The Happiness Guarantee
What if I am not happy with my booking?
I’ve tried to discuss the situation with my pet sitter but we can’t come to an agreement
To be eligible for The Happiness Guarantee:
The booking must have been confirmed and paid via the Pawshake website or app
A meet & greet was arranged prior to booking start date (only required if it’s your first booking with the sitter)
Any specific agreements about the booking must have been put down in writing (for example by using our intake forms). You will need to provide the supporting documentations when making a claim.
The owner and sitter must attempt to find a solution between themselves first via our secure messaging system. If no compromise is found, Pawshake will step in.
The owner needs to provide evidence of the incident
Coverage Exceptions
Services
- Services booked outside of the Pawshake website or mobile app
- Incidents or damages arising from a 'meet and greet' appointment. Coverage only applies on the dates booked via Pawshake. The booking must be paid for and confirmed prior to the day of the incident.
Injuries
- Treatment for injuries to the pet sitter’s own pet not caused by the guest pet during a Pawshake booking
- Treatment for injuries resulting from a breach of professional duty by the pet sitter and/or by a violation of Pawshake Terms of Service by either party
- For example, walking an animal off-leash in an area where this is reasonably considered not to be suitable
- Injuries to free roaming cats, while the cat is outside of the owners property
- For example, road incidents, fights with other animals, falling off a tree etc.
Treatments
- Pre-existing veterinary medical conditions, old age or illness of the guest pet
- Such as respiratory infections, urinary tract/bladder infections, blood disorders, vomiting, diarrhoea, and other gastrointestinal disorders
- Costs related to stress or anxiety, as well as self-inflicted wounds as a consequence of itching or scratching due to allergies
- Preventable conditions, such as flea, tick, worm or other parasite infestations
- Physiotherapy and other para-veterinary treatments, such as massage, acupuncture, etc.
- Breed-specific conditions
- Treatment for injuries caused by acts of nature
- Long-term vet care which extends over 30 days from the day of the incident
Pet, pet sitter and pet owner
- Injuries to the pet sitter and pet owner and related parties (like family, visitors to the sitter’s home or persons accompanying the sitter on an assignment)
- Damage to personal property of either the pet owner or pet sitter (such as damage to personal items, home and/or vehicles and/or cleaning costs). We recommend that you agree on who is financially liable for such damages BEFORE the booking starts.
- Fees or costs incurred from cancellation or changes of holiday or travel arrangements as a result of a booking on Pawshake
- Travel costs incurred as a result of a booking on Pawshake
- for example trips to the vet during a booking or follow-up medical treatment for the pet after the booking. This includes but is not limited to petrol, Uber and taxi costs, etc)
- Emotional distress caused as a result of a booking on Pawshake
- Reduction in ‘show’ value of the guest pet and host pet
- Any booking costs (related to the sitter’s cancellation policy) as a result of cancellation by the sitter if the guest pet has a contagious illness before the start of the booking.
- for example if the guest pet has fleas, kennel cough, parvovirus, etc
Who is excluded?
- Guest pets involved in a previous attack with another animal or human that required medical treatment
- Visiting pets are not covered for any damage or injuries that may be sustained during a Pawshake booking
- Pet sitters who have any criminal convictions in the past 5 years (excluding traffic violations)
- Pet sitter's own pets
Key definitions
Breed-specific condition means any condition that commonly occurs in particular dog breeds.
Pawshake pet means a pet owner’s pet that has been listed on the confirmed booking as part of the booking. Each pet must have their own separate pet profile.
Pawshake booking means a booking that has been successfully paid by the pet owner and confirmed by the sitter through the Pawshake platform.
Pre-existing condition means any injuries, conditions and diseases which the pet has been treated for or which have happened prior to the booking
Preventable condition means any conditions that can be prevented by vaccinations or normal veterinary care.
Decline your booking: if this happens, no amount will be charged. The authorization for the hold on your credit card will be released immediately. After a few business days (10 at most), you will no longer see the pending amount on your statement. if the booking still appears on your statement.
Visiting pets mean pets that are not part of a confirmed booking. For example - pet sitter’s relative’s pets that may be present during a booking or pets that the sitter is sitting outside of Pawshake (e.g. if they are a professional and take bookings in other ways). Pet sitter’s own pet is not a visiting pet.
Pet sitter's own pet means any pet that has been listed on the sitter's profile.
How do I submit a claim?
Please reply to the email you originally sent us or contact us via our contact form and include the following information:
- The booking number
- Date of your meet and greet (if it’s your first booking with a sitter, the meet and greet must have taken place prior to the booking in order for the claim to be eligible)
- Details of the situation
- Details of any resolution attempts with the sitter
- Any additional supporting documents (texts, written instructions, pictures, etc.)
Once we receive the information, we will begin the investigation. We understand that situations like these can be stressful for all involved so we aim to resolve them as quickly as possible. However, the time it takes will be greatly determined by the cooperation of the parties involved.