Terms & Conditions

Policies and Procedures

Your dog is very important to us. Safety comes first during the grooming process, for both people and dogs. We will make every effort possible to make your dog's grooming experience a safe and comfortable visit. For that reason, we have policies and procedures in place that we require all of our clients to read, understand, and agree to.

A Couple Quick Items:

• M3 Dog Grooming makes every effort for the grooming process to be as stress free for your dog as possible. We try to only have one, possibly two dogs, in the shop at any one time. Therefore, we do not use kennels during your dog's visit unless it becomes necessary due to early drop-offs or late pick-ups in accordance with the specific policies. (see below)

• We ask that all dogs entering the shop be leashed or in a carrier!

• Please walk your dog before you bring them for grooming. Multiple bowel movements in the shop may result in a hazard clean up fee of $5. If your pet eliminates on themself and we need to re-wash, it will result in a $10+ cleaning fee.

• Please allow us the time needed to complete the grooming session. We will text you as soon as they are ready to be picked up. The dogs do not like to be rushed, nor does the groomer.

• Prices listed on the website for our three primary services are subject to changes based on the specific needs of your dog. Prices quoted over the phone are sight un-seen and are base price estimates only. Actual price may be different based on the pet's breed, weight, temperament, coat condition and length. Please review these policies for details.

• Ear hair is plucked unless requested otherwise, if there is an ear infection present, hair will not be plucked.

• Anal glands are checked and expressed externally if needed. We do not guarantee to fix or cure any anal gland issue, if there is an issue after expression, we will no longer express and will refer you to a veterinarian for future anal gland expressions.​

New Clients, and Their Owners:

New clients are always exciting and we usually like their owners too! (J.K.) We feel very lucky to have been chosen to care for your dog. We will always have time to go over grooming and care instructions for your dog. Arriving at the scheduled time is best and you will not need to arrive early.

When setting up a first appointment please be sure to complete the client contact form in its entirety. This allows us to know who you and your dog are and be able to contact you as needed.

Dropping Off and Picking Up:

Please text us when you arrive to drop-off or pick-up your dog. Whenever possible and as soon as possible, we will come out to your vehicle as a courtesy. The shop's door is on the west side of the garage through a gate and is accessible to clients, but we would like to make the exchange as simple as possible for you. You are welcome to pull into the driveway as the spot in front of the gate is reserved for clients.

Drop-Offs:

Arriving on time for your pets’ appointment is appreciated. This ensures that there is enough time to groom your dog and to help keep our schedule for the day on time. While showing up early may seem like a courtesy, it actually can complicate the day’s schedule.  Coming early to an appointment will interrupt an appointment already in process. If you need to arrive early, please notify us prior to your appointment so we can make the necessary arrangements. Dogs needing to be dropped off more than an hour early will be subject to a $5 per hour daycare fee. 

Note: We do not provide waiting facilities for our clients (Unless you would like a lawn chair out front). You are welcome to wait in your vehicle if so desired. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

1st Of Day Drop-Offs:

M3 Dog Grooming opens at 8:00 am, and while we may be in the shop prior to opening, this is to get set up for the day. Please arrive at the time of opening and not prior so we can make sure that we are ready to receive your dog. If you need to drop off earlier than 8:00 am you will need to make these arrangements prior to the day of your appointment. There will be a $5 per 10 minute daycare fee for pre-8:00 am drop-offs as we will have to arrive even earlier to be ready before your arrival.

Cancellations / Missed Appointments:

We do our best to provide a 72+ hour advance courtesy text message reminder of your appointment for your convenience, but it is the owners sole responsibility to remember their appointment. Please provide a minimum of 48-hours notice of cancellations. Failure to do so will result in a charge equal to 25% of the reserved service amount. Cancellations received 24-hours or less or missed appointments are subject to a charge equaling 50% of the scheduled groom.

Late Arrivals:

A 15-minute grace period will be given for arriving late, after 20 minutes your appointment will be canceled, and will result in a charge equal to 50% of the reserved service amount. We do understand that “life happens” and all fees will be at the groomers’ discretion based on individual circumstances.

