescheduling of an appointment by the client requires 24 hour notice. No-shows or cancellations within this period will result in a fee that is equal to 50% of the estimated appointment price. In the case of inclement weather, emergency, or other uncontrollable circumstances, the groomer may waive this fee at their discretion.
• Clients with a history of frequent no-shows or last minute cancellations may be asked to prepay for their appointments or pay a nonrefundable deposit. 
• We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule an appointment at any point if we feel the need to do so. All efforts will be made to reschedule appointments at a time that is convenient for the client and groomer. 

Late Drop Off and Pick Up

• As a salon that runs on a “by appointment” schedule, accepting late appointments can be very difficult, if not impossible. 
• Pets dropped off ten minutes or more after their appointment time may be subject to cancellation of their appointment. 
• If our schedule allows us to accept a late appointment, a $20 late fee may be charged. 
• Pets are expected to be dropped off no earlier than 10 minutes before their appointment time. Pets dropped off before this time period may be subject to cancellation or a price increase, based primarily on the dog’s behavior in the kennel.
• Pets should be picked up within 1 hour of notification of completion. Pickup outside of this time period will result in a price increase. 
• Pets left at the salon outside of regular business hours will be automatically charged a $75 overnight fee. 

Fleas, Ticks, and Other Parasites

• Fleas and ticks do not die in the winter. This is a myth. Though we do not require proof of treatment, we strongly recommend that all pets are treated with a preventative every month of the year.
• Fleas and ticks can carry many dangerous illnesses including, but not limited to, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and tapeworm. 
• When pets come into the salon with a parasitic infestation, other pets in the salon, as well as members of our staff, are put at risk. For this reason, we take these infestations very seriously. 
• Removal of fleas and/or ticks will increase the price of the service. This price increase is dependent on coat type and condition, severity of infestation, and size of the dog. 
• We do not service cats with fleas. Cats will be sent home immediately upon the discovery of the parasite. Services will only continue after the cat has been treated with Capstar or a similar product, as well as an ongoing flea and tick preventative. 
• Dogs that come in with a flea and/or tick infestation will be bathed in a chemical shampoo that kills live parasites, as well as their eggs. We only offer this service once. If a dog comes in with an infestation a second time, the dog will be sent home immediately upon the discovery of the parasites and the full service price will be charged. If a dog comes in with an infestation a third time, all future services will be discontinued. 
• Laura’s Paw Spaw LLC will not be held responsible for any adverse reactions to any flea and tick shampoo administered during the service. 
• We do not service pets with internal parasites. This may include but is not limited to tapeworms, heartworms, and giardia.
• We do not service pets with an active scabies (sarcoptic mange) infection.

Dangerous and Difficult Pets

• Open and honest communication is vital to a safe grooming experience for both the pet and the groomer. Clients will be held responsible for any injury to the groomer due to dishonesty or negligence on the owner’s part. 
• We have many tools that we can use to help keep your pet and our groomers safe. If we cannot keep your pet or our groomers safe, even with all of these tools at our disposal, we will discontinue the service, but you may still be asked to pay the entire service price.
• Pricing for difficult or dangerous pets is based on the time it takes to safely complete the groom. For this reason, your pet’s price may change from visit to visit. 

Photos, videos, and social media

• We frequently take pictures and videos of the pets in our care.
• These may be used for marketing and social media purposes. 
• We take photos and videos of the pets in our care, in part, for our protection. We use these to have a record of matted coat or preexisting skin, coat, or health issues. 

If the service we provide does not meet your expectations, please let us know within 48 hours and we will be happy to revisit the service.