Policies & Safety Guidelines

Meet & Treat

A meet and treat is required before any service can be booked. This is so that your pet and I can meet and familiarize ourselves with each other, I can learn about their likes/dislikes, make sure it’s a great fit for everyone, and answer any questions that you may have. I can’t wait to meet your pet and for you to feel confident that they are well taken care of! 

Medical Requirements

For the safety of all pets under my care, I do require that each pet has an up-to-date rabies vaccine and that all dogs have up-to-date leptospirosis, distemper & parvo, and kennel cough vaccines (proven by vet paperwork with full vaccine expiration date). These vaccines are commonly administered during annual veterinary exams. If you're unsure whether your dog has these, feel free to reach out! All dogs must be on flea & tick medication and heartworm prevention year-round as well. I will check your dog for fleas and ticks before they reenter my car and/or your home and remove any ticks that I can find, but Paws & Peaks LLC does not hold responsibility for any fleas or ticks that you may find on your dog after drop off. 

I am very careful with each pet, but I am not responsible for the result of any incident caused by undisclosed medical and/or behavioral issues. Discussing these things with me beforehand will help me to better tailor the service to your pet’s specific needs while keeping everyone as safe as possible, which is very important to me when caring for your fur babies! 

Inherent Risks Involved in Walking & Hiking Dogs

While I take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of the dogs in my care, certain injuries or incidents can occur that are inherent to walking and hiking activities. These may include, but are not limited to, cuts, scrapes, ligament or muscle strains, insect bites or stings, allergic reactions, and ingestion of unforeseen objects encountered during walks or hikes. Such incidents are considered natural risks of outdoor activity and are not the result of negligence. I am committed to supervising all dogs closely and responding appropriately in the event of any injury or incident. By using my services, you acknowledge and accept these inherent risks. You agree that I have the authority to transport your dog to the nearest emergency vet and/or seek treatment if needed. Listing me as a caregiver for your pet with their regular vet is optional, but would allow me to access important information that may be useful in emergency situations. Paws & Peaks LLC is fully insured and you agree that I as a Canine and Feline CPR and First Aid certified individual can provide medical intervention if needed. 

Weather & Temperature

Service Modifications: I hike and walk in almost any weather, rain or shine! There are a few exceptions; I always do my best to complete the originally agreed upon service, but the safety of every pet in my care is my top priority and there will be days when it is too hot, too cold, or too stormy to safely be outside for the full duration of your pet's service. In these cases, we will have as much outside time as the weather allows and the remainder of your pet’s service time may be filled with fun enrichment activities, play time, potty break and water refill, basic training (I am not a certified dog trainer, but am confident in some basic training), pet store walks, time in your backyard/pool, etc. You may message me ahead of your pets scheduled service time should you wish to alter the service due to weather. Otherwise, service changes due to weather may be left up to my own discretion based on what I believe is best for your pet as well as the other pets in my care that day (pricing for services modified due to weather will always be adjusted accordingly).

Please note: Mountain hikes require additional driving time and are more sensitive to temperature, wind, elevation, and trail conditions. A mountain hike is never guaranteed if weather conditions pose a safety risk, even if conditions appear acceptable at lower elevations. If I determine that conditions are unsafe for mountain hiking, the hike may be replaced with a safer local alternative or enrichment-based service. 

Service Lengths: Should the weather be too hot/cold to complete group walks and hikes, these may need to be adjusted to solo services consisting of any of the alternative activities listed above. Because of this, service lengths (including neighborhood walks and check-ins) may need to be shortened in order to split time evenly and ensure that all pets are able to be seen that day. I will only shorten service lengths when necessary, and this would be communicated with you before any changes are made. Service pricing would be adjusted accordingly.

Service Time Changes: In the event of unsafe driving conditions (such as snowstorms), service times may need to shift to ensure the safety of your pet and myself. During these situations, visits may be prioritized based on medical and time-sensitive needs (such as medication or essential care), rather than scheduled order. I will always do my best to communicate any changes as early as possible. If your dog’s visit time is adjusted due to weather, please know this decision is made thoughtfully and with the well-being of all pets in mind.