Putting the groomer behind affects all following appointments for the day and is not courteous to our other clients.

The charge must be paid prior to the next appointment scheduled. In addition to the fee, we will require a non-refundable / non-transferable prepayment after the second missed  appointment for any future grooms (including your no-show fee) at the time of scheduling your next appointment.

Pick-Up:

Every effort will be made to keep our scheduled grooms running smoothly.  A typical dog groom can be completed in 1 to 3 hours.  We will provide you with an estimated pick-up time when you drop your dog off. If your dog is oversized, has behavior issues, or skin and coat problems, then a longer period of time might be required. If you need your dog returned by a certain time please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We will text you when the groom is nearly completed. We ask that all dogs be picked up within one hour of being notified. This allows us to prevent having too many dogs in the shop at any one time.

Note: For the comfort and security of your dog, we ask that you do not pass by the shop window or come to the door before your dog's groom has been completed. We also ask that you do not stay within sight during the grooming appointment, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Puppy Appointments:

We want your puppy's first few visits to be as pleasant as possible and will make every effort to do so by starting with the most simple haircuts. To make sure your puppy learns to enjoy grooming, we ask that you be flexible with the time your puppy is at our shop. Grooming is a new and overwhelming experience and many puppies need rest breaks during the grooming process. The new noise and vibrations of the clipper can also be overwhelming for your young puppy and they also might not have the patience yet for grooming. This can result in a simpler cut than requested or even skipping specific aspects of the requested cut. We feel that it is better for your puppy to gain trust and learn to accept grooming as a positive experience rather than finishing a cut that is making your pet nervous.

Late Pick-Up:

If there is a need to pick-up your dog late, we ask that you inform us prior to your appointment. If your dog needs to stay with us for longer than 1 hour, we will charge a daycare fee of $5 per hour. If you do not pick-up before our closing time at 6:00 PM, unless specified otherwise, there will be a late fee of $5 added to your total. If we do not hear from you by 6:15 pm, your pet will be kenneled and cared for overnight. A $50 fee will apply per dog for overnight care. Your dog must be picked up by 9:00 am the next day to avoid further charges. After 24 hours of no contact, your dog will be considered abandoned and state protocol will be followed.

Grooming Interruptions:

We ask you not to interrupt the groomer during the grooming process for the safety of your dog. Most dogs get “jazzed” to see you arrive and no longer cooperate once you are in sight. It puts the dog at a higher risk of an accident and it makes the grooming process take longer overall. You are more than welcome to text for an update on your dog. If you arrive early, before notification of completion has been sent, the groomer has the right to end your grooming session before completion and you will be charged the full grooming price. 

Communication:

The business cell phone will not be answered before 7:30 am or after 8:00 pm. The best way to communicate with us after hours is through email. Emails will be responded to during these hours only if they are pertaining to a current appointment that is coming up or for the next business day. Otherwise the email will be answered on the next business day during business hours.

Vaccinations:

All dogs must have up to date vaccinations that include at a minimum:

• Rabies

• Distemper / Parvo

• Bordetella

We do not require proof of vaccination records to be on file. However, if your pet were to bite another animal or person, animal control will be notified and they may quarantine your pet if the vaccinations are not current. Puppies should have all puppy vaccines completed prior to coming in for their own wellbeing.

Accidents:

Although accidents are very rare, there is of course always a risk when handling live animals. Although we use extreme caution and care in all situation's, grooming equipment is extremely sharp and accidents can occur, including but not limited to: cuts, nicks, scratches, quicking of the nails, etc. Unforeseen allergic reactions to products used can also happen. In most cases, accidents can happen when a dog is anxious, wiggling and moving around suddenly during the grooming session. Your dog’s safety and comfort is our number one priority. In the event an accident does occur, you will be notified. If M3 Dog Grooming feels it is an accident requiring veterinary attention and the dog owner is not on-site, we will seek immediate veterinary care for your animal.

