Please Read This Agreement Carefully. This is a binding contract between you and Michelle’s Pet Care LLC. Your acceptance by signature is required services begin. After signing in agreement to these terms and conditions, you may keep a copy of this contract in your personal records for future reference.
This agreement constitutes a legal signature. By continuing to use services provided by Michelle’s Pet Care LLC, you agree to the following terms and conditions set forth in this document.
For the purpose of this document, the terms Client and Owner are synonymous with the person contracting services for one or more animal(s). Michelle’s Pet Care LLC will hereinafter be referred to as Michelle’s Pet Care, Pet Sitter, Sitter, and Company.
1. Michelle’s Pet Care recommends that all Clients schedule their pet needs as early as possible. Bookings are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. Time slots will not be held for Clients under any circumstances without proper booking and payment. Last minute requests are accepted, but please note that availability is not guaranteed.
2. A “meet and greet” is required for all new clients. This 30-minute session is the opportunity for potential clients, their pet(s), and the Sitter to become acquainted and ask pertinent questions related to visits.
If other pets from outside the household and/or guests are present at the time of the meet and greet, the session will be rescheduled for another day and time in order to better gauge the temperament and behavior of the pet(s) around the Sitter, as guests and other pets can be a distraction.
3. All scheduling, billing, and client communication occur through the petsitting platform, PetPocketbook. All clients are required to create and utilize an account to request and pay for visits. Additonally, Sitters will complete their visits and provide updates through the platform.
4. Due to time constraints, travel logistics, and unexpected developments throughout the day, the Pet Sitter is permitted a two-hour window to complete the scheduled service. An allowance of one hour before and one hour after the scheduled booking is granted to the Pet Sitter to accommodate all bookings for the day. Please note that the Pet Sitter will strive for punctuality, and this time window will better guarantee the satisfactory and timely completion of all scheduled services.
5. Michelle’s Pet Care understands that last minute changes happen and occasionally plans must be adjusted due to changing circumstances. Please note that when a booking is scheduled, that time slot is reserved for the Client and other clients may have been turned away for this scheduled time period. As such, the following cancellation policy will apply:
- Cancellations with less than 24 hours of advance notice from the start of the scheduled service will result in a cancellation fee equal to the price of the visit.
- Cancellations with notice of more than 24 hours from the start of the scheduled service will not result in a cancellation fee of any kind.
If the Sitter cancels for any reason, a full refund will be granted to the Client, regardless of how much notice is provided.
Cancellations due to poor and/or dangerous weather will be communicated in advance and the cancellation policy will not apply.
Please see #7 for information on holiday cancellations.
6. Michelle’s Pet Care is a small, single-member business that oversees all aspects of operation. As a “solo-sitter,” it is strongly encouraged that all Clients have a back-up caregiver who can access the property at any time, in the event the Sitter is unable to provide services due to illness, injury, scheduled vacation time, or an unforeseen circumstance. The Sitter will make every effort to successfully complete all scheduled bookings, but Owners should have an alternate caregiver for their pet(s), should their assistance be required. As much advance notice as possible will be provided to Clients when Michelle’s Pet Care is not open for business due to the aforementioned reasons.
7. Michelle’s Pet Care is open 7 days per week, including certain major holidays. If services will not be provided by the Company on a major holiday, advance notice will be provided. Major holidays include: Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
The Company is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Years Day.
All services scheduled on a major holiday will be charged an additional $10 and each booking lasts for a maximum of 30 minutes.
If a scheduled booking is cancelled for a major holiday, the Client will not receive a refund for the service, regardless of how much advance notice is provided.
8. All bookings scheduled on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) will incur an additional charge of $5 per service.
9. The professional relationship between the Client and Pet Sitter is mutually agreed upon and either party can choose to terminate the relationship at any time, with or without reason or cause.
10. The Client agrees to all rates set by Michelle's Pet Care and understands that rates are subject to change. Clients will be provided with advance notice of any changes before new rates are enacted.
11. For pet safety, Michelle’s Pet Care does not authorize the use of retractable leashes for dog walking. All Clients must provide a non-retractable leash for dog walks.
12. The Pet Sitter will use best judgment when providing dog walking during excessively hot or cold temperatures. The walk will move forward to give the pet relief, but it may be shortened and the remaining time will be spent indoors. The length of the entire visit will remain unchanged from the original agreement.
Visits of any kind will not occur under extreme and unsafe weather conditions, such as, but not limited to, heavy snow or tropical storm/hurricane-like conditions. Cancelled appointments will be communicated with the owner in advance. Cancellations due to exteme and unsafe weather conditions will not be subject to the cancellation policy. Clients are reponsible for securing alternate pet care when appointmnts are cancelled due to extreme and unsafe weather conditons.
13. The hours available for dog walking will vary by season. For the safety and comfort of both Pet Sitter and pet, dog walking will not occur after sunset under any circumstances.
14. Owners must provide the Pet Sitter with access to the house in their absence. The Company strongly encourages the use of a lockbox to store the house key for home access. The code to the lockbox must be provided to the Sitter before the start of services. A key may also be left somewhere on the property, but not in a lockbox (e.g. in the mailbox, under a potted plant, in the shed). Neither the Sitter, nor Michelle’s Pet Care, is responsible for the theft or loss of a key not contained by a lockbox.
Additionally, if the Owner utilizes an electronic keypad for home entry, the keycode must be provided to the Sitter before the start of services. If the keypad fails or malfunctions, the Owner must be able to provide an alternate form of entry (e.g. a key) to the Sitter in order for the visit to be completed. If an alternate form of entry is not available, the visit will not be completed and the client will be charged the normal rate.
15. The Client agrees to provide the Sitter with the code for the home security system, if applicable.
16. In the event of an emergency, Clients must be accessible by phone, email, or text message for the scheduled booking. If the Client cannot be contacted, the Sitter will reach out to the emergency contacts and employ best judgment to provide care and services.
17. The Client agrees to notify Michelle’s Pet Care of any health or behavioral changes/issues in their pet(s) before the next scheduled service begins. This protocol is to ensure the health and safety of both the pet and Sitter.
18. If a pet(s) requires medication(s), detailed instructions must be provided by the Client on how to properly administer the medications, and an in-person demonstration may be required.
19. This service agreement sets the terms and conditions for pet care provided to the Client’s legally owned pet(s). Any additional pets in the care of the Client while the Pet Sitter is providing services are not covered by this agreement and the Pet Sitter is not legally liable in the event of injury or death.
20. Michelle’s Pet Care seeks to provide superior pet care services at all times, but in the event that a Client is dissatisfied with the services provided, s/he has 48 hours past completion of services to issue a complaint to Michelle’s Pet Care. Complaints/grievances will not be accepted after 48 hours following the completion of services.
21. Current hours of operation can be located on the company website at www.michellespetcare.com. Please note that these hours are subject to change. All communication will be responded to as soon as possible, and communication specifically received after 8pm ET will be answered no earlier than the following day.
22. It is strongly recommended by Michelle’s Pet Care that all dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies every year for their health and safety. If an Owner’s pet is bitten by another animal while under the Sitter’s care, the Company is not at fault if the disease is contracted by the Owner's pet.
This agreement is valid from the date signed, and replaces any prior agreements. Client agrees to any future contract changes relayed verbally to the Client, mailed or emailed in writing to the Client, sent by text message to the Client, or posted on the Company website under Forms & Policies.
If the terms set forth in this agreement are violated in any way, Michelle’s Pet Care LLC may not continue providing services. This will be considered on an individual basis.
Client states s/he has read this agreement in its entirety and fully understands and accepts its terms and conditions.