Policies and Procedures

Thank you so much for choosing Emmy’s Paw Spa for your dog’s grooming needs. We strive to create a stress-free, safe, and pawsitive experience for your furry friend and rest assure you that they are in great hands!

Please read the following carefully. A copy of this service agreement will be sent to you via text message or email when your appointment is set up to digitally sign. By signing, you certify that you agree to our policies and also acknowledge that payment is due when grooming services are rendered including any special handling requirements, de-matting charges, etc., pricing of which is subject to change.

Vaccinations

All dogs are recommended to have current vaccinations at time of visit of grooming appointment, however the Rabies vaccine is the only vaccine required to be serviced by Emmy’s Paw Spa. As we are a one-on-one grooming service, we do not require other vaccines to groom your dog. Please provide a copy by your vet of your dog’s current Rabies vaccination. If your dog is unable to receive vaccinations due to medical reasons, please inform us and we will consider special circumstances.

Senior Dogs and Medical Needs

Grooming can be a very stressful situation for any pet, but especially for those that may have additional medical needs or are senior pets. We make sure that every dog we see is given the utmost care and is worked on at their pace in order to achieve maximum comfort. Because grooming can be a stressful event it may also expose pre-existing health problems/conditions for which Emmy’s Paw Spa cannot be held liable. It is your responsibility to inform the groomer of any pre-existing health conditions the pet may have prior to the grooming appointment, including skin issues, allergies, heart conditions, breathing problems, seizures, etc. In the event of any emergency and the owner is not present, the owner gives Emmy’s Paw Spa permission to seek immediate veterinary medical help and authorize the vet to treat the dog as necessary. We will do our best to contact you first, then take your pet to your authorized veterinarian, or if the veterinarian is not readily available and/or deemed too far away, use a veterinarian of our choice. All veterinarian costs and expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the dog’s owner.

Aggressive Behavior/Special Handling

For the safety of the pet and groomer, especially since we are a one-on-one service with no additional help, Emmy's Paw Spa does not accept aggressive dogs. Aggressive behavior or behavior that requires special handling includes biting or snapping at groomer or tools, crocodile rolling, violent jerking, or any other extreme negative reaction towards groomer or service. If we cannot safely groom the dog using proper tools to help protect the groomer and the dog (including muzzles, Groomer's Helper, or Hound Hammock) the service will be discontinued. Dogs have certain thresholds that, when met, will induce stress to the point that is unsafe and unhealthy for them. Dogs that have met their thresholds will not continue to be groomed. Our goal is to provide a safe, secure, and positive experience for the dog, but if that cannot be met in our care then we will discontinue service on the dog and kindly ask you seek a different groomer better suited for your dog's needs. We refuse to groom dogs passed their thresholds and will not tolerate aggressive behavior.

Accidents

Nothing is more important to us than the safety of your dog and we use the utmost care and patience while working on your dog. However, as grooming equipment is sharp and dogs naturally move or wiggle around, accidents may occur. In the event that an accident does occur, you will be notified immediately. If the accident is deemed serious by Emmy’s Paw Spa and the owner is not present or cannot be contacted immediately, we will seek medical treatment for your dog at your authorized veterinarian, or if the vet is not readily available and/or is too far away, Emmy’s Paw Spa is authorized to use a veterinarian of its choice. Reimbursement for such care will be at the sole discretion of Emmy’s Paw Spa.

Mat Removal/De-Matting

Dogs with matted coats need extra care and attention. Mats in a dog’s coat grow tight and can ultimately damage and tear the dog’s skin, which in turn may cause a variety of skin issues including, but not limited to: parasite infestation, hot spots, excessive itching, etc. De-matting a dog’s coat is a time-consuming process requiring special conditioners, tools, skill and patience. There is an extra charge of $1 per minute, or $60 per hour for de-matting.

In the event a dog is too severely matted, the mats may be removed by shaving, but only as a last resort. We will contact you before shaving your dog. Removing a heavily matted coat can include the risk of nicks, cuts, or abrasions due to warts, moles, or skin folds trapped beneath the mats. After-effects of mat removal procedures can include clipper irritation, self-inflicted irritation by dog licking or chewing, or abrasion and failure of the hair to regrow naturally. Prevention is the best defense against matting by scheduling regular grooming sessions every 4-6 weeks.

Fleas and Ticks

ALL DOGS MUST be on at least a flea preventative. We do not provide flea and tick preventatives. Dogs that have fleas will automatically be washed in our flea & tick treatment at an additional charge of $15. Dogs that need ticks removed will be charged an additional fee of $1 per tick removed with a maximum of 5 ticks removed. Emmy’s Paw Spa reserves the right to turn away dog if flea or tick infestation is too severe and needs veterinary assistance.

Appointment Times

We will arrive as close to the scheduled appointment time as possible, however sometimes situations occur that will disrupt the daily schedule. This includes traffic, weather, mechanical issues, or spending more time with an older, younger, or difficult dog. The dog’s safety will NEVER be compromised by rushing to meet an appointment. You will be called or texted and advised of an arrival time when schedules change beyond our control.

Cancellations/No Shows

We understand that schedules sometimes change and cancellation need to happen. If you must cancel, we ask that you give us a 48-hour notice in order to waive the FULL appointment fee. In the event of bad weather, family emergency, or any other uncontrollable circumstances, Emmy’s Paw Spa has the discretion to waive the fee within the 48-hour period. Emmy’s Paw Spa also reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a groom if we feel the need to do so. Every effort will be made to reschedule at a time convenient for both the client and the groomer.

Emmy’s Paw Spa reserves the right to charge the FULL grooming fee due to the loss of revenue in the event of a no show. It is considered a no show when the client is not available at the scheduled appointment time/gives no access to the home or dog if client is off-site and does not contact groomer to cancel or reschedule. We provide a 15-minute grace period from the moment we arrive at your home to grant us access to your pet for service before we leave the premises and mark the appointment as a no-show. Please respect our time as much as we respect yours by calling/texting us as soon as possible if changes to your appointment need to be made.

Excessive client cancellations/no-shows will result in an expulsion from the clientele list and client will no longer be able to book appointments with Emmy's Paw Spa.

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, if any member of the household is sick/has come in contact with anyone who is sick, the grooming appointment will be rescheduled to a future date. Please let us know in advance if you have come into contact with anyone who is COVID-19 positive or if you test COVID-19 positive. Grooming appointment will be cancelled and rescheduled at a later date with no cancellation fee. If you do not inform us until we arrive that you are sick/have come in contact with anyone who is sick, the grooming appointment will be immediately cancelled and FULL grooming fee will be charged. Please keep our safety and the safety of others into consideration, and thank you for helping us stop the spread.

Payment

Payment is to be made at the end of service. Payment can be in the form of cash, credit card, or Venmo. Latch-key clients that receive an online invoice to pay for their grooming services have until 6pm to submit payment, otherwise a $10 late fee will incur each day unpaid. Grooming rates are based on the service and weight of the dog. Additional charges apply for add-ons, de-matting, de-shedding, excessive coat, difficult behavior, flea & tick bath, and tick removal. Nail trimming/filing, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing are part of every service unless the process is too stressful for the dog or too dangerous for the groomer.

Photographs

A large part of our job is making great memories with your dog by taking pictures and videos of them and sharing them on our social media. Emmy’s Paw Spa is given permission to take pictures and videos of your dog and post them on our website and social media pages. (If you are not comfortable with us sharing pictures and videos, please let us know in advance.)

We reserve the right to refuse service to any pet or client for any reason.

Policies updated August 2022