We will always do an inspection of your dog upon arrival and in the bathtub. We will notify you of anything we find. Should any cuts occur during the grooming process, we will notify you and advise you on how to treat these.

Health, Medical Problems & Senior Pets:

Grooming procedures can sometimes be stressful, especially for senior or ill dogs and can expose hidden medical problems or aggravate a current one during or after the groom. We will inform clients if any issues become apparent during the grooming session. Clients must notify M3 Dog Grooming of any known medical conditions prior to grooming.

Because these dogs have a greater chance of injury or a poor reaction to the grooming process, the priority will be for cleanliness and comfort over finished appearance. If at any time your dog is not tolerating the groom we will stop and notify you. Dogs who can no longer stand for long periods or require multiple breaks during the grooming process will have an extra charge added to their bill for extra time required.

In the best interest of your dog, these policies/agreement will give M3 Dog Grooming permission to obtain immediate veterinary treatment for your dog should an emergency arise. We will do our best to contact you first and have you pick them up. If we cannot contact the client then your dog will be taken to the closest veterinary facility. It is agreed that all expenses for Veterinary care will be covered by the dog’s owner. The completion of the website contact information form and attending a scheduled groom demonstrates a client's agreement with these policies.

Any grooming which takes place on an elderly or frail dog is conducted at the client’s risk and M3 Dog Grooming will not be held liable for any mental or physical stress the grooming process may cause. We are also not responsible for accidental injuries or the sudden death of your dog.

Fleas & Ticks:

All dogs should be on a flea and tick preventative. We are a flea-free facility. Please do not schedule your dog for grooming if they have fleas for the sake of all the dogs we care for. If you do not know about your dog having fleas before your appointment and we discover them, we will contact you the moment we notice them and have you pick them up. The full grooming fee will still be required. If you knowingly bring in your dog with fleas, we will require a flea cleaning fee of $30 to eliminate fleas from our facility. If you know that your pet has fleas, please treat them as recommended by your veterinarian before recommencing regular visits. Regular monthly flea treatment is necessary to prevent fleas for your dog.

Any ticks on your dog will be removed as they are found during the grooming process and will require a $1 fee for each tick removed.

Females in Heat:

Female dogs that have not been spayed and are in heat at the time of the appointment will be charged a $5 fee.

Dangerous / Aggressive Dogs - Refusal of Service:

Knowledge of your dog’s fear of such procedures as nail clipping, de-matting, drying, etc. helps us successfully groom your dog and makes the experience easier and, in most cases, helps your dog overcome their fears. Clients must Inform M3 Dog Grooming if your dog(s) bites, has bitten, or is aggressive to people, other dogs, a specific grooming procedure, or requires medication for grooming. We consider the terms "nipping and snapping" to be biting.

Muzzles may be required. Muzzling will not harm your dog and protects both dog and groomer. M3 Dog Grooming holds the right to refuse services at any point during the grooming process for any reason but especially for biting. If your dog becomes too stressed or becomes dangerous to groom we will stop grooming services immediately. The client will be called to pick-up their dog and the grooming bill must be paid in full.

Our main focus is to keep both the dog and groomer safe. A groomers' hands are their livelihood, which means if the dog should bite, the owner agrees to be responsible for any and all related medical bills, recovery costs, loss of income, and equipment damage.

Dogs who struggle with aspects of grooming are also at greater risk for nicks, quicked nails, or a haircut that isn’t quite perfect looking. M3 Dog Grooming will not be held liable for these types of injuries or for haircuts that are less than satisfactory due to aggressive behaviors.

Dogs who need veterinarian prescribed sedation medications to be groomed such as Trazodone, Acepromazine and Gabapentin, should be groomed at the vet.

Over the counter calming medications are okay, such as CBD or Benadryl. M3 Dog Grooming offers such medicated treats by “Pawtree” at the owner’s request and expense.

