Before I groom your pet, I ask that you read following agreement, then fill out and sign a pet information form. The agreement may be printed out at your convenience by clicking on the print button. To access the Signature and Pet Information form, click on the link at the bottom of this page. Please give me your signed pet information form when I come for your pet's first appointment. Only the Pet Form is needed, feel free to print & keep the Agreement form for your information. 

- Thank you,
Shannon

Release and Hold Harmless Agreement
(As of July 1, 2010)

Your animal is very important to Shannon Coleman, as professional animal groomer and owner of The Soapy Puppy Mobile Grooming. TSP-Shannon Coleman-will be known from here on as TSP in the rest of the contents of this document. TSP would like to assure you that every effort will be made to make your animal's grooming experience as safe and pleasant as possible for all involved. Safety comes first for everyone, people as well as the animals, during the grooming process. Your animal's safety and comfort are TSP's main concerns.

Health or Medical Problems
Occasionally, grooming can expose a hidden medical problem or aggravate a current one. This can occur during or after grooming. All Medical expenses for veterinary care will be covered by the animal's owner upon signing this contract/agreement.

Accidents
Accidents can and do occur. These include cuts, scratches, scrapes, quicking of nails, clipper burns, brush burns, etc. In most cases this happens when the animal is matted, wiggling or moving around. Every effort will be made to ensure that your animal is groomed as safely as possible. Your animal is very important to TSP, and does not wish to cause any harm or undue stress to your animal. In the event an accident does occur, you will be notified. Almost all incidents are very minor but if TSP feels it is serious, TSP will seek immediate veterinary care for your animal. Veterinary costs will be the responsibility of the animal's owner.

Veterinarian Authorization-Medical Emergencies
This release gives TSP full authorization to seek medical treatment from authorized veterinarians or nearest veterinarian in the case of any medical emergencies while in the care of TSP. All veterinarian costs and expenses will be the responsibility of the animal's owner.

Vaccinations?
Rabies is recommended to be current but not required. If the dog does happen to bite & medical treatment is required for the groomer the doctor will require proof of rabies.

First Grooming-Puppy Grooming
TSP wants to make sure your animal's first grooming appointment with TSP and your younger animal's first grooming experience is a positive and pleasant one. The first time for grooming of any animal may sometimes be very scary and stressful. Time and patience are the keys to a positive grooming experience. Some animals may never come to enjoy their grooming experience. On occasion, some animals due to breed, genetics, health concerns, etc. may be stressed by grooming for their entire life, but this is rare.  If this should occur, extra care will be taken and only the very basics will be done for grooming of this type of personality. 

Senior Animals
Senior animals and animals with serious illness or medical conditions have a greater chance of injury or death during their grooming experience.  Every effort will be made to make sure your senior or ill animal's grooming experience is as safe and as comfortable as possible.  Extra time may be needed for the ill or senior animal to allow the animal to be as comfortable as possible. Muzzling may also be required during your animal's grooming experience, since ill or senior animals have lower tolerance levels. Muzzling is only done when necessary to ensure the safety of both animal and the groomer. TSP has the right to stop/refuse service to ill or senior animal if it is felt that grooming will cause undue stress or be harmful to the animal. TSP will not be held responsible for the death of any animal during grooming or while in the care of TSP.

Matted Animals
Animals with matted coats need extra attention during their grooming experience. Mats can sometimes be very difficult to remove, requiring them to be shaved out of the coat.  TSP does not wish to cause serious or undue stress to your animal. In cases where the coat is severely matted, TSP recommends that portions of the coat, or in some cases, the entire coat be shaved down.  The decision is made upon examination of your animal's coat condition at the time of grooming.  In some cases the decision may be made during the grooming process if TSP feels it necessary for the pet's health and to maintain as much comfort as possible for your animal's well being during grooming.  TSP refuses to do any service which will harm or cause undue stress to your animal. TSP will advise you in the event that it is necessary to shave part or all of your animal's coat due to matting.  Most severely matted coats will be shaved down to alleviate stress to your animal.

Skin Conditions Under Matted Coats
The skin under a matted coat can become or will be very irritated and sensitive. Under the matted coat your animal's skin is usually red, swollen, cracked, and dangerous to groom.  There are higher chances of nicking or cutting the skin during dematting.  Clipping the matted coat away from the skin may cause the animal's skin to become very irritated, crack, and bleed.  A severely matted or tangled coat does not allow air to get through to the skin causing irritation to the skin in the areas where the matting has occurred. Many animals may react to having their matted coats shaved away from the skin by licking, chewing, or scratching these areas.  This can cause more irritation as well as problems with skin infections. Parasites may also be harboring in your animal's coat due to situations where your animal's coat is matted.  Special shampoo may be used to alleviate the problems of parasites. While bathing and grooming will remove parasites from your animal, they will again become infested with these parasites when they are returned to their home environment if their home environment hasn't been treated to remove the parasites.

