Kirby’s Paw Palace – Client Agreement & Terms of Service (Effective January 2026)
Welcome to Kirby’s Paw Palace! To ensure a safe, transparent, and reliable experience for all families, the following Terms & Conditions apply to every booking. By booking services, paying a deposit, or dropping off your dog, you acknowledge and agree to the policies below.
1. Booking Requirements & Documentation
Vaccination Records (Required Before Check-In)
All dogs must have up-to-date:
Rabies
Distemper/Parvo (DHPP)
Bordetella
Records must be provided before or at drop-off. Dogs without valid records cannot be admitted.
Health Disclosure
Owners must disclose:
Existing medical conditions
Medications
Allergies
Mobility concerns
Any recent illness or injury
Behavior Disclosure
Owners must accurately disclose:
Any history of aggression
Any biting incidents (toward dogs OR humans)
Resource guarding
Anxiety or reactivity
Previous incidents at home or other facilities
Failure to disclose may result in immediate service termination and forfeiture of fees.
2. Payment, Deposits & Refund Policies
Payment
Full payment for the confirmed booking is due at drop-off unless alternate arrangements are made in advance and approved in writing.
Deposits
Certain bookings may require a non-refundable deposit to reserve your slot.
Deposits are non-transferrable and non-refundable unless otherwise stated in writing.
Refunds & Early Pickup
Kirby’s Paw Palace reserves time, space, and staffing specifically for your dog.
Therefore:
Early pickup does not guarantee a refund.
Partial refunds are only considered when the vacated slot can be filled from the waitlist or when approved at the discretion of management.
Holiday bookings (see Section 3) have stricter policies.
3. Holiday & High-Demand Policy
Holidays and peak travel periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Spring Break, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, etc.) are high-demand.
During these periods:
Once booked, your slot is held exclusively for your dog.
Other families are turned away based on your reserved dates.
Early pickup does not reduce fees.
Refunds or prorated adjustments are not guaranteed and are typically unavailable due to demand.
If you do not wish to accept holiday policies, please secure alternate accommodations.
4. Late Drop-Off, Late Pickup, and Scheduling Policies
Late Pickup
Clients are required to pick up their dog at the scheduled pickup time. A 30-minute grace period is provided as a courtesy.
Dogs not picked up within the 30-minute grace period will incur late pickup fees. Due to our status as a boutique dog boarding facility operating on strict schedules with limited staff, we cannot accommodate extended pickup delays.
If a dog is not picked up by 5pm, an additional overnight boarding fee will be charged, and the dog will be boarded for the night.
Scheduling Changes
All schedule changes must be submitted via text or email.
Approval is not guaranteed due to space and staffing capacity.
Nightly boarding includes overnight care with pickup by 1:00 M. Pickups after 1:00 PM incur an extended care fee. Pickups after 6:00 PM are charged as an additional night.
5. Behavior, Safety & Aggression Policies
General Behavior
Dogs must be:
Non-aggressive
Safe for group play (if applicable)
Not a risk to staff
Aggressive or Unsafe Behavior
If a dog shows:
Aggression
Resource guarding
Unsafe play
Repeated attempts to bite
An actual bite incident
Kirby’s Paw Palace may:
Separate the dog
Modify the care plan
End the stay early
Decline future bookings
Owners remain responsible for:
Full payment for the booking
Any damages
Any veterinary or medical costs resulting from the dog’s behavior
Bite Incidents
Any bite (dog → dog or dog → human) requires:
Immediate incident documentation
Potential removal from group activities
Potential early pickup
A behavior review before future stays
Re-admission after a bite is not guaranteed.
6. Medical Emergencies & Veterinary Care
If the dog becomes ill, injured, stressed, or shows concerning symptoms:
Kirby’s Paw Palace is authorized to seek veterinary care.
Owners will be notified as soon as reasonably possible.
All related costs, including emergency fees and transportation, are the Owner’s responsibility.
If the Owner cannot be reached during a medical emergency, staff will proceed in the dog’s best interest.
7. Personal Items
Owners may bring limited personal items; however:
Kirby’s Paw Palace is not responsible for loss or damage to toys, beds, blankets, or accessories.
High-value items should not be sent.
8. Senior Dogs & Special Needs Policy
We specialize in caring for senior dogs; however:
Dogs with progressive health issues must be stable at intake
Dogs requiring medical treatments beyond our scope may be declined
End-of-life decline must be disclosed
The Owner acknowledges that senior dogs carry higher medical risks. Kirby’s Paw Palace is not liable for age-related decline or natural death.
9. Waitlist, Boarding Slots & Capacity Policies
Waitlist
Joining the waitlist does not guarantee a booking.
Reserved Slots
A booking is confirmed only when:
Deposit is paid (if applicable)
All paperwork is complete
Management approves the stay
If space becomes unavailable (rare) due to emergencies You will be notified immediately and provided referrals if needed.
10. Owner Responsibilities
Owners must:
Provide accurate information
Provide valid contact numbers
Be reachable during the dog’s stay
Respect scheduled pick-up and drop-off times
Follow all policies in this agreement
Misrepresentation of a dog’s behavior or health is grounds for immediate termination of service.
11. Liability Waiver
Owner understands that boarding carries inherent risks including:
Illness
Stress
Dog-on-dog altercations
Injury
Bites
Escape
Natural causes
Except in cases of gross negligence, the Owner agrees to hold Kirby’s Paw Palace harmless for:
Injury
Illness
Veterinary costs
Lost or damaged items
Death
Property damage
Third-party claims arising from the dog’s behavior
Owner agrees to indemnify Kirby’s Paw Palace for any damages caused by their dog.
12. Emergency or Unforeseen Circumstances
In the event of:
Weather emergencies
Power outages
Natural disasters
Facility emergencies
Sudden staff outages
Kirby’s Paw Palace will take reasonable measures to provide care but cannot guarantee normal operations.
13. Governing Law
These terms are governed by Georgia state law.
Any disputes must be resolved in a Georgia court or through mutually agreed arbitration.
14. Photo release and use of likeness
By using the services of Kirby’s Paw Palace, you grant Kirby’s Paw Palace and its affiliated brands permission to photograph, record, and use the likeness of your dog(s) for marketing, promotional, and advertising purposes, including but not limited to social media, website content, brochures, and other print or digital media. This release is granted without expectation of compensation and includes the right to edit, modify, or adapt the materials as necessary.
If you do not wish for your dog(s) to be photographed or featured in marketing materials, you must notify Kirby’s Paw Palace in writing prior to the start of your pet’s stay.
15. Agreement
By booking, paying, or dropping off your dog, the Owner acknowledges:
They have read and understood this agreement
They accept all terms and conditions
They are financially responsible for all applicable fees