Poor Coat Condition / Matted Dogs - Humanity over Vanity:

Dogs with severely matted coats require a significant amount of extra attention.  Mats cause the coat to grow tight and pull on/damage the skin. It can restrict blood flow and be a breeding ground for parasites unseen to the naked eye. M3 Dog grooming will not cause unnecessary stress to your dog by trying to aggressively “de-mat” them.

Severe  matting can only be humanely removed by closely shearing/shaving the dog. Removing a severely matted coat holds its own list of potential issues including nicks, cuts, scrapes, hematomas, etc. Moisture can also be trapped under matting and may well reveal an abundance of skin problems. In some severe cases, dogs can even exhibit behavioral changes after mat removal. After-effects of mat removal procedures can include itchiness, skin redness, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions, and failure of the hair to re-grow. Shaved pets are also prone to sunburn and should be kept out of the sun until the coat grows sufficiently to protect the skin.

Prevention is the best defense against matting, regular appointments every 4-8 weeks is recommended. If your dog needs to be closely sheared due to extreme matting, the owner agrees to these policies, acknowledging the risks associated with this process.  There will be an additional fee for severe matting - it is a time consuming process and causes extra wear and tear on grooming equipment. Injuries caused due to the condition of the pets matting is NOT the responsibility of M3 Dog Grooming and any vet costs due to these are at the expense of the Client.

Note: Shaving of your dog may dramatically change your pet’s appearance and the hair will be very close to the skin. This may expose pre-existing skin conditions.

Double & Triple Coats / Shorthair Breeds:

We do not shave these coats/hair types unless they are severely impacted or matted and it is for the well-being of the dog. We care about the integrity of the coat and shaving may compromise healthy regrowth. Shaving these breeds can cause skin issues including skin cancer due to the lack of protection that the coat provides in any climate.

Right to Refuse Services:

M3 Dog Grooming has the right to refuse service to anyone who repeatedly brings in neglected dogs or is verbally or physically abusive to anyone on the premises. This includes their own dogs.

Payment:

Payment is due at time of pickup unless prior arrangements have been made. If payment is not received on the day of the appointment, a $5 a day fee will be added to the bill until it is paid. We accept Venmo, cash, or credit/debit cards. We do not accept checks unless prior arrangements have been made. If a check is accepted and there are insufficient funds a $30 returned check charge will be added and the client will be placed on a cash only basis thereafter.

Tips are always appreciated.

Photographs:

M3 Dog Grooming reserves the right to photograph/video your pet for use in promotional material. You can choose to opt out via a written and signed request/notification. Photographs of dog visits may be used in web and print publications and are the sole property of M3 Dog Grooming.

Satisfaction:

Your satisfaction is important to us. M3 Dog Grooming will make their best effort to interpret the grooming instructions given. If there is anything you are unhappy with and would like to have adjusted please let us know at time of pick-up. Anything that is brought to our attention, within reason, will be fixed free of charge.

You will have a 24 hour window to let us know if there’s any adjustments that need to be made. Beyond that, all return visits will be treated as a new appointment and will be charged accordingly.

Held Harmless:

By completing the online contact form and attending a grooming appointment, you (or your Agent) agree to hold M3 Dog Grooming, its owner, operators, and employees harmless from any damage, loss, or claim arising from any condition of the dog, either known or unknown to M3 Dog Grooming. It is also further understood and agreed the terms of this agreement can change at any time, without notice, and will overwrite any and all prior agreed to contracts or releases.

Please read through all policies and procedures listed before reserving your appointment with us. Please print this document prior to your dog’s first scheduled appointment. These guidelines help us keep our dogs and staff safe and we thank you in advance for respecting all of our policies! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to give us a call and we will be happy to assist you.

Retail Policy:

• Some items are available for sale in the shop. These items may vary. Currently these include items produced by “Pawtree.”

• Returns are accepted up to 7 days from purchase for store credit only. Must have original tag/packaging intact and be in un-used condition.

• There are No Return's on treats, cookies, toys, relaxation products or any on-sale items.