Terms & Conditions,
policies and procedures
Please refer to our T&C's and policies, the following which are available below
Terms and conditions/Privacy Policy/Procedures and Preventative Healthcare Plan
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Booking
1.1 Your booking for daycare is confirmed after the Meet and Greet and your free 3 hour trial.
1.2 Our current prices are displayed on our ‘Services’ page on the website.
1.3 Additional fees/extra charges may be applied when applicable.
1.4 Our free 3 hour trial is an opportunity for your pooch to spend time with a group of our VIP’s and for us to assess his/her suitability to becoming a member of Shorty & Co, and be able to begin to socialise with a larger group. It’s an opportunity to observe how your pooch behaves and integrates with the dogs in a relatively unfamiliar setting, while helping your pooch to know that you bring him/her to Shorty & Co, leave and then return to collect later. This imprints in new arrivals that their owner is coming back for them, and can be an important contributor to their initial settling in. However, if we observe any significant negative behaviour, or other important factors relating to suitability then we will discuss these further with you before making our decision to accept your pooch for regular daycare.
1.6 We insist that all male dogs are neutered by the time they are 1 years old. As pups develop from 6 months, males can display dominance/aggression towards others, and they may mark their territory which is then very difficult to clean and de-odourise, and significantly encourages others to follow suit. It may therefore be necessary in this circumstance to consider neutering your dog.
Bitches can suffer from a variety of health problems in later life if they are not spayed, so we advise that you discuss this further with your vet. When a bitch is coming into season, she will not be able to attend daycare until her season is finished. This is because her scent will arouse a male or female whether neutered or not, and they will continuously pester her throughout the day.
1.7 Numbers : we do limit the number of puppies (up to a year old) that we take for daycare. Once we have reached our maximum daily number of dogs, we will add prospective clients to our waiting list, and contact you when we have a space available. As there is a limit on how many dogs we are able to take each day, we ask for a commitment from every owner of a minimum of 1 day per week (not withstanding family holidays etc). Our contract with you brings with it an expectation that you will keep to the agreed number of days per week, just as we are committed to you by holding a place for your dog. If your situation changes do contact us to discuss any issues that you may have with respect to your present commitment, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
2. Cancellations, Credits and Giving Notice
2.1 Cancelling a single day due to illness or a sudden change of plans: We ask that you contact us if you have to cancel a booking at least 24 hours notice (before 8 a.m. the previous day) prior to the date cancelled. Failure to do this will result in being charged the full amount for the day.
2.2 Cancelling more than a day due to a holiday or extended period (pet illness, neutering etc) If you are planning a holiday, working away or having any time off which interrupts your weekly commitment, Shorty & Co ask that you give us as much notice as possible.
2.3. Credits : We give credits for any cancelled days which give the minimum requirement of 24 hrs notice – we ask that where possible, you try to rearrange the cancelled day in the same week. If not, then we offer you a one month period in which to use your credit. However, if this remains unused after this period, then the credit becomes null and void and you will not be refunded. In the case of your dog being ill on or after arrival, and being sent home as a result, you will not be refunded or credited for the day in question. The same applies to any reason which culminates in your dog having to be collected/sent home during their daycare day.
2.4 When considering terminating the contract and giving notice to leave S&Co, we ask that you give 1 month’s notice in advance, in writing (email please). The month will begin from the date you give formal notice and consequently you will be charged for the month remaining from the date of giving notice.
3. Aggressive Animals
3.1 Shorty & Co does not accept aggressive animals, and if a dog shows overt aggression towards another dog/dogs, or towards a human during its stay at Shorty & Co then the owner will be contacted and the dog will be collected. Depending on the circumstances surrounding an incident, the dog may be permanently removed from the register.
3.2 The client agrees to be responsible for all costs (including but not limited to medical care, legal fees, etc) if the client’s dog(s) should bite another animal.
3.3 The Client agrees that on booking Shorty & Co services for their dog(s) that they have honestly represented that the dog(s) has/have not shown aggression or caused harm, or threatening behaviour to any individual and/or any pet(s), and the client agrees to contact Shorty & Co as soon as possible if any of these behavioural changes presents itself or if it has the potential to cause harm to any individual or animal(s).
3.4 We will not accept unruly dogs (i.e. excessive barking, excessive humping, consistently destructive behaviour, regular bouts of snappy aggression)
3.5 If the client’s dog(s) whilst in our care shows aggressive tendencies towards Shorty & Co's staff, or should its behaviour become unacceptable or a nuisance beyond reasonable acceptance, the client agrees that he/she be collected from daycare immediately and as a result may be permanently removed from our register.
3.6 If the client's dog displays destructive behaviour towards Shorty & Co equipment, or staff clothing etc, we reserve the right to charge for any damage done and any subsequent replacement, equivalent to the current price. The client will be informed, and the charge will be added to the following month's invoice with a copy of the receipt.
4. Updates
4.1 Please inform us of any changes regarding your contact numbers, your pet’s care needs, your emergency contact details, boosters and new inoculations and any other relevant information.
4.3 Shorty & Co terms and conditions will alter as we grow, and we will inform you of any changes. Please refer to the website.
5. Privacy Policy
5.1 All of our records will be stored in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Personal information will be kept private and confidential and solely in relation to the services Shorty & Co have been requested to provide. If requested, your data will be made available to the Local Licencing Authority for us to comply with our Licence Conditions.
5.2 Shorty & Co highly respects our clients entrusting us with the care of their pets.
5.3 Shorty & Co reserves the right to post videos or photos of the dogs in its care in support of its business activities via social media business pages or its website unless specifically requested not to do so by the client.
5.4 Our full privacy policy can be seen on our website.
6. Our Insurance Cover
6.1 All reasonable care is taken to ensure the highest standards of care are provided.
6.2 Shorty & Co has valid public liability insurance, to provide cover for ourselves and for the peace of mind of its clients.
6.3 Shorty & Co is insured to provide dog walking, dog day care and to transport dogs in a vehicle. A copy of the policy is on display at the premises and we are happy for you to read the policy provisions whilst attending the familiarisation session.
6.4 We recommend that you purchase your own separate pet insurance to assist with any emergency veterinary treatment, should the unexpected happen – please refer to 14.1
7. Medication/Vaccinations/Immunisations
7.1 Shorty & Co will follow instructions to administer medications as directed but cannot be held responsible for complications that arise as a result. Any medications required to be given will be documented on a separate sheet to the booking.
7.2 Under no circumstances will Shorty & Co allow any pet that has any form of active contagious illness to enter the daycare facility. If your dog shows signs of illness, please check with your vet before bringing them to daycare. Please see 2.3 re credits.
7.3 We require a copy of a valid vaccination certificate prior to attending daycare. There are no exceptions to this requirement. If a copy has not been emailed to us, please bring your card to the ‘meet and greet’. Please ensure that the Kennel Cough vaccine is included, as it is highly contagious.
7.4 If a member of Shorty & Co (or any member of the household, including the family dog) is bitten or exposed to any disease or ailment received from the client’s pet(s) which has not been properly or currently vaccinated, the client will be responsible for all costs and damages that may be incurred as a result.
7.5 Should a flea infestation be observed on a daycare dog, we will inform you on discovery of the infestation and isolate your dog. On return at the end of the day, your dog will have to be treated ( we would advise using your own vet) and be free of infestation before returning to Shorty & Co. We would recommend bathing your dog using flea shampoo, and using a flea comb after bathing to capture the eggs into a kitchen towel/ disposable bag.
8. Collars/Leads
8.1 Please provide secure collars/harnesses and leads for all visits. We would recommend a harness as a much safer way of walking your dog on a lead (less likely to come off if well fitted) and safer for any long bodied dog for increased back support, and reducing pressure on the neck.
8.2 It is the owner’s responsibility, and UK law that the owner provides a name tag attached to the dog’s collar/harness which displays the owners name, address and contact number.
9. Exercise, wellbeing and enrichment
9.1 By signing these Terms and Conditions, you consent to your dog being exercised off site, on lead and with other compatible dogs that are well known to us.
9.2 All walks are on a lead. We do not walk dogs off lead at any time.
9.3 Enrichment activities take place for all dogs in our care and by signing this agreement you consent to us undertaking these activities, unless we are specifically requested not to, due to medical reasons etc. Enrichment takes the form of play time using a variety of stimulating equipment. Enrichment is under full supervision.
9.4 Should your dog become sick/injured or subject to any infectious disease we will inform you. In case of an emergency situation, we will contact you immediately, and if we cannot reach you, we will contact your emergency contact. If that fails, we will call our own vet.
10. Isolation procedure
10.1 Any dogs which require emergency isolation due to contagious (or suspected contagious) disease will primarily be isolated from the other dogs in our designated room and be collected by their owner or emergency contact as soon as possible.
11. Emergency Contact
11.1 Emergency contact details must be provided on your Client Information form should a situation with your dog arise and you are unavailable.
11.2 The emergency contact needs to be an independent person rather than yourself and authorised to make a decision on your behalf if you are uncontactable.
11.3 Emergency contacts may be used in situations as noted in 3.5 above and must be able to collect your dog if the need arises. Any costs associated with alternative arrangements should the emergency contact be unable to collect will be at your expense.
12. Payment
12.1 Shorty & Co accepts Bank Transfer or cash. We send a monthly invoice at the 1st of every month to be paid in advance and to be paid by the 5th of the month.
12.2 In the case of late payment, you may be asked not to bring your dog until you have paid the outstanding fee.
12.3 Where payment is not received in accordance with these terms and conditions of business, Shorty &Co reserves the right not to proceed with any previously agreed arrangements.
12.4 We will give you a credit if you have paid for your dog’s day and they have been unable to attend, providing that the conditions in 2.1 and 2.2 are met. A credit will be carried forward to the next month.
13. Pet Insurance
13.1 If you have pet insurance (which is advisable) it would be a great help for us to have details and a copy of the policy in case of an emergency regarding your dog.
14. Liability
14.1 Shorty & Co shall not be liable to the client or be deemed to be in breach of the contract by reason of any delay in performing, or any failure to perform, any of its obligations in relation to the services, if the delay or failure was due to any cause beyond Shorty & Co’s reasonable control.
14.2 Shorty & Co shall not be liable for any damage to your dog's clothing, harness or lead.
16. Health and safety precautions and daily procedures
16.1 We ask that you TEXT us your dog’s name on arrival using Keith’s mobile number 07811 945815. This avoids the use of the doorbell which can often set the dogs off barking. On receiving your text, your dog will be brought out of the side entrance gate.
16.2 Entry to the premise will be through the side gate only. This is always locked from the inside, so we do ask you to wait on your side of the gate until a staff member opens it.
16.3 As the dog’s owner(s), you will have an opportunity to see the daycare centre on a Meet and Greet session when there are no other dogs present.
16.4 We have a series of gates in order to provide your dog(s) with maximum security and safety at all times. We keep the gates closed unless we are providing specific activities which require a larger or smaller space.
16.5 Please be patient while waiting for your dog to be brought to you, particularly at busy times.
17. PLEASE NOTE : Arrival and collection times; parking at S&Co
17.1 We are open Monday – Thursday AFTER 8.00 a.m. and you collect BEFORE 6 p.m. We are happy for you to arrive and collect at any time between these times to suit your needs, but would appreciate if you could let us know about early collection when you arrive in the morning. We find that most arrivals are between 8 and 10 a.m. and most collections are after 4 pm.
17.2 Parking is limited, and we are asking that you take extra care and attention to the following in order to recognise and respect our immediate neighbour’s privacy ( No 339) who have been very understanding at the increase in cars arriving adjacent to their property.
- Please do not park across our immediate neighbour’s adjoining driveway.
- Please do not allow your dog to go onto their drive. We need to ensure that our neighbours have minimal disruption to their daily lives so that we can continue to offer you the benefits of our business. Our advice is that you keep extendable leads locked and as short as possible when approaching/ leaving daycare. Cars enter the driveway and an uncontrolled dog could cause an accident.
- Parking spaces : Since extending our dropped kerb to the full extent of the frontage, we have created 2 parking spaces on the drive for your use, and 2 parking spaces on the dropped kerb. We therefore ask that as a priority in order to maximise all the spaces that you always prioritise the drive first, and then only use the dropped kerb if there is no parking available on the drive.
- Alternatively, please find a space along the road!
- ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING GOLDEN RULES :
- PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DROPPED KERB, AS NO-ONE WILL BE ABLE TO PARK ANYWHERE!
- PLEASE ALWAYS USE A SHORT LEAD ON THE DRIVE – AVOID UNLOCKED EXTENDABLE LEADS AS THESE ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ON THE DRIVEWAY.
- PLEASE USE OUR POO STATION IF YOUR DOG HAS A POO ON THE DRIVE – BAGS AND BIN ARE PROVIDED.
18. Covid rules and restrictions when government guidelines insist on the public complying to them
In order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our dog owners, we ask that you comply with the following Covid precautions :-
18.1 Masks will be worn by staff and we therefore ask that all owners do the same during pick up/ collection times, and during a Meet and Greet session. No visitor will be allowed onto the premise without wearing a mask. Please help us to ensure the safety and protection of you and other owners who may be waiting for their dog(s).
