Terms and Conditions for Dog Walking Services with Hoppiness Pet Care

1. General Terms 1.1. By booking a dog walking service with Hoppiness Pet Care, you agree to abide by the following terms and conditions.
1.2. We provide one-on-one dog walking services, ensuring your dog receives individual attention. We do not offer group walks with other owners. If your dogs live in the same household, we can offer group walks of up to 4 dogs at a time.
1.3. All walks are scheduled in advance and take place at an agreed-upon time and location. The "clock" begins when I enter your home and ends when I leave again after the walk.
1.4. Owners must provide accurate contact details, including an emergency contact who can make decisions on their behalf if they are unreachable.
1.5. If an owner is not home at the scheduled time, prior arrangements must be made for key collection and access to the dog.
1.6. We reserve the right to refuse or terminate services if a dog exhibits aggressive or uncontrollable behaviour that poses a risk to the walker, other animals, or the public.
1.7. All walks are carried out within an agreed time frame and we cannot always guarantee exact times.
1.8. An agreement form must be completed and signed before walks can commence.

2. Health and Safety 2.1. All dogs must be up to date with vaccinations, flea, and worm treatments. Proof of vaccinations may be requested.
2.2. Dogs must be in good health and free from any contagious conditions. If a dog shows signs of illness, the walk may be cancelled at the owner’s expense.
2.3. Owners must disclose any medical conditions, behavioural issues, or special requirements before the first walk.
2.4. All dogs will be walked on-lead unless written consent is provided for off-lead exercise in secure areas. Even with consent, we will assess whether it is safe to let a dog off-lead.
2.5. We take every precaution to ensure a dog’s safety, but we are not responsible for injuries, illnesses, or incidents that occur during walks unless due to proven negligence.
2.6. If extreme weather conditions (heat, storms, icy conditions) make walking unsafe, we will discuss alternative arrangements with the owner.
2.7. All dogs must be microchipped and wearing an appropriate collar and tag as per UK law. If we arrive and the dog is without these, the cancellation policy applies.

3. Booking and Cancellation 3.1. All walks must be booked in advance and are subject to availability.
3.2. Ad-hoc Walks must be paid at least 48 hours in advance. Bookings with less than 48 hours notice must pay at the time of booking. Ad-hoc walks cancelled with at least 48 hours’ notice will receive a full refund. Ad-hoc walks cancelled with 24-48 hours notice will be subject to a 50% fee. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged in full.
3.3. Regular walks are subject to a 7 day cancellation period as your walk slots are reserved. Walks of this nature that are cancelled with less than 7 days' notice will be charged in full for the upcoming week.
3.4. Holiday services must be booked in advance to ensure availability, especially if needing services during school breaks, bank holidays, and summer. To reserve your day and time slots, a 25% deposit is required. Full payment is due 7 days before the start date. Walks of this nature cancelled with less than:

• 7 days' notice of the start date will be subject to a cancellation fee of 25% of the booking amount.
  
• 48 hours' notice of the start date will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the booking amount.
• 24 hours' notice of the start date will be subject to a cancellation fee of 100% of the booking amount. .

3.5. If an owner returns home earlier than expected and no longer requires a scheduled walk, they must provide at least 24 hours’ notice. Otherwise, the full fee will be charged.
3.6. If we arrive for a scheduled walk and the dog is not available, the full fee will still apply.
3.7. If a walk needs to be extended beyond the agreed time, additional charges may apply.
3.8. Any and all cancellation fees may be waived or upheld at Hoppiness Pet Care's discretion.

4. Payment 4.1. We accept payment via direct bank transfer or Stripe link only. Late payments may result in suspension of services.
4.4. No refunds will be given for cancelled or unused walks unless they meet the cancellation policy criteria.

5. Liability 5.1. We are fully insured for public liability through the provider: "Pet Business Insurance", but owners remain responsible for their dog’s behaviour and any damage caused to property, people, or other animals whether we are present or not.
5.2. We are not liable for loss, injury, or death of a dog unless due to proven negligence.
5.3. In case of an emergency, we will attempt to contact the owner or emergency contact. If urgent veterinary care is needed, we will take the dog to their registered vet or the nearest available vet. The owner is responsible for all veterinary and related costs.

6. Access to Property 6.1. The owner must provide clear instructions on how to access the property, including keys, security codes, or any specific entry instructions.
6.2. All keys and security information will be handled with strict confidentiality and will not be shared with any third party.
6.3. If we are unable to access the property at the agreed-upon time due to a locked door, non-working key, or incorrect or inadequate access information, the visit will still be charged in full.
6.4. If key access is required, all keys or keylock information will be securely stored and not labelled with personal information. 
6.5. Owners must notify us immediately of any changes to locks or access arrangements.

7. Miscellaneous 7.1. We reserve the right to update these terms and conditions at any time. The latest version will always be available on our website.
7.2. By booking our services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions.
7.3. Any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of UK law or Hampshire County Council.

Contact Information:
Hoppiness Pet Care
Hedge End, SO30
+44 7415 496 666
HoppinessPetCare@gmail.com
HoppinessPetCare.co.uk