Simple. Clear. Apartment-Friendly.

Our Policies

Policies, Procedures & Requirements

great pet care starts with clarity and trust.
1

General Service Policies

1.1

Service Area

We currently serve 2 Charlotte apartment communities, with a focus on University Area, North Tryon, J.W. Clay, and surrounding neighborhoods.

  • We currently serve 8 Metro Station & focus on Century University City.
  • Additional locations may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
1.2

Hours of Operation

  • Daily Care Visits: 7 AM – 9 PM
  • Weekend Pet Visits & Walks: 7 AM – 9 PM
  • Phone Consultations: By appointment
  • Holiday Hours: Available with limited staff + holiday surcharge
1.3

Booking Notice

  • Standard Visits: 24-hour notice preferred
  • Same-day Requests: Accepted when possible (small rush fee may apply)
  • Holiday Requests: Minimum 48 hours’ notice
1.4

Payment Policy

  • Payment is due at time of booking.
  • Accepted: credit/debit, digital payments, or invoice.
  • Refunds:
    • Cancel within 24 hours → full refund
    • Cancel within 12 hours → 50% refund
    • Cancel within 4 hours → non-refundable
2

Safety & Home Access Policies

2.1

Apartment Access Requirements

To respect building rules and ensure smooth visits:

  • A key, fob, or code must be provided before first service.
  • If the building requires guest access, our sitter must be added to the approved visitor list.
  • If we cannot enter due to building restrictions, the visit will be marked as Missed Visit (Non-Refundable).
2.2

Home Entry

  • We lock the door behind us at entry and exit.
  • We never share your key or home access information.
  • Photo verification is available upon request.
2.3

Safety Checks

During each visit, we perform a quick home and pet safety check:

  • Water level
  • Food level if required
  • Cleanliness of litter box or potty area
  • Behavior/mood check
  • Signs of distress or home issues (leaks, chewed wires, open doors)
3

Pet Health & Behavior Policies

3.1

Health Requirements

  • A medication form must be completed.
  • We cannot administer injections at this time.
  • Extra care fees may apply for pets needing extended time.

Your pet must:

  • Be free of contagious illnesses
  • Be up-to-date on Rabies
  • Not display aggressive behavior toward strangers
3.2

Aggression Policy

  • If your pet shows aggression that makes the sitter feel unsafe, the visit will stop immediately.
  • You will be notified instantly.
  • Refunds are not provided for incomplete visits caused by aggression.
3.3

Special Needs Pets

We proudly accept seniors, shy pets, and pets needing meds but:

  • A medication form must be completed.
  • We cannot administer injections at this time.
  • Extra care fees may apply for pets needing extended time.

Your pet must:

  • Be free of contagious illnesses
  • Be up-to-date on Rabies
  • Not display aggressive behavior toward strangers
What We Do Every Time

Standard Everyday Visits Includes

  • Warm greeting and bonding time
  • Feeding (if requested)
  • Fresh water
  • Short or full walk (depending on booking)
  • Playtime
  • Litter refresh or potty cleanup (if added to visit)
  • Medication (if applicable)
  • Written visit report + photos

Dog Walking Procedures

  • Leash check for safety
  • No off-leash walking
  • Only approved harness or collar is used
  • Walk route is apartment-friendly and chosen for safety
  • Walk is adjusted based on weather (heat/cold policies apply)

Cat Visit Procedures

To ensure quality care during an in-home sit, we require:

  • Litter clean & refresh (if added to visit)
  • Feed + water
  • Enrichment play
  • Quick wellness check
  • Secure windows/doors
  • Indoor-only safety (absolutely no “door escapes”)
5

In-Home Sitting Requirements (At Your Home)

To ensure quality care during an in-home sit, we require:

  • A walkthrough before first booking
  • Feeding and care instructions written or texted
  • Emergency contacts
  • Vet information & nearest 24-hour emergency clinic
  • Clear instructions for apartment access
  • Wi-Fi optional but appreciated for communication
  • Camera disclosure (we are comfortable with cameras, but must be notified)

Home Expectations:

  • Please provide:
    • Clean litter (for cats)
    • Enough food & treats
    • Poop bags
    • Leash/harness
    • Towels for rainy days
6

Weather & Emergency Policies

We always provide:

6.1

Heat & Cold Weather Adjustments

For pet safety:

  • We will prioritize your pet’s safety.
  • You’ll be notified immediately.
  • Services may be rescheduled as needed.
  • In extreme heat or cold, walks will be shortened to protect paws & breathing.
  • Remaining visit time will be spent indoors giving attention and enrichment.
6.2

Severe Weather / Building Emergencies

If unsafe conditions occur (storms, power outages, alarms):

  • We will prioritize your pet’s safety.
  • You’ll be notified immediately.
  • Services may be rescheduled as needed.

Looking for our Fresh Food Program?

7

Supplies Policies

Clients must provide:

  • Food & feeding instructions
  • Litter + liners
  • Poop bags
  • Leash/harness
  • Medications
  • Cleaning supplies for accidents

If you run out of supplies:

  • We may purchase them for you (supply run fee + cost of items)
8

Communication Policies

We always provide:

  • A check-in message when we arrive
  • Photos/videos during or after the visit
  • A final recap and confirmation when we leave
  • Immediate contact if anything seems off
  • You can also text us anytime for updates
9

Discounts & Building Partnerships

We offer:

  • Multi-pet discounts
  • Multi-visit discounts
  • Apartment community partnerships
  • Referral rewards
  • First-time client discount
10

Liability & Disclaimer

  • Paws & Pals of Charlotte is insured and background-checked.
  • We are not responsible for:
    • Damage caused by pets
    • Issues resulting from unsafe collars/harnesses
    • Apartment restrictions that prevent entry
  • You must disclose any behavioral concerns or past incidents.
11

Why These Policies Matter

Our policies are designed to:

  • Keep pets safe
  • Make apartment access smooth
  • Maintain trust and transparency
  • Ensure reliable and consistent care
  • Protect both your pet and your sitter
12

Fresh Food Program

12.1

Ordering & Delivery

  • Orders placed by Wednesday deliver on Friday–Saturday.
  • Subscