The Chelsea Canine
New York City's Neighborhood Pet Care
Policies
Payment Policy
Payment is expected prior to services beginning. This is required to reserve a spot on our schedule. Monthly walkers will be invoiced on the first business day of the month for that month. If you have a credit card on file you will be charged at that time
The Chelsea Canine accepts cash, checks and credit cards. There will be a $30 charge for returned checks
Cancellation Policy
Dog drop-in visits and cat sitting must be cancelled 5 days in advance in order to receive a credit. All refunds will be made as a credit for future services. Refund credits expire after 90 days.
All monthly package clients receive one fully refundable cancellation per month (when you cancel by 6 PM the day prior to the walk). These cancellations are cumulative up to 12 per year. Additional cancellations are not refundable. All cancellations must be made by email or phone.
Returns
Pet visit clients returning home early must pay for the full number of scheduled pet visits. Notify The Chelsea Canine once you have returned home so we can be confident your pet will be taken care of. If you are delayed in your return let us know as soon as possible so we can continue to provide care for your pets.
We will remain concerned about the welfare of your pets until we hear that you have arrived home. If we have not been notified of your arrival, we will continue to care for your pets to assure their safety and will bill accordingly.
Shared Pet Visits
The Chelsea Canine cannot accept any shared pet sitting services with friends, family or neighbors. All pet care during your time away must be provided by The Chelsea Canine. We allow no one besides the scheduled pet sitter to be in the house at the time of service. This is for the protection of the pet caregiver and your home.
Keys
In a building with a doorman or concierge desk the keys can be left at the desk.. A signed authorization form for access to the apartment should be provided. A copy of this form will be kept in the client's file by The Chelsea Canine. Please be sure that the doorman is notified before the arrival of The Chelsea Canine pet caretaker. If there is a security system the security company must be notified that The Chelsea Canine will be accessing the home
If there is no doorman, Two working copies of your house keys must be provided at the time of the consult. If you do not have two copies available for us at that time, we are happy to arrange to pick them up prior to the first service for a fee of $20. The keys will be stored in a locked box in a secure location with identifying information kept separately. The Chelsea Canine will return keys by mail for a $6.00 charge or in person for a $20 charge. There is no charge for us to keep your keys on file.
Emergency Contact
Pet visit clients must provide the Chelsea Canine with the phone number of a local emergency contact in case you cannot be reached during the time you are away. Emergency contact information must be kept current and the emergency contact must have access your home
Extreme Weather
As we are neighborhood based, we should be able to reach your pet in almost all weather conditions although the schedule may be altered in these cases. In extreme weather conditions, such as intense heat or cold, the pet caretaker may adjust the duration of the walk for the safety of the dog. If a state of emergency is declared in New York City, we may be unable to reach your pet. In this case, the emergency contact will be notified and you will be informed immediately and the service will be credited.
Supplies
If we arrive for a pet visit and there are not adequate supplies, such as food or cat litter. we will purchase the needed supplies and clients will be billed for the cost of the supplies plus $25 for the extra time involved .
Licensing and Identification Requirements
All dogs must be licensed by New York City and wear licensing identification. The Chelsea Canine is not liable for any fines incurred for expired licenses.
All dogs must wear identification tags with a name and phone number. If you do not have a tag or may be hard to reach during your trip, we will provide a tag with our name and phone number.
Vaccination Policy
All pets must have a current rabies vaccination before service can begin. A copy of this vaccination certificate will be kept on file.
Holiday Surcharge
A $20.00 Holiday Surcharge is added to each service fee on the following days: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day (Observed), Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
Photo Policy
The client authorizes The Chelsea Canine to take photos of their pets to keep on file and for promotional use. All photos are the property of The Chelsea Canine. If you do not want photos of your pet taken please inform us prior to the first service.