18.2 We also ask that the 2m social distancing rule is observed.
18.3 We ask that where possible only one person per dog(s) is present in order to reduce the number of people on the premise and therefore reduce the risk of potential covid transmission.
If you accept the above terms and conditions, please complete the form below and return it signed and dated, by email.
Please print your name and also hand sign the T&C form below, and return it to us. Thank you.
I, _____________________________ have read, understood and agree to the Terms and Conditions of Shorty & Co ( V9) as presented above. I further understand that a copy of this form will be kept on file for documentary purposes. All our policies and guidelines are subject to change at the discretion of Shorty & Co.
Signed/Name ..........................................................................................................
Date ......................................................................
(V9 : Revised : 1 FEB 2024)
Privacy Policy
Shorty & Co (the “Company”) is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) is designed to help you understand what information we gather, how we use it, what we do to protect it, and to assist you in making informed decisions when using our Service. Unless otherwise indicated below, this Privacy Policy applies to any website that references this Privacy Policy, any Company website, as well as any data the Company may collect across partnered and unaffiliated sites.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Service” refers to the Company’s service which can be accessed via our website at www.shortyandco.co.uk or through our mobile application. The terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Company. “You” refers to you, as a user of Service.
1. CONSENT
By accessing our Service, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and you consent to our collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. In addition, by using our Service, or services across partnered and unaffiliated sites, you are accepting the policies and practices described in this Privacy Policy. Each time you visit our website, or use the Service, and any time you voluntarily provide us with information, you agree that you are consenting to our collection, use and disclosure of the information that you provide, and you are consenting to receive emails or otherwise be contacted, as described in this Privacy Policy. Whether or not you register or create any kind of account with us, this Privacy Policy applies to all users of the website and the Service.
2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We may collect both “Non-Personal Information” and “Personal Information” about you. “Non-Personal Information” includes information that cannot be used to personally identify you, such as anonymous usage data, general demographic information we may collect, referring/exit pages and URLs, platform types, preferences you submit and preferences that are generated based on the data you submit and number of clicks. “Personal Information” includes information that can be used to personally identify you, such as your name, address and email address.
In addition, we may also track information provided to us by your browser or by our mobile application when you view or use the Service, such as the website you came from (known as the “referring URL”), the type of browser you use, the device from which you connected to the Service, the time and date of access, and other information that does not personally identify you. We use this information for, among other things, the operation of the Service, to maintain the quality of the Service, to provide general statistics regarding use of the Service and for other business purposes. We track this information using cookies, or small text files which include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to a user’s browser from our servers and are stored on the user’s computer hard drive. Sending a cookie to a user’s browser enables us to collect Non-Personal Information about that user and keep a record of the user’s preferences when utilizing our services, both on an individual and aggregate basis. The Company may use both persistent and session cookies; persistent cookies remain on your computer after you close your session and until you delete them, while session cookies expire when you close your browser. Persistent cookies can be removed by following your Internet browser help file directions. If you choose to disable cookies, some areas of the Service may not work properly.
3. HOW WE USE AND SHARE INFORMATION
3.1 Personal Information:
In general, we do not sell, trade, rent or otherwise share your Personal Information with third parties without your consent. We may share your Personal Information with vendors and other third-party providers who are performing services for the Company. In general, the vendors and third-party providers used by us will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to allow them to perform the services they provide for the Company. For example, when you provide us with personal information to complete a transaction, verify your credit card, place an order, arrange for a delivery, or return a purchase, you consent to our collecting and using such personal information for that specific purpose, including by transmitting such information to our vendors (and their service providers) performing these services for the Company.
However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment processors, have their own privacy policies in respect of the information that we are required to provide to them in order to use their services. For these third-party service providers, we recommend that you read their privacy policies so that you can understand the manner in which your Personal Information will be handled by such providers.
In addition, we may disclose your Personal Information if required to do so by law or if you violate our Terms of Use.
3.2 Non-Personal Information:
In general, we use Non-Personal Information to help us improve the Service and customize the user experience. We also aggregate Non-Personal Information in order to track trends and analyze use patterns of the Service. This Privacy Policy does not limit in any way our use or disclosure of Non-Personal Information and we reserve the right to use and disclose such Non-Personal Information to our partners, advertisers and other third parties at our sole discretion.
4. HOW WE PROTECT INFORMATION
We implement reasonable precautions and follow industry best practices in order to protect your Personal Information and ensure that such Personal Information is not accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed. However, these measures do not guarantee that your information will not be accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed by breach of such precautions. By using our Service, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to assume these risks.
5. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING THE USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
You have the right at any time to prevent us from contacting you for marketing purposes. When we send a promotional communication to a user via Weebly, the user can opt out of further promotional communications by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in each promotional e-mail. Please note that notwithstanding the promotional preferences you indicate by either unsubscribing or opting out in the Settings section of the Site, we may continue to send you administrative emails including, for example, periodic updates to our Privacy Policy.
6. WEEBLY
Our Service is hosted by Weebly, Inc. (“Weebly”). Weebly provides us with the online e-commerce platform that allows us to provide the Service to you. Your information, including Personal Information, may be stored through Weebly’s servers. By using the Service, you consent to Weebly’s collection, disclosure, storage, and use of your Personal Information in accordance with Weebly’s privacy policy available at https://www.weebly.com/privacy.
7. LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES
As part of the Service, we may provide links to or compatibility with other websites or applications. However, we are not responsible for the privacy practices employed by those websites or the information or content they contain. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by us through the Service. Therefore, this Privacy Policy does not apply to your use of a third-party website accessed by selecting a link via our Service. To the extent that you access or use the Service through or on another website or application, then the privacy policy of that other website or application will apply to your access or use of that site or application. We encourage our users to read the privacy statements of other websites before proceeding to use them.
8. AGE OF CONSENT
By using the Service, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age.
9. CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY
The Company reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use at any time. If we decide to change this Privacy Policy, we will post these changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it. Any such modifications become effective upon your continued access to and/or use of the Service five (5) days after we first post the changes on the website or otherwise provide you with notice of such modifications. It is your sole responsibility to check this website from time to time to view any such changes to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to any changes, if and when such changes may be made to this Privacy Policy, you must cease access to this website. If you have provided your email address to us, you give us permission to email you for the purpose of notification as described in this Privacy Policy.
10. MERGER OR ACQUISITION
In the event we (or Weebly) undergo a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition by another company, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personal Information may be among the assets transferred. You acknowledge and consent that such transfers may occur and are permitted by this Privacy Policy, and that any acquirer of our (or Weebly’s) assets may continue to process your Personal Information as set forth in this Privacy Policy. If our information practices change at any time in the future, we will post the policy changes here so that you may opt out of the new information practices. We suggest that you check this Privacy Policy periodically if you are concerned about how your information is used.
11. EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS & OPTING OUT
We will send you Service-related announcements on occasions when it is necessary to do so. For instance, if our Service is temporarily suspended for maintenance, or a new enhancement is released, which will affect the way you use our Service, we might send you an email. Generally, you may not opt-out of these communications, which are not promotional in nature. Based upon the Personal Information that you provide us, we may communicate with you in response to your inquiries to provide the services you request and to manage your account. We will communicate with you by email or telephone, in accordance with your wishes. We may also use your Personal Information to send you updates and other promotional communications. If you no longer wish to receive those email updates, you may opt-out of receiving them by following the instructions included in each update or communication.
12. CONTACT US & WITHDRAWING CONSENT
If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the practices of this Site, or wish to withdraw your consent for the continued collection, use or disclosure of your Personal Information, please contact us by sending an email to hello@shortyandco.co.uk.
(Revised Feb 2021)
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PROCEDURES and PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE PLAN
Feeding ( for puppies)
Puppies often have a midday meal until they are 6 months old, after which vets usually advise that the pup goes to 2 meals a day rather than 3.
Only food provided by the owner is used, and puppies are fed seperately away from the other dogs/puppies.
All dogs are fed according to the owners’ instructions and the owner provides the dog’s own food.
All bowls are removed after feeding and cleaned. All food and water bowls are cleaned with boiling water and pet-safe detergent. Any damaged bowls are disposed of.
No food is ever left down. Any uneaten food will be returned to the owner on pickup.
Dry food is kept in the dry food store inside and wet food kept in the refrigerator.
Drinking
Water bowls are washed/ wiped clean and replenished daily with fresh cold tap water. there are water bowls in all areas accessible to our dogs, including the cabin.
Cleaning
The cabin is swept and cleaned in the morning, and cleaned with mild disinfectant after each daily session. Spot cleaning is carried out throughout the day. The faux grass is cleaned with disinfectant each week, while any faeces are collected and the area cleaned immediately.
All soft furnishings are covered in throws and changed every week. The throws and cushion covers are washed at the end of the week, and all furniture wiped down with mild disinfectant.
Any wet patches are dried with paper before being cleaned and disinfected. All waste is bagged and placed into separate waste bin which is bagged at the end of the day.
All toys are collected and soaked in Milton Fluid at the end of the day. Any damaged toys are disposed of.
Fire
- The daycare cabin has a smoke alarm
- The cabin has a 6 litre Water Mist Fire Extinguisher (class A, B, C, F and electrical fires) placed in the back right hand corner of the cabin.
- The property has a side entrance at the front (double gated) - there is an inner picket fence behind it.
- In case of fire, all dogs will be removed to the safety of the Green at the front of the property.
- In the event that the cabin becomes uninhabitable the owners or emergency contact will be informed to collect their dogs ASAP.
In the case of extreme weather we will ensure that all dogs are comfortable and safe. If this cannot be maintained then owners will be contacted to collect dogs, or arrangement made for the dogs to be dropped home.
Transportation
Shorty & Co transport dogs for a veterinary visit. All dogs are transported in the rear of one of our vehicles and strapped in using dog booster seats and dog safety harnesses. The vehicles are cleaned weekly.
First Aid
We have an extensively stocked Canine First Aid kit on site and a smaller first aid kit which is always carried off-site.
Prevention and Control of the spread of Disease
It is advised that all dogs are vaccinated in accordance with their vets’ recommendations and they have a health check at least once a year. They should also be treated for parasites in accordance with recommendations. Proof of the disease prevention is provided to Shorty & Co and recorded on the dog’s records.
Any harbouring of parasites that is noticed while the dog is in our care is noted and all owners are informed. The dog is isolated as soon as it is noted, and the owner must collect and treat as soon as possible. If any other dog is exposed to the parasites their owner must be informed and recommended to check and treat as necessary. The premises may be flea bombed overnight in the case of fleas.
Any dog showing signs of disease or illness while in the care of Shorty & Co will be isolated from all other dogs. The owners will be informed and will be required to collect the dog within a reasonable time frame. If the owner or emergency contact cannot collect the dog it will then be taken to the registered vet for isolation if necessary. The isolation area is disinfected once the dog has been collected. The dog is removed from the premises through the front door and is not walked back through the area where the other dogs are. All other dog owners must be informed on collection of their dog if it has been exposed to a possible pathogen that may cause disease or illness.
The isolated dog is given its own water and food bowls which are disinfected after use.
No dogs are to come into daycare or walking if they have any symptoms of kennel cough, sickness or diarrhoea or any illness that may be infectious. The dog must be cleared by a vet or have 48 hours clear of all symptoms before coming in again for any services.
All cases are recorded in the accident record book. The dog will not be allowed back on premises until it has been cleared by a vet.
All dogs are checked on drop off and collection for any signs of illness, injury or disease. Any dog that is clearly unwell is not allowed to stay until cleared by a vet.
Dogs are proactively monitored throughout the day using the 21-point check list, any abnormalities noted and further investigations done if appropriate. Owners are notified of any signs that their dog is unwell. ( O is initial observation; A is abnormalities)
1. Responsiveness
(O) Response to hearing name and come cue
(A) No response at all due to lethargy or illness
2. Gait
(O) Movement of dog as he comes towards you
(A) Limping, unusual pace for specific dog
3. Coat
(O) Smooth and dry coat
(A) Check wet areas and tufts for bug bites, injury sores or hot spots
4. Ears
(O) Repeated head shaking
(A) Check for redness inside ear, discharge or injury. Smell ear for strong odour
5. Eyes
(O) Eyes clear and bright. Does dog focus
(A) Darting or dilated eyes, excessive blinking, eyes closed
6. Mouth
(O) Normal breathing, pink tongue and gums
(A) Excessive panting for environment and activity level, bright red tongue or gums and pale/grey gums
7. Behaviour
(O) Is dog’s response to name or come cue consistent in terms of other responses
(A) Lethargy; ignoring cues; very slow response; behaviour out of character for the dog
8. Water Intake
(O) Is the dog’s water intake normal for the dog and conditions
(A) Drinking significantly more or significantly less than normal or for the current conditions.
9. Eliminations
(O) Are dog’s eliminations normal for that dog in frequency and form
(A) Frequent urination or straining; abnormal stools; vomiting
10. Nose
(O) Are there any scratches? is there constant licking? Blood/discharge?
(A) Clean the area and inform owner
11. Neck
(O) Is it straight, held well and moveable? Look for injuries, odd position, pain /tenderness
(A) Inform owner, isolate and keep the dog as still and calm as possible
12. Head
(O) Look for lumps/bumps; swelling, foreign bodies (ticks/fleas)
(A) Alert owner; isolate until collected
13. Skeleton, skin
(O) Look for discoloured skin; odd shaped bones
(A) Alert owner; check for pain
14. Limbs: shoulders/hips
(O) Are they hot to touch?
(A) Alert owner; reduce movement/isolate until collected
15. Paws/claws/pads/toes
(O) Burns/ tenderness, foreign bodies (glass etc)
(A) Apply first aid to remove foreign body; bandage foot
16. Tail
(O) Up or drooping? Lifeless or tucked under? Look for kinks, tenderness
(A) Inform the owner
17. Bloat
(O) Swollen abdomen, salivating, short of breath, pale gums, collapse
(A) Immediate vet assistance - very dangerous
18. Shock
(O) Cold limbs, weakness, shallow breathing
(A) Look at gums : bright red (early); pale or blue (mid); mottled (late) - immediate vet assistance
19. Anaphylactic shock
(O) Look for diarrhoea, vomiting, itchy,urinating, defecating
(A) Flea medication;snake/insect bite, mould, pollen, food - Immediate vet assistance (highly dangerous)
20. Poison
(O) as above
(A) immediate vet assistance (time is the essence)
21. Heat stroke
(O) Thirsty, glassy eyed, high temperature; sticky dry gums - dark red/purple, panting, drooling, vomiting, passing out
(A) Immediate vet assistance - cool down immediately but gradually (not too cold water)
Early warning signs of heat stroke, bloat and seizures are health emergencies and the dog is immediately placed under veterinary care.
Any abnormal signs are recorded in the Incident Log and owners informed.
Medication
Any dog that has permission by their vet to attend daycare while receiving on going treatment that includes medication being given by Shorty & Co is covered by the appropriate medication dispensing paperwork and this is kept on file. Any medication is supplied by the owner and kept in accordance with the instructions for that medication. All medication is kept in a specific medical box inside a medical cupboard and returned to the owner at the end of the day.
Escape
If an animal manages to escape while in the care of Shorty & Co and can’t be immediately captured, then all other animals would be made safe and back up would be called. Back up would consist of the local dog warden or council person responsible for these duties, the dog’s owner or their emergency contact, or the local lost dog group. Efforts would be made to keep the dog away from the main roads.
To reduce the risk of escape the airlock system (double gated entrance) is always used when dogs or visitors are entering or leaving the premises.
Revocation or suspension of licence
In the event of the licence being revoked or suspended owners or Emergency Contacts of the dogs are to be informed and requested to collect their dogs immediately. In the event that neither are available the dogs would be placed in a Kennel for the rest of the day.
Emergency care
If there is an emergency on site that requires the evacuation of the dogs then the Shorty & Co vehicles can be used to hold the dogs until their owners can collect, or the dogs can be dropped off at home or the emergency contact or the all clear is given to go back in the premises. Dogs would never be left unattended in any vehicle; the vehicle can be removed from the driveway to a suitable distance if required by emergency services.
If there is an emergency that changes the environmental conditions of the premises, then back up equipment is to be used.
The following are always available on site:
- Portable Fan Heater to be used in the event of the electric wall heater failing.
- Cool coats and mats are provided and/or dog jumpers/coats used to maintain comfort for individuals who may require additional support.
- There is 1 firefighting appliance on site, which is inspected annually and replaced when required.
All dogs have to attend a meet and greet session before being admitted to attend daycare. This takes place on the premises. Any dog that shows aggressive behaviour is redirected to a more suitable type of care.
- Questions on the telephone first – how does the dog get on with other dogs / do they resource guard from other dogs / have they ever been inside a house or other confined area with other dogs before / have they ever been separated from owner with other dogs before / age, sex, breed, have they been spayed or neutered.
- Bring your pooch to the side entrance and we will open the gate into the airlock system. You will enter the rear garden with your dog on a lead and we would then take your lead and walk your dog around the garden, and take the lead off. Once settled, we would sit and discuss how we work, and answer any questions that you may have. It’s an opportunity to ensure that your dog will be happy staying at Shorty & Co, and that we are happy to proceed to the next stage.
