Contracts

Service Agreement and General Contract

Payment and Scheduling

Payments and Due Dates

For payments, an invoice will be sent by the “Walkies: Pay Link.” You will be notified and have access to this through the Walkies app, automated text messages, and/or automated emails (this depends on what was filled in your forms or your settings in your personal Walkies account; if any of this information needs to be changed, contact me, this includes notifications and payment method!). I accept cash, Zelle, and Venmo.

• By signing this form, you acknowledge that requests you send to me on “Walkies” may not reflect fees until I edit and confirm the request, which may potentially change the price of your visit.

• Cash and electronic payments have different expectations; please read through the sections on “Electronic Payments” and “Cash Payments.”

Electronic Payments

These rules apply only to electronic payments. A 25% deposit is required to confirm a visit, unless you are using Zelle. This deposit can be paid after your Meet and Greet if we have not met yet; however is normally expected when you book immediately.

The due date for the rest of 75% of the payment is 4 days before the first scheduled visit. If unpaid, I will send a warning, then eventually cancel.

Cash Payments

These rules apply only to cash payments. If you will be using cash, please notify me in advance so I do not cancel your appointment due to non-payment of the 25% deposit or tardiness in paying the full payment amount.

I require you to either message me where the money will be, leave a thank you note next to the money, or leave the money with written instructions so I know it is for me. If unconfirmed, I will leave the money with you and expect the payment to be labeled during the next visit.

If payments are consistently missed, I will only allow you to pay through electronic payments going forward. In the event of a cancellation, compensation is expected electronically.

Cancellations for cash visits still have an expected 25% charge, similar to the deposit price. This can be paid in cash during your next visit or electronically.

See “Cancellations” for more information on cancellation fees.

• For first-time pet sits while you are on vacation, cash payments are not allowed to ensure that I can service your pet while you are away, while being compensated for my time.

Fees

There are fees for electronic payments, holidays, and distance. All fees will be calculated under the “Distance Fees” tab in your invoice. Electronic payments (other than Zelle) have 5% service fee. Listed Holidays have $10 fee. These holidays are: Christmas Eve/Day, New Year’s Eve/Day, Thanksgiving, July 4th Weekend, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend. Distances on average that are more than 25 minutes away from me have a $1 fee for each minute above 25. (Examples: 26 minutes $1 fee, 30 minutes=$5 fee). To approximate your distance, you can look up Parsippany High School on Beverwyck Road during non-rush hour times.

Past Due Invoices: For electronic payments, if payment fails for any reason and you are unreachable, your reservation will be cancelled.

If cash payments are unpaid, on the first visit, I will stay the entirety of the booked duration; however, the next day, if I am not contacted about payment or compensated electronically, I will only stay until basic needs for the animal are met during that visit, despite the original requested duration. Basic needs include but are not limited to: your pet being fed, given water, given medication, and let out/having a clean enclosure. The initial service price for these visits does not change once I have visited the house and it has not been unpaid for, due to the time still being reserved. If there are any payment issues, please contact me before the scheduled visit.

• If services have been rendered, or I have paid third-party vendors on your behalf, and the invoice for such rendered services or third-party expenses becomes past due, a $1 late fee will be assessed every day that a balance remains. After 30 days, if the total balance has not been paid, I reserve the right to take legal action to recover the balance owed and/or send the account to a third-party collection agency.

Late Fees: Each week, $10 will be added to your initial service price. If I am unpaid with no communication, I will sadly be unable to service you in the future. If the total balance for services is not paid for in 30 days, I reserve the right to take legal action to receive the balance owed and/or send the account to a third-party collection agency.

Cancellations: Paws and Palette NJ does not issue full refunds unless I cancel on you. If you cancel a reservation BEFORE 24 hours of your reservation, I will keep the 25% deposit, so only 75% of the service amount will be refunded to you. If you cancel UNDER 24 hours of your reservation, there will be no refund.

If you cancel over 3 services in the month, no further cancellations will be allowed in that month.

Third-Party Expenses: I require immediate reimbursement for third-party expenses such as veterinary medical care, pet supplies, and locksmith services if I have paid for such expenses on your behalf. I will make every attempt to contact you to confirm your choice of action in the event third-party expenses are expected or have been incurred. If you cannot be reached in a timely manner, I will use my best judgment for the issue at hand. By signing this form you allow me permission to use my own judgement if you are unreachable.

