Policies
Initial Consultation
We offer a free consultation with all potential clients before beginning service. This meeting gives us an opportunity to meet both you and your pets and discuss your pet’s needs. During the consultation we try to obtain as much information as possible on your dog or cat, including their health history and current activity level. We will also need to know where you keep pet supplies, food, and treats. Lastly, we ask that you fill out our client registration and sign our service agreement contained within the scheduling software before beginning service.
Keys
Dogstar requests clients acquire and utilize a lock box to ensure entry into the clients home. Two sets of keys should be placed in the box so that a backup set is available. In the rare case a lock box isn’t feasible at a certain location, we require 3 sets of house keys at the time of the in-home consultation. Please ensure the keys are in working condition as to avoid any issues.
If you live in a gated community, you must provide key cards or appropriate access codes required for entrance. There is an $30 charge for key pickup or drop-off if we have to make a special key-related trip outside of the initial consultation.
Scheduling
In order to accommodate each client we ask that you schedule your services as soon as possible. We do accept last minute reservations when scheduling permits. 4pm is the scheduling deadline for next-day service Monday through Friday in the morning, midday, and afternoon time slots. Weekday night slot requests should be booked 48 hours in advance. Weekend visits must be booked by 4pm Thursday in order to accommodate all weekend requests. Same-day requests and requests for next-day service after 5pm the day before the desired service are subject to a $10 surcharge per visit.
If you are a new client you can submit your information by clicking here www.dogstarcharleston.com/schedule. We will then contact you to set up an initial meeting and answer any questions you may have. After the initial meeting clients receive a username and password in order to access our online software, which enables clients to update their pets information and schedule appointments at any time through our website.
We can also be contacted by calling 843.518.3252 (8am to 4pm, M-F) or by e-mailing info@dogstarcharleston.com.
Cancellation or Rescheduling
When you book an appointment we allot the necessary amount of time to accommodate your booking. If you need to cancel an upcoming visit please do so through the scheduling software or email us at info@dogstarcharleston.com. We will send you a confirmation of cancellation and you will not be charged for the contracted service if we receive the request by the cancellation deadline.
Weekday Cancellations (Mon-Fri): The cancellation deadline for weekday visits is 4pm the day before the scheduled service. Full service rates will be charged for weekday cancellations past the deadline.
Weekend Cancellations (Sat/Sun): The cancellation deadline for weekend visits is 4pm Thursday. Full service rates will be charged for weekend cancellations past the deadline.
Holiday Cancellations:
Standard holiday bookings (New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day) must be cancelled no less than four in advance of the first visit to receive a full refund or credit. If holiday bookings are cancelled within three days of the beginning of the booking, you will be charged the full rate for all visits that fall on the holiday(s).
Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas vacation bookings are charged 14 days prior to the start of the booking. Cancellations within the 14 day period up until six days out from the start of the booking are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellations within 5 days of Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas bookings are charged the full amount of the booking.
Visits
Each client receives a username and password to book pet care appointments within our software system. Visits are booked by choosing time slots and not specific times. There are four time slots to choose from for clients requesting dog walks or dog runs, starting with the ‘Morning’ slot and ending with the ‘Night’ slot. Cat sitting visits are performed in the ‘Morning’ or ‘Midday’ time slots. The length of scheduled pet care visits are inclusive of all services rendered.
Payment
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards for payment. Payment for bookings that begin on a weekday are processed at 4pm the evening before the booking begins. Payment for bookings that begin on a weekend are processed at 4pm Thursday evening. Payments for holiday bookings are processed three days before the booking begins.
Office and Service Hours
We are available for service 365 days a year. Office hours are from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday. Service hours are from 7am to 9pm daily. Services scheduled in the ‘Night’ time slot of 7pm to 9pm are charged an additional $5. Weekend walks & visits are an additional $3 unless part of a vacation package (2 to 4 visits per day with a ‘Night’ visit), in which case the $3 fee is waived.
Holiday Visits
Services performed on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day incur a holiday surcharge of $10 per visit. Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas visits incur a $15 holiday surcharge per visit. The scheduling deadline for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas are announced in advance via email and/or the scheduling software. Service hours for Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation care run from 5am to 10pm. The morning slot begins as early as 5am and the night slot starts as early as 6pm while the midday and afternoon time slots are merged into one time slot.
Supplies
If we arrive for service and there are not adequate supplies, such as food or a leash, we will purchase the needed supplies and clients will be billed for the cost of the supplies plus $30 for time & travel expenses.
Personal Information
Your personal information is always kept safe and secure. Any information we have about you and your pet(s) is kept strictly confidential. We will never sell or give away any of your information.