Circle of Fluff Dog Grooming abides by the RSPCA Codes of Ethics:

RSPCA

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2. Freedom from discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease: by prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4. Freedom to express normal behaviour: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.

5. Freedom from fear and distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

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Circle of Fluff provides fear-free, high quality individualized services. 

 

Prior to arrival - please ensure you do not feed your dog at least within three hours of a grooming appointment (to minimize 'accidents/spills' during the groom)...

 

Upon arrival - dogs should be on a leash or contained in carry compartments. (Arrive slightly early to toilet your dog prior to entry our premises, especially if you have driven to the appointment). Please also pick up after your dog and ensure you have your own plastic bags. It is your duty to dispose bags responsibly. 

 

Please let us know if your dog seems 'off' or has any symptoms/signs of illness. Dogs must be up-to-date with vaccinations, including C5, flea and worming treatments.

If you have a puppy or an elderly, geriatric, or special needs dog, extra time and care will be dedicated and this will incur additional costs. 

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Policies & Procedures

 

CANCELLATIONS

Sometimes emergencies arise and appointments may need to be cancelled or rescheduled due to emergencies. A 48hr cancellation notice prior to appointments is strongly recommended to allow sufficient time to utilize appointment time for other clients on a waitlist. We do reserve the right to request 50% payment of the full groom if less than 24hrs cancellation notice is given and/or the situation does not constitute an emergency as we need to be able to cover the cost of the missed appointment. 

 

NOT TURNING UP TO APPOINTMENTS

We send reminder texts/messages prior to appointments to give clients enough time to accept or decline / reschedule bookings. If you do not reply to these reminders and do not show up to an appointment, we do reserve the right to request payment of the full groom to cover the cost of the appointment which was reserved for you. 

 

LATE ARRIVALS

We provide one-on-one private appointments for your dog in a non-rushed environment. Dog minding services attract extra fees. If you are more than 15 mins late, this will have an impact on the care/service we can provide to your dog and/or the next client appointment following yours. We kindly ask to arrive on time for drop offs and pick ups so everyone can be relaxed and unhurried during appointments. We do understand that at times you may be running late. During these times a call or message would be appreciated. If you fail to notify us and if you are repeatedly more than 15 mins late, we do reserve the right to refuse to groom your dog on that day (if there is insufficient time to complete the groom) and ask you to rebook another time. We will also request payment of the full groom to cover our costs.

 

PICK UP/COLLECTION

Clients are notified approximately 30 mins prior to grooming to be completed to start making their way to come and pick up their dog on time. Often, when one dog gets picked up, another may be getting dropped off. To ensure this takes place as smoothly and efficiently as possible we rely on your punctuality. If you are late more than 15 mins and/or non-contactable we reserve the right to request extra late payment fee of $15 for every 15 mins. If your dog is not picked up by closing for the day, an additional $50 wage charge may also apply.

 

DANGEROUS OR AGGRESSIVE DOGS:

It is the responsibility of owners to inform us upon booking if a dog bites, has bitten, or is aggressive towards people, other pets or reacts in certain grooming procedures (eg. when drying with velocity dryer). We may use muzzles if necessary. Muzzling does not harm your dog. It protects both your pet and the groomer. Circle of Fluff reserves the right to refuse/stop services for such pets at any time before or during the grooming process. A charge for an aggressive dog will be issued in addition to the regular grooming charge, even after the normal price has been quoted and is fully payable prior to collecting your dog even if the groom hasn't been complete. 

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PRICING/PAYMENTS

Prices  are a guide only based on the breed, size, clip/style and type of groom requested e.g. full groom or tidy up etc. These prices are based on regular grooming sessions e.g. if your dog is booked every 6-8 weeks. The price may also vary from groom to groom and is worked out once your dog has been physically assessed. The condition of your dog's coat, its length, the amount of matts and knots, the behavior and other factors such as age, gap between grooms, health conditions, special needs, fleas/parasites, style requested etc. will affect the total/final cost of the groom. Special products such as toners, medicated shampoos, sensitive treatments etc. will incur extra cost. If any of these and/or other factors may make the groom impossible to be finalized, then the full price of the groom will still be charged. Any 'specials' or discounts offered are subject to the advertised terms and conditions specific to that particular offer at the time. Full payment is to be made upon collection of the dog and prior to leaving the premises. 

