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Dog Grooming Terms & Conditions

Please read the following carefully prior to booking your appointment. You will be asked to confirm that you have read & agree to the following when booking online. All clients will also be provided with a paper copy at your first appointment. 

 

1. Cancellations, Missed Appointments & Deposits

• Please cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours in advance via our website or by contacting us directly. - lucymeira@icloud.com / 07365 225133

• All deposits are non-refundable. If you cancel within 48 hours, a 50% deposit will be required for your next appointment.

• Two cancellations or no-shows may result in you being unable to book future appointments.

• If you miss your appointment without notice, the full cost of the groom is still due before rebooking.

Why this matters: When appointments are cancelled last minute or clients don’t turn up, it creates un-fillable gaps that directly impact groomers time and income.

 

2. Late Drop-Off Policy

• Please arrive on time! If you’re:

  • 15+ minutes late: Your service may be shortened however, you will still be charged the same amount for the slot (e.g., full groom changed to bath & tidy).

  • 25+ minutes late: Your appointment may be cancelled and must be rebooked.

 

3. Late Pick-Up Policy

• A £5 late fee may apply if you're 20+ minutes late collecting your pet.

• For safety, your pet may be placed in a secure crate/carrier if overlap occurs with other clients.

 

4. Anal Glands

• Sunshine Paws does not express anal glands—this is a veterinary procedure.

 

5. Fleas & Ticks

• Please inform us if your pet has fleas before arrival.

• If fleas are found:

  • We’ll bathe them in flea shampoo (unless medically unsuitable).

  • An additional charge of £10–£20 will apply to cover deep cleaning.

• If ticks are found, we’ll notify you and remove them if safe. You may need to follow up with your vet.

 

6. Puppy Policy 🐾

• For puppies under 4 months, we recommend short, positive intro sessions to build grooming tolerance.

• Our goal is to make grooming a fun, stress-free experience from day one.

• Please bring your puppy for their first session within 3 –4 months of age, once vaccinations are complete.

• Patience and consistency are key! Missed early grooms may make future appointments more difficult.

 

7. De-Matting Policy

• If matting can't be removed within 20 minutes, we’ll clip or shave the coat to avoid pain and distress.

• A fee of £10–£20 will apply, depending on severity.

• Photos may be taken for documentation.

• We may halt the groom if your pet is too stressed, and you’ll be advised on how to proceed.

Important: Matting can hide skin issues such as sores, parasites, or embedded grass seeds. These may be revealed after shaving. Sunshine Paws is not liable for existing skin conditions or shaving reactions such as irritation or patchiness. After clipping, it’s possible your pet may have minor skin irritation or a little redness—this is normal and usually settles within a day or two. You can gently apply Witch Hazel or Aloe Vera Gel to soothe the area.

We always prioritise your pet’s welfare. Regular grooming and brushing at home help avoid this.

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Important: If clients post their own photos of their pet online without an honest explanation of their coat’s condition and Sunshine Paws is publicly criticised or blamed, we reserve the right to take legal action to protect our reputation and uphold animal welfare standards.

We love and care for every pet like our own. Any decisions we make are based on what’s best for their health and wellbeing.

 

 

8. Aggressive or Anxious Pets

• Please tell us if your pet:

  • Has bitten before

  • Has needed a muzzle

  • Struggles with grooming

• If your pet becomes too stressed or aggressive, we may end the session early and still charge for the time booked.

• Under the Animal Welfare Act (2006), we do not force pets through grooming.

 

9. Right to Refuse Service

We may refuse to groom:

• Aggressive or unsafe pets

• Regularly missed or late appointments

• Pets who frequently arrive in poor coat condition (matted or neglected)

 

10. Grooming Schedules

To keep your pet comfortable and their coat healthy, we will recommend a schedule every 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks—based on:

• Coat type

• Lifestyle

• Behaviour

• Brushing between grooms

If this schedule is not followed and your pet arrives in poor condition:

• Extra charges may apply

• We may refuse service if it compromises your pet’s welfare

 

11. Veterinary Emergencies

In a genuine emergency, we may transport your pet to our local vet:
Tweed House Vets, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7RP.
You will be contacted immediately. Any vet fees are your responsibility.

 

12. Photos & Social Media

We love sharing cute moments (and transformations)! We may take photos or videos of your pet for:

• Social media

• Website or promotional use

• Documentation

By having your pet groomed by Sunshine Paws you are agreeing to this. Please let us know if you prefer your pet not to be photographed. Images become the property of Sunshine Paws.

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13. Nail Clipping

 Nail clipping is included in a full groom, but not all pets require it at every visit. The decision to trim nails will be made at the groomer’s discretion based on the pet’s nail length and comfort.

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14. Ear Plucking

Ear plucking and external ear cleaning can be provided as part of the grooming service. However, under the Veterinary Surgeons Act, we are only permitted to pluck and clean the external ear canal. If the ear is severely matted, infected, or the dog does not tolerate ear handling, we will refer you to a vet

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15. Pregnant Animals

We do not groom pregnant cats or dogs, or pets that are still weaning. This is to reduce the risk of spreading infection to unvaccinated young through milk. In rare cases, we may groom a pregnant dog that is a regular client, but only for essential grooming (e.g., clearing the belly in preparation for feeding or a hygienic short cut to reduce the need for grooming postpartum).

 

16. Pricing & Payment

• Final price is based on:

  • Coat condition

  • Behaviour

  • Time required

• Please be honest when booking to help us give the best estimate.

 

17. Complaints

If you have a concern:

• Contact us within 48 hours of the groom

• Email: lucymeira@icloud.com

• Include your pet’s name, appointment time/date, and a description of the issue

We’re happy to make adjustments (e.g., shorten the tail/face) before you leave the salon—just let us know.

 

💬 Final Note

We love and care for every pet like they’re our own. Thank you for trusting Sunshine Paws!

Questions? Just ask—we’re always happy to help.