Cancellations: The only time that your pet’s service may need to be cancelled is when weather conditions are too severe to drive in or are forecasted to be severe later on in the day. This may result in me needing to make scheduling changes as described above, although changes are made only when necessary. If your service needs to be cancelled due to poor road conditions, you will not be charged (again, I know that you and your pet depend on me for quality care and I would never cancel unless out of absolute necessity). 

Reschedules and Cancellations

If you need to adjust, reschedule, or cancel your scheduled service then that is okay, but I ask that you notify me at least 48 hours in advance. This will allow me time to fill the spot with another dog in need of a visit, and/or adjust the schedule for that day. Failure to do so may result in a fee of 50% of the service cost for the second time and 100% of the service cost for each subsequent time, payable via the PetPocketbook app, Venmo, or Cashapp before scheduling your next service. The same applies if I am unable to access your home due to no key and/or parking space access. If you would like to shorten the duration of your pet’s visit, a 48 hour notice is needed or you may be subject to the pricing of the originally scheduled service. On days when I am physically unable to complete a service due to poor weather conditions or illness (I’ve never needed to cancel and truly only would if absolutely necessary), you will not be charged. 

Pickup/Drop off Times

Each pet will have an estimated window of time (between 2-3 hours) that I will stop by for their check-in, walk, or hike. I do my best to stay on schedule, but there may be days when I run off schedule due to factors outside of my control such as poor weather, traffic, and other unforeseen circumstances. Should I get off track for any of these reasons, you will be notified as soon as possible. The same applies for drop-off times for any group walks and/or hikes. 

Proper Parking, Sidewalk, & Home Access

Your home must provide a legal parking space for my car so that I can ensure your pet is taken care of while also guaranteeing that I have transportation for the rest of my visits that day and a safe space to enter/exit your home. This can include the sidewalk/sidestreet in front of your home when there is no winter parking ban. If snow accumulates, there must be a plowed area available. I will always do my best to navigate the situation but if I am unable to access the parking space due to factors within your control, a cancellation fee may apply. 

Each household must allow me access to an entry/exit way so that I can access your pet. This can be an unlocked door, or by utilizing a key lockbox provided by yourself or Paws & Peaks. Should Paws & Peaks provide the lockbox and you wish to discontinue services at any point, the lockbox should be returned.

All neighborhood walks must be in a neighborhood with walkable sidewalks. If not, I may be able to drive your dog to a walkable neighborhood for an additional fee. Services may need to be adjusted when it snows and street parking becomes unavailable in a different neighborhood.

Mud, Water, & Dirt

They’re a part of life and being outside! As much as I’d love for every day to be sunny, there’s no stopping the rain. I understand that I am typically dropping dogs off in their home after their walk or hike. This is why I try my best to return dogs as clean as possible, however, there may be rainy/snowy days that make this not so easy. By signing these policies, you understand that during warmer weather I’m happy to hose dogs off when the option is available, but your dog may return home wet, damp and/or with some mud/dirt residue. Year-round I have towels on hand and will towel dry/clean off your dog as best as possible, but there may be some stubborn debris left that won’t come off until dry. If your dog is crate-trained, I’d be happy to guide them into their crate when specified beforehand so that they will not dirty your home. 

Treats

I use a variety of treats for encouragement, bonding, and at times basic training. If your pet is allergic to certain foods or you’d prefer your pet to only have treats you’ve provided, that is no problem! Making sure that I’m aware of this will allow me to make note and follow through with feeding your pet your preferred treats. I am not responsible for any undisclosed allergies or any other issue that may arise from giving your dog the treats that I have on hand if not directed otherwise before the service has started. 

