Pet sitting and boarding agreement template

Pet Sitting and Boarding Agreement

Parties: Pet Owner · Pet Carer

1. Purpose

This agreement sets out the terms on which the Pet Carer (the “Carer”) looks after the animal of the Pet Owner (the “Owner”) for the period stated, at the Owner’s home, at the Carer’s home or at another place described below. It covers day-to-day care only and does not transfer ownership of the animal.

2. The animal

Name: [[Name of the animal]]

Species, breed and age: [[Species, breed and age]]

Identification: [[Microchip, tag or registration number, or none]]

Health, medication and allergies: [[Known conditions, medication and doses, or none]]

Behaviour: [[Temperament, fears, behaviour with people and other animals, any history of biting or escaping, or none]]

The Owner confirms that the animal is theirs or that they may arrange its care, that the information above is complete and true as far as they know, and that its vaccinations and parasite treatment are up to date as far as the law or the Carer’s reasonable rules require.

3. Place and period of care

Place of care: [[At the Owner’s home / at the Carer’s home / another place, with its address]]

Visits or boarding: [[Number and length of visits per day, or full-day boarding]]

The care starts on [[Date and time]] and ends on [[Date and time]]. A longer period needs the agreement of both parties, which may be given by message. The Carer keeps the animal at the stated place and does not hand it to anyone else, except to a vet or to a substitute the Owner names: [[none / name of the substitute]]

4. Care instructions

The Carer looks after the animal with the attention that a careful keeper would give.

Feeding, water, exercise and toilet routine: [[Food, amounts, times, walks, litter or cage care]]

Medication or treatment: [[none / what is given, when and how]]

What the animal must not do or have: [[Forbidden foods, places or other animals, off-lead walks, or none]]

The Carer keeps the animal safe and secure, uses a lead or an enclosure where needed, does not leave it alone for longer than [[4]] hours unless the Owner agrees, and keeps it apart from other animals unless the Owner agrees. The Carer does not breed, sell, give away or let anyone else take the animal.

5. Handover and return

At the start the Owner brings the animal with its food, medication, lead, bedding, toys and papers. At the end the Owner collects it at the agreed place and time, and the Carer hands back what is left of the supplies. The parties note the animal’s health and condition at handover and at return, and the Carer reports how the animal has been, including any illness, injury, incident or change in behaviour.

6. Health, vet and emergencies

Regular vet: [[Name, address and phone number of the vet]]

The Owner’s emergency contact: [[Name and phone number]]; a second contact: [[Name and phone number, or none]]

If the animal becomes ill or is hurt, the Carer calls a vet and the Owner without delay. The Carer may approve treatment without asking first up to [[Amount]]. Above that, the Carer asks the Owner first where the Owner can be reached in time. If the Owner cannot be reached and the vet advises that treatment cannot wait, the Carer may allow the treatment needed to save the animal’s life or relieve its suffering. The Owner’s further instructions on treatment: [[none / the instructions]]

The Owner pays the vet’s costs, including those under this clause, and repays the Carer what the Carer has paid for them.

7. Fees and payment

The Owner pays the Carer’s fee shown in the price schedule of this contract, on the payment terms stated in this contract. Extra services, such as giving medication, extra walks, grooming, collection and delivery or care on public holidays, are charged only as the price schedule says or if the Owner has agreed to them. Food and supplies that the Carer has to buy for the animal, and vet costs that the Carer pays, are repaid at cost against receipts.

8. Cancellation and late collection

If the Owner cancels at least [[7]] days before the care starts, the Carer returns what has been paid, less [[a stated share of the fee / nothing]]. If the Owner cancels later or shortens the stay, [[a stated share of the fee]] stays payable. If the Owner does not collect the animal on the agreed day, the Owner pays for the extra days at the rate in the price schedule. If the Owner has not collected the animal and cannot be reached [[7]] days after the end of the period, the Carer may arrange suitable care elsewhere at the Owner’s cost, contacts the Owner’s emergency contacts and, where the law requires it, the authority responsible for animals. The Carer never leaves the animal without care.

9. Licences and the law

Sitting, boarding and keeping animals may be regulated where the care takes place. The Carer holds the licence, registration, permit or training that the law requires for the care it offers, and keeps it for the whole period: [[none required / details of the licence or registration]]

The Owner meets the duties that the law gives to the owner of an animal, such as registration, microchipping, vaccination, licensing and insurance, where it requires them. Each party follows the animal welfare rules that apply.

10. Keys, access and privacy

Where the Carer enters the Owner’s home, the Owner gives the Carer the keys, codes and instructions needed. The Carer uses them only for the care, keeps them safe, does not copy them or let anyone else in, and returns them at the end. The Carer treats the home and belongings with care. Photos and updates about the animal are sent as follows: [[none / how often and by what means]] The Carer shares photos of the animal or the home in public only with the Owner’s permission.

11. Risks and liability

Animals can fall ill, be hurt or become stressed even with good care, and the Owner knows this. The Carer takes reasonable care and is liable for harm that results from failing to do so. As between the parties and as far as the law allows, the Owner is liable for damage or injury that the animal causes to people, other animals or property, unless the Carer caused it by not following the Owner’s instructions or the care this agreement requires. The Owner tells the Carer of any behaviour that could be dangerous. Insurance the Carer holds for animals in its care: [[none / details]]

Except for intent, gross negligence, personal injury or where the law does not allow a limitation, each party’s liability for other loss is limited to [[Amount, e.g. the total fee]].

12. Ending the care early

Either party may end the care early if the animal’s health, behaviour or safety makes this necessary, or if the other party seriously breaches this agreement and does not remedy the breach within a reasonable time after being asked to. When the care ends early, the Owner collects the animal without delay, or the Carer takes it to a place the Owner names, and the Owner pays the fee for the care given until then.

13. Changes and notices

This contract, including its price schedule, is the entire agreement on the care. Changes are valid only if both parties agree to them in writing or in electronic form. Notices go to the contact details given for the parties, or to another address a party has notified.

14. Governing law and disputes

This agreement is governed by the law stated under Governing law. The parties will first try to settle any dispute in good faith. Otherwise the courts stated under Jurisdiction decide, unless mandatory law provides otherwise.

Payment terms

The fee is payable [[in advance, before the care starts / on return of the animal]] by bank transfer or the other means stated on the invoice or in this contract.

Governing law

[[Country or state whose law applies]]

Jurisdiction

[[Courts that decide disputes, e.g. the courts of your city]]