If a severe parasite infestation, 4 or more fleas, is present on the animal, there may be a $20 special handling fee per dog in addition to the regular grooming fee. Extra cleaning & disinfecting of the grooming unit is required, 2 hours to flea bomb the van, 1 hour to air out the van & 1 hour to clean up after the flea bomb. Not to mention trying to keep the fleas from following me into my own house & infesting my own dogs. Ticks will not be tolerated.

Refusal of Grooming Services

TSP has the right to refuse any services at any time. In the event that your animal is too stressed or becomes dangerous to groom, TSP has the right to refuse grooming services, stop grooming services, or cancel grooming services at any time before or during the grooming process. Some animals may need the services of a groomer who is working within a veterinarian's clinic/hospital so that the animal may be properly sedated for grooming. If the groom cannot be finished for any reason owner is to pay $35 minimum up to full groom price depending on how much of the groom was started.

Failure to disclose that your animal is a biter, known biter, or is dangerous will result in a fee of $200.

Animal Bite
Animals who are known biters or are dangerous must be handled differently than those who are not aggressive. (Just one bite can end a promising career for any professional animal groomer.  This release is designed to protect all involved.) In the event of TSP-Shannon Coleman-being bitten by your animal, you as the animal's owner, caretaker, or responsible party for such animal, will take full responsibility for all payments of any or all of the medical expenses incurred by TSP-Shannon Coleman-should medical treatment be necessary.

Use of Muzzles
Muzzling does not harm your animal and protects both the animal and the groomer.  In some cases, muzzling may even calm a stressed animal, allowing the grooming process to continue. During grooming services, some animals may become agitated or aggressive during their grooming experience.  TSP needs to be able to be in control of your animal during its grooming experience. The equipment used during the grooming process is sharp and can cut very easily.  TSP has the best interests of your animal's safety in mind.  Controlling your animal is the best way of making sure both the animal and groomer do not get hurt.

Interruptions During Grooming Services
For the safety of the animals being groomed, as well as the professional animal groomer, it is asked that interruptions be limited to 1 during grooming. Interruptions may cause the animal being groomed to jump or move in a way that can cause an accident.  Sometimes an interruption is needed but keep it fast. Phone calls are ok if needed, your name & number should be put into my phone so I know to answer it but are only answered if the time allows, or good cell signal.

Returned Check & Credit Card Policy and Fees
Checks & Credit Cards that are returned or denied due to insufficient funds in the account will be subject to a $20 returned check or $25 for denied Credit Cards service fee in addition to all grooming fees owed.  It is your responsibility to make payment of all grooming fees at the time of services rendered.  Returned checks will also be considered for the release/refusal of future grooming services.  If services are refused by groomer, animal’s owner or caretaker the half the groom fee will be collected. After a returned check or credit card denied, checks & or cards will no longer be excepted, you will be put on "cash" only for services. 

Grooming Appointments Missed
Failure to have the animal available for grooming when TSP arrives around the scheduled appt. time will result in a $10 - $20 travel charge per dog. Missed appts. cost  TSP time and money. If you need a reminder email please let TSP – Shannon Coleman know ahead of time. 2 missed appts...maybe mobile grooming isn't for you. 

Cancellations or Reschedules
Mobile grooming is scheduled by appointment per dog & not in masses like in a grooming shop. Cancellation of grooming appointments will be given at least 24 - 48 hours notice by the animal's owner or caretaker.  Emergency situations will be taken into consideration for cancellations. Cancellations can occur at any time by TSP due to weather, road conditions, equipment failure, family health etc.  Every effort will be made to contact you about cancellations to be made.  Rescheduling will be on a case by case basis. Failure to give 24- 48 hour notice of cancellation will result in a cancellation fee of $10.  More notice is needed to fill the appointment space. 

Home or Property Damages
TSP will not be held responsible for damages occurring to plumbing, electrical, flooring, or any other part of client's house, home, or property.

Grooming While Animal's Owner or Caretaker is Away From Their Home or Property
In the case that you make special arrangements to have your animal groomed while you are away. This release authorizes TSP to perform scheduled grooming appointments while you are away from your home or property. This cannot happen without PRIOR arrangements and will be taken on a case by case basis. Not all dogs handle the groomer picking them up in the dog's home without owner home. 

Signature Required for Grooming Services Rendered
The undersigned for and in consideration of the grooming services of TSP agrees to save and hold harmless TSP and its owners from any damage, loss, or claims arising from any preexisting condition of the undersigns animal, either known or unknown to TSP. The terms, special services, or handling shall include, but not be limited to veterinarian emergency services, care-taking, and/or transportation.  In the event an emergency should occur with my animal, or in the event special services or handling are required as deemed necessary by TSP in the care of my animal, I agree to pay all such costs in full. Any/all damages, loss, or claim shall include, but not be limited to death, injury, or shock.  Said pre-existing conditions shall include, but not be limited to advanced age, extreme nervousness, neurosis, illness, malformation, previous injury, skin conditions, or coat conditions.