Noise Pollution
- All clients that bring and pick up dogs from the premises text us with their dog's name to announce their arrival. We bring your dog to the airlock area. Alternatively, ring the 'RING' doorbell which connects to our phones.
- All dogs coming to daycare are taught recall to a silent whistle (for treats) so that if the dogs start to bark outside we can call them all in immediately.
- If dogs do bark excessively, then they are brought inside the cabin to regain calm.
All new dogs enter the premises through the side gate and enter the “airlock” system. They are then introduced to the other dogs on the premises through the picket gate separating them. This gives both the new dog and the resident dogs the chance to introduce themselves via smell whilst safely apart. The excitement levels are kept very low at all times and no dog enters the garden until they are calm and feeling comfortable. This is all taken at the dog’s own pace until such time as they are comfortable.
If things don't work out
If the dog shows abnormal signs of nervousness or stress or is displaying aggression then we would contact you and depending on the severity of the situation we may recommend that the owner collects at the earliest opportunity. Your dog may have to be isolated until collection time if the situation worsens in order to make the area safe for your dog, and all the other dogs in our care.
Toileting
All dogs have access to our fully enclosed garden throughout the day, and use the area to toilet. We are very quick to collect any faeces and we mildly disinfect the soiled area.
Mental Stimulation
The garden is separated into 3 fenced and gated areas in order to allow older and younger dogs to play or rest as their needs dictate.
Our dog garden is also a Sensory Garden, providing a selection of stimulation equipment - tunnels, paddling pool, ball pool, raised beds, bubble machine, snuffle mats and sensory food toys. The dogs have a variety of surfaces to walk on including faux grass, gravel and decking. We have also installed wind chimes which have been proven to be sounds which are calming to the dogs. The dogs have access on entry /exit to a variety of plants to sniff which are chosen for their calming benefits, and we play music and radio in the cabin to reduce any anxiety from unfamiliar outside noises.
Indoor Stimulation
Indoor enrichment consists of mind games, grooming and human interaction. Our dogs learn to share beds and sofas and the importance of cuddles and snuggling up together.
Food in the form of lunch is only given to pups up to the age of 6 months unless your pup is on special medication. Our adult dogs are given treats during food enrichment either as a scatter, or where they have to share a snuffle mat. Individual treats such as home made biscuits, cooked chicken pieces or bought treats are only given to each dog in turn as part of a behaviour exercise in patience, tolerance and responding to their name. Several mind games are used with food to encourage dogs to work out the puzzle to gain the treat.
Exercise
All dogs have direct access to our 2 sensory areas of faux grass and gravel, and to all our sensory equipment. The tunnels, bridges, raised beds/ climbing frames, paddling pools, mats, ball pool and range of toys and outdoor furniture give lots of stimulation and opportunities for free play, sharing and exploring according to their age, physical condition, veterinary guidelines and mental health.
Monitoring of Dogs
All dogs are monitored throughout each day in daycare. We also have a daily health check and record anything which causes us concern.
Monitoring Behavioural Changes
Dogs do have ups and downs in their behaviour due to diet, fear, anxiety and illness, just like humans. The behaviour of individual dogs is monitored daily and any concerning changes in behaviour indicative of suffering, stress, fear, aggression and anxiety are relayed back to the owner at the end of the day. The passing on of information to the owner is extremely helpful for moving forward and finding ways to reduce the problem as a partnership between daycare and owners. If a pattern of behaviour emerges, we record it on the dog's record file in the cabin and monitor it carefully. Records related to serious incidents are recorded in the Shorty & Co Incident Book, including health issues as well as behavioural.
Any dog showing signs of being over nervous or overstressed is isolated in the cabin with a member of staff in order to give them space from the other dogs and calm down. They are then carefully reintroduced into the group.
Where a dog is showing continuing signs of being over nervous, stressed or fearful, and the situation becomes difficult to contain then the owner or emergency contact will be notified and the dog collected.
Undesirable behaviour
In our day care we do not allow undesirable behaviour. This includes but not limited to:
- Insistent mounting or humping of any kind
- Persistent 'over the top'/rough play
- Rude dogs or dogs with no manners with other dogs
- Aggression of any kind
- Excessive barking
Please note : we have one crate which is only used in case of an emergency separation situation.
(Revised 1 Jan 2024)