Terms & Conditions
Clients are required to review and sign the following Terms and Conditions during their initial visit to Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming. If you have any concerns regarding these terms, please discuss them with Marilyn before your appointment begins.
The following are our standard Terms and Conditions:
Health and Welfare
At Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming; and the health and welfare of your dog is our top priority. If your dog exhibits signs of fear or stress at any time, we may need to employ alternative strategies to alleviate this, which could involve additional time and costs. We do not perform any procedures that your dog resists; therefore, if your dog objects to any aspect of the grooming process, that component will not be carried out.
Please note that we do not offer price reductions for incomplete grooming due to your dog’s behaviour.
We are committed to providing guidance and support to help address any fears your dog may have as we work toward a full groom. We kindly ask that you keep us informed about any changes to your dog’s health prior to grooming. Furthermore, we kindly request that you do not bring any dog for grooming if they are exhibiting signs of illness, have recently undergone neutering, or are bitches in season.
Grooming services for elderly dogs will be conducted entirely at the owner’s risk. There may be underlying skin or health issues that we cannot be held liable for uncovering.
In the unlikely event of an accident or medical condition arising, you authorize us to seek emergency veterinary treatment on your behalf. Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming charges an additional £20 per hour for any extra time taken to complete the groom, which breaks down to £5 for every 15 minutes.
Aggressive or Poorly Socialised Dogs
It is essential that we are made aware of any prior history of biting or aggression before your appointment. Muzzles may be utilized as a last resort, but only if absolutely necessary. We reserve the right to decline grooming services for any dog if we believe there is a risk of injury to either the dog or Marilyn. Should a dog display aggressive behaviour or any traits that have not been previously disclosed, the grooming session will be immediately halted, and the full-service fee will apply. We would like to remind you of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which holds owners accountable for any bites or injuries that occur.
If you are aware that your dog’s behaviour may not be ideal or if they have shown aggression towards others in the past, it is your responsibility to inform Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming. We are willing to groom dogs that may be challenging, and each dog will be assessed on an individual basis. However, if the safety of either the groomer or the dog is at risk, we reserve the right to refuse or discontinue grooming services. You acknowledge that an additional fee will apply if Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming needs to try again on a subsequent occasion.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be communicated at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment. A 50% fee of the grooming service will be charged in the following situations: if an appointment is cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, if the groom cannot proceed due to any of the aforementioned reasons, or if you fail to attend your scheduled appointment. Furthermore, a 50% advance payment will be required for your next grooming appointment. This advance payment will be non-refundable if cancellation occurs within 24 hours of the scheduled time.
Payment and Pricing
All quoted prices are contingent upon the following conditions: the dog’s coat must be well-maintained and free from mats, the dog must display good behaviour with no signs of aggression, and grooming should occur at our recommended intervals. Additionally, the dog should not be overweight or oversized for its breed. Any deviations from these conditions will incur an additional charge of £5 for every 15 minutes.
We are more than willing to work with nervous or timid dogs; however, these cases may also lead to extra charges due to the additional time and specialized handling required.
Payment must be settled before or upon the collection of your dog. We accept both cash and card payments. BACS transfers are accepted at the time of collection. Late or non-payment will incur a £10 fee on any outstanding amounts exceeding seven days. Should the payment remain unresolved, further action may be pursued in accordance with the Fraud Act 2006. The act of availing services without payment is a criminal offense that involves dishonesty and the intentional avoidance of financial obligations for rendered services. Consequently, further costs may be incurred by the client in pursuit of outstanding payments through Small Claims Court.
Time Keeping / Late Pick Up
At Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming, we have established a scheduling system tailored to each individual dog, ensuring that there is sufficient time between appointments to avoid any overlap. This approach allows us to provide focused care for your dog while adhering to safety protocols. The appointment time indicated is when we anticipate welcoming you and your dog into our salon. Should you arrive early, please note that we may not be able to grant immediate access. Conversely, if you arrive late, we may have to decline grooming services for your pet on that occasion. Customers who arrive more than 15 minutes late will be considered a ‘no show’ and will incur the full appointment fee.
You acknowledge that Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming operates by grooming one dog (or a group of dogs from the same household) at a time, and it is essential to collect your pet promptly at the agreed-upon time. If you are more than 15 minutes late for pick-up, a sitting fee of £5 per 15 minutes will be charged, unless prior arrangements have been made with us.
Knots/Matts and Neglected Coats
If your pet’s coat is significantly matted or has excessive knots, we may need to clip these out, as de-matting can be a painful process. Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming will seek your consent before clipping out any knots, which may incur an additional fee.
Please be advised that we cannot be held liable for any veterinary expenses related to hematomas, cuts, irritation, or grazes resulting from the clipping of matted fur, should your pet require veterinary attention. Additionally, we want to make you aware that the desired grooming outcome may not be achieved if your dog's coat is in poor condition.
Bitches in Season / Pregnant Dogs
It is your responsibility to inform Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming if you observe or suspect that your female dog is in season, no later than 24 hours prior to the appointment. We understand that grooming a dog in season may lead to increased irritability, and the resulting finish may not meet our usual standards; however, the standard grooming fee will still apply.
Moreover, if you are aware or suspect that your pet is pregnant, please cancel the appointment within 24 hours. Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming does not groom pregnant dogs and retains the right to refuse service and enforce the cancellation policy in such situations.
Fleas
Please be aware that if your pet is found to have fleas, an additional charge will be applied to cover the costs associated with flea shampoo and the deep cleaning of our salon. At Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming, we reserve the right to refuse service or send a dog home early if fleas are detected, and our cancellation policy will apply in such cases.
For the health and safety reasons, we cannot accept any dogs with fleas. If your dog is infested, we kindly ask that you treat them before your visit. If a flea infestation is discovered once grooming has begun, a surcharge of £20 will apply, and your dog will be sent home.
We understand that flea infestations can occur due to various factors, such as changes in the weather. However the surcharge is necessary to cover the expenses of deep cleaning, using a flea bomb, and any cancellations of services for other dogs scheduled on that day. After treatment, your pet may return to the salon after 4 days.
Photography
Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming may take “before” and “after” photos of your dog and utilize these images on our social media platforms. By signing the Terms and Conditions in our salon, you are granting permission for your dog's photos to be used online; however, you will have the option to decline this at that time. Additionally, these images may be referred to should any disputes arise.
Termination of Services
We reserve the right to discontinue services to any client at our discretion and without prior notice or cause. This may include circumstances where the continuation of service is deemed not to be in the best interests of our business, or the dogs entrusted to our care.
The client agrees to hold Jemima’s House Professional Dog Grooming blameless for any inconvenience or perceived damages resulting from the termination of services.