 

CLIENT RECORDS

All new clients are asked to complete some forms requesting health & safety information, emergency contacts, vet details, pet insurance, microchip, vaccination and flea/worming updated records, consent for social media & other communications, matted consent etc. These are uploaded to our client files and get frequently checked and updated in order to provide the best possible service to your pet. These details remain confidential and stored safely on our database and are not shared in any way with any 3rd parties and are disposed of securely and/or destroyed once you notify us that your pet has been deceased. All your personal information is managed in accordance with the Australia Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988. Your right to request access to your personal information is additional to and separate from rights under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

 

DOUBLE COAT SHAVE DOWN:

Owners requesting a double-coated dog to be shaved must agree that they understand that we cannot guarantee that the dog's coat will grow back after shaving. Depending on how close the coat is clipped, your dog might require sunscreen to protect the skin from being burned. Irritation or rash may be caused by shaving. Shaving a double-coated dog does not necessarily make the pet feel cooler, as the double-coat acts as insulation in warm and cool weather. Shedding is not reduced by shaving the coat. Your dog's coat may look uneven or choppy after a shave-down, depending on the coat type and the length requested. The groomer will do the best to make the haircut look as good as possible. It is the owner's choice and responsibility to proceed with shave-down of a double coated dog and you must sign that you have been informed and are aware/understand the above and agree for your dog to be shaved at your own risk. 

 

DEMATTING/RESTYLING

Part of the normal grooming process is to brush-out matts and loosen knots. However, if a dog presents with severe matting they may require a close shave clip (refer to the Matted form). Pets with matted coat require extra attention and time during their grooming session. Mats left in a dog's coat only grow tighter, and can strangle the pet's skin, or eventually tear it open. Circle of Fluff puts your dog's health and wellbeing above anything else and will not continually de-mat your pet for you. Mats can be very difficult to remove, and may require your pet to be shaved. Removing a heavily matted coat includes risks of nicks, cuts, or abrasions due to warts, moles, or skin folds trapped in the mats. Heavy matting can also trap moisture, urine and feces near the pet's skin allowing mold, fungus or bacteria to grow, causing skin irritations that existed prior to the grooming process, and in extreme cases mats can stop blood circulation. After effects of mat removal procedures can include itchiness, skin redness, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions and failure of the hair to regrow. In some cases pets may also exhibit brief behavioral changes. Prevention is the best defense against matting by scheduling regular grooming appointments and maintaining a healthy brushing routine at home. Extra costs will incur for matted pets. Please understand it is not the groomer's fault your dog is in bad condition and if your pet requires veterinarian treatment due to any of the above, this will be at your own cost. If the dog is uncomfortable/non-cooperative/aggressive we also reserve the right to refuse groom or leave groom incomplete and we will request payment of the full groom to cover our costs.

 

HEALTH & SAFETY

Our first and foremost priority is always the welfare of the dog. It is at the owners risk to have their own dogs groomed. Please understand that although all necessary caution is taken in every situation, and issues may come up rarely, there is always a risk of accidents when you work with live animals. Additionally, the grooming process can expose hidden medical concerns or undiagnosed conditions and/or inadvertently aggravate existing problems. Matted coats, for example, as well as long nails or difficult behavior can increase the risk of problems and accidents. In the event of injury or illness a vet may have to be called. Owners are fully liable for all costs in instances like these, unless it can be clearly indicated by the vet that we are liable. Grooming sick or elderly/geriatric dogs or dogs with chronic conditions is entirely at the owners risk. If your pet shows symptoms or signs of illness, please do not bring them for grooming. Please notify us and reschedule for their own safety and everyone else's wellbeing. We are unable to accept dogs that may be pregnant and/or in-heat/menstruating. We recommend our clients have pet insurance and ask you to have signed and agreed to our policies prior to grooming. 

 

PARASITES

Dogs do get fleas, ticks, worms etc. even if they are regularly treated. If we find parasites present during any stage of the groom, the grooming will be terminated and you will be contacted to immediately pick up your dog. There will be payment of the full groom plus an additional fee / charge to cover the cost of flea elimination / disinfection and deep clean of the premises, equipment, specialist cleaning products, flea bombs etc. If your dog presents with parasites regularly we reserve the right to refuse groom and you will  be charged payment of the full groom. 

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Please ensure you have read the policies of Circle of Fluff Dog Grooming prior to booking an appointment. By requesting/booking an appointment you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions of our policies and procedures. 

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