Basic Terms for Services

Home Access, Privacy, and Security: By contracting me to care for your pets, you authorize me to enter your home as needed to perform the services outlined in each reservation. Before each reservation begins, you agree to disclose if, when, and where other people are expected to be on your property. This may include, but is not limited to, landscapers, house cleaners, friends, or family. Failure to disclose this information may result in cancelled services and/or police involvement, if I am not familiar with who has permission to be on your property or in your home. You warrant that all security cameras are within legal placement and do not have a view of any restrooms, toilet areas, sleeping areas, or any other area in which I would reasonably expect privacy. For my safety, you agree to properly secure your property to the best of your ability before leaving the premises. You give me the authorization to employ a locksmith on your behalf in the event of a malfunction of the lock, key, or remote-control entry device. Unless such employment becomes necessary due to my negligence or misconduct, you accept full financial responsibility for the cost of employing a locksmith. See “Third-Party Expenses” for more information.

Pet and Household Supplies: You are responsible for providing adequate pet care and household cleaning supplies for the duration of each reservation. Supplies may include, but are not limited to, food, medication, medical supplies, a sturdy harness or collar, leash, appropriately sized crate, litter, litter bags, cleaning sprays, rags, paper towels, vacuum, broom, and mop. If supplies run out during the reservation, I will attempt to contact you. If unreachable, I will use reasonable judgment and may purchase missing supplies at your expense. See “Third-Party Expenses” for details.

Vaccinations & Zoonotic Disease: You warrant that your pet is currently vaccinated for rabies as required by state law; OR your pet is not currently vaccinated for rabies, but your pet’s veterinarian has provided a medical waiver. You warrant that your pet has no known zoonotic diseases, and should you be made aware of a zoonotic disease, you will notify me promptly and/or cancel your scheduled services.

My Right to Terminate: If I feel as though I am not a good fit for you, your pet is uncomfortable with me, or for any reason I feel uncomfortable or unsafe, I am able to terminate my services.

Pet Photos: Paws and Palette retains ownership of pet pictures and recordings. These may be used for my website, social media, and/or marketing materials for promotional purposes. If this is uncomfortable for you, in your forms, please indicate this.

Trusted Friends: In your form, if you choose, you can allow a trusted friend to either walk your animal or come into your house with me to help me take pictures. Please do not select this if your pet is aggressive. If this is uncomfortable for you, in your forms, please indicate this.

Emergencies

Veterinary Medical Care: In the event your pet experiences a medical event or emergency and you cannot be reached in a timely manner, you give me the authorization to seek medical attention from the veterinary facility of my choosing, and to make decisions on treatment recommendations from the attending veterinarian(s). Your Veterinary Release form will determine my choices for your pet in the event of an emergency. You authorize the release of your pet’s medical records from their regular veterinarian to aid in their care. Costs will be incurred for the medical assessment and care of your pet, and you accept full financial responsibility for such costs. See “Third-Party Expenses” for more information.

Emergency Contacts/Guardians: If you are unable or unwilling to resume custody, care, and control of your pet during or after a reservation, and/or I am unable or unwilling to complete or extend your reservation, you authorize me to transfer care, custody, and control of your pet to any of the individuals listed as Emergency Guardians/Contacts in your profile. You certify that the individuals listed have been informed of their designation as Emergency Guardians for your pet.

If all listed Emergency Guardians are unable or unwilling to accept custody, care, and control of your pet if called upon to do so, your pet may be brought to a kennel or boarding facility at your expense.

Inclement Weather: You agree to provide at least one Emergency Guardian specifically for Inclement Weather emergencies. Your Inclement Weather Guardian should live within walking distance, be home during the dates of your reservation, and be able to enter your home to care for your pet if called upon to do so in the event of severe weather or natural disaster that has caused roadways to be impassable or unsafe to travel, preventing me from reaching your pet.

Pet Abandonment: If you fail to resume care, custody, and control of your pet on the agreed-upon date and time, and extended reservation charges are incurred and remain unpaid for 10 days, and reasonable effort to compensate me has not been made by you or your representative, your pet will be considered “Abandoned”. Paws and Palette NJ is authorized to sell abandoned pets at public or private sale, give the pet away, or turn the pet over to the humane society, animal shelter, or other facility.

Liability: Unless caused by our negligence or willful misconduct, you release me from all liability related to: Any breach of security by a third party that results in loss of or damage to your property and/or pet, such as burglary or criminal trespass; Any mishap of whatsoever nature which may befall your pet while unsupervised; Any damages beyond the control of Paws and Palette NJ, such as damage caused by the elements, severe weather, or natural disaster; Transporting your pet to and from any veterinary clinic, kennel, or boarding facility, and the expense thereof; Medical expenses and damages resulting from an injury to your pet sitter, other pets, other people, and property which were caused by your pet. Paws and Palette NJ is not liable for any damages reported 24 hours or more after a reservation has ended. The maximum liability I shall have in any claim will not exceed the sum of the total fees paid to me. You have no right to special, punitive, circumstantial, or other damages.