CANCELLATION / NO-CALL NO-SHOW (NCNS) POLICY
If it is necessary to cancel/skip your grooming appointment, we do ask for a 24 hour notice when possible. Early notification allows us to fill empty appointments with call ins or our wait list. Not notifying us causes the groomers to miss out on appointments they could have otherwise filled, and a loss of commission for them. We do understand that unexpected issues can occur without much notice, please notify us ASAP in those cases.
After the first last minute cancellations, a second will result in having to pay a $25 scheduling fee for your next appointment. The $25 will apply towards the groom, however if you cancel again within 24 hours, or NCNS, the deposit is lost.
After the first No Call No Show, if a second one occurs, we will charge a $25 missed appointment fee before allowing for rescheduling. Continued missed appointments may result in us not taking future appointments for your pet.
INJURIES
There is always the possibility of cuts, nicks, or burns during the grooming process. Some pets are harder to handle than others and accidents can occur. There are also times when mat burns show after they are shaved out. This is not caused by the groomer being careless, but the severity of the mats. We will always do an inspection of your pet upon arrival and in the bathtub.
Your groomer will notify you of anything they find during those. Should any cuts occur during the grooming process, we will notify you and advise you on how to treat these. Injuries caused due to the condition of the dog or cats matting is NOT the responsibility of Bark and any vet costs due to these are at the expense of the client.
LATE ARRIVALS
We are only able to perform the grooming services for your pet in the time allotted for your scheduled appointment. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to your scheduled appointment, we may not be able to perform your scheduled grooming services and you may need to reschedule your appointment so that we can stay on schedule with our other clients. If time allows, an additional fee may apply in order to complete a full groom.
DEMATTING
Pets groomed on a regular basis adjust and cooperate to the routine. Pets that are not groomed every 6 to 8 weeks may become matted. Matting occurs from lack of grooming, coat overgrowth, not routinely being brushed, or a coat not being combed through prior to getting wet. Additional fees apply for dematting a pet. When matting is severe and/or close to the skin the only humane way to remove the mats is to clip the coat off to the skin line.
In some cases where the matting is not severe and only covers a small area, we can remove them by splitting, thinning, and then brushing them out, 15 of brushing comes with every groom. There is a fee of $15 every 15 minutes to de-mat your pet after the 15 minute allotted time. Severe matting may require an hour or more.
Matted coats are hard on our equipment and in most cases require two haircuts, the first to remove the matted coat prior to bathing and a second to even up the coat after bathing. We are not responsible for health conditions that may be revealed by removing a matted coat such as sores, but do our best to ensure your pets’ skin is cared for.
VACCINATIONS
We do not require proof of vaccinations unless our staff is bitten by your pet. Vaccination protocol is up to the owner and their veterinarian; even some veterinarians’ question how often to vaccinate, therefore we leave it up to each individual owner. As long as you are comfortable with your pets’ level of protection, so are we.
FLEAS
Wherever there is animal life, there will also most likely be fleas. Let’s face it; fleas and a flea extermination plan are an essential part of pet ownership. They can get them by just walking out your front door.
When you arrive for your grooming appointment, sometimes it is difficult to tell if there are fleas present until we get the animal wet. We will make an effort to contact you as soon as we notice fleas. We will always then do a flea bath. This only kills the fleas that are currently on the pet and does not protect them from fleas once they get home. It is best to wait 2-3 days after their grooming to put liquid flea medication on the skin if that is the type you use.
DANGEROUS OR AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS REFUSAL OF SERVICES
Bark Out Loud San Diego has the right to refuse any services at any time. In the event that your pet is too stressed or becomes dangerous to groom, Bark Out Loud San Diego has the right to refuse grooming services, stop grooming services, or cancel grooming services at any time before, during, or after grooming and the client will be charged a grooming fee (for what was done up until that point).
ELDERLY PETS
We take great care when grooming our older pets. We strive to make sure they are as comfortable as possible during and after the groom. Because grooming can be a stressful process for older pets, your groomer may have to perform a simpler cut to ease the grooming process. Clients will assume the risk of physical or mental stress of grooming a frail or elderly pet. Unfortunately, we cannot accept pets with serious age related health issues and we will not accept new clients with pets above the age
LATE PICK-UPS
If you're over an hour late picking up your dog after you've received a call that he/she is finished, you will be charged $15/hour. This begins one hour after the phone call has been made (unless prior arrangements were made).