Transportation 

All hikes and some group walks will involve me picking up and dropping off your dog using my car. My car is set up for dog transportation using seat covers and cushioning, along with barricades to keep everyone safe and contained as I drive. I know that I am transporting your best friend (and often mine as well), so I drive cautiously and am alert at all times. By signing these policies, you give permission for me to transport your dog using my vehicle.

Properly Fitting Gear

I love to ensure a safe and happy visit for each pet! This is why I require each dog to at least have a properly fitted harness that they are unable to slip out of along with a secure leash. I will double check this, but I am not responsible for any incident that is the result of improperly fitted and/or faulty harnesses, collars, leashes, etc. You may wish for your dog to wear a coat, boots, etc. during colder months and I have no problem dressing/undressing them for this when directed to do so before the service has started. 

*If your dog wears boots, I highly recommend suspender boots (Canada Pooch makes warm, high quality suspender boots). This is because although I try my best to make sure no one loses any articles of clothing, some pieces and especially boots may fall off while walking in the snow. This can happen quickly and clothing can become buried in snow easily, making it difficult to locate said item. I am not responsible for replacing lost boots that are not suspender boots.

Hikes 

Hikes are based on time, not mileage. I do try to get as much mileage in as possible for each hike as there is nothing better than a sleepy dog after having a blast on the trail, but mileage per hike may vary day to day based on weather, trail conditions, and time limitations. I can guarantee that your dog will appreciate a fun time wagging their tail through the woods either way, complete with photo evidence and a report card sent to you after each adventure! 

      Mountain hikes are unavailable to puppies under 12 months, but this can extend up to 24 months    depending on size and breed. This is to protect their still developing bones and joints, and it is done in the best interest of your pup. In order to assess their fitness level, a local trail hike is required before any dog can attend a mountain hike.  

MA offers a medium-sized variety of beautiful mountain hiking options, but those options can seem limited if your dog becomes a long-term, frequent hiker with us. For the sake of allowing your dog the chance to explore different areas, mountain hikes may extend to include trails that are not technically on a mountain, but still reward us with views, plenty of exercise, and at least 600 feet of elevation gain.

On/Off Leash Hiking

Hiking may be done using a regular leash, long leash, or sometimes off-leash. I am not a certified dog trainer, and therefore prefer to keep most dogs connected to me in some way to stay on the safe side. Dogs who are comfortable with a long leash will be allowed more freedom while still ensuring safety and distance from wildlife and other dogs/hikers. We may work on recall skills and with time, earned trust, and a very solid and reliable recall, may be able to transition into dropping the long leash and introducing some off-leash time on trails that are not heavily trafficked. Off-leash hiking is never guaranteed and is reserved as an option for dogs who have built up a strong bond hiking with me and who have proved that they can 100% be trusted checking in and following commands. Any off-leash hiking will be discussed with a dog’s parent beforehand and will be done only with permission.

Payment

Payment is accepted through the PetPocketbook app that is used to track your pet’s service (please note that there is a 5% processing fee when using the app to complete payment). Other payment options with no processing fee include cash, check, Cashapp ($pawsandpeaks), and Venmo (@pawsandpeaks). Invoices for payment through the app are sent out on Mondays; otherwise, all other payments are due upon completion of service. Another service cannot be booked until the most recently completed service has been paid for. If you’ve pre-booked a service and payment for a previous service has not been received, any future pre-scheduled services may not be guaranteed to stay on the schedule.

Zero Tolerance Policy

I respect you and your pet and hope for the same in return. I will not tolerate disrespect in the form of insults, threats, or rude comments and have the right to decline service if I feel disrespected and/or unsafe, or if for any reason (medical or otherwise) I believe that altering or removing a service may be best for myself and/or your pet. If there are any issues that arise, please be kind and I promise that I will help out however possible. Thank you.

Media Release

By signing the release form, you give Paws & Peaks LLC permission to photograph your dog for use in client files, social media pages, and on Paws & Peaks LLC website. Your dog's name may also be used in posts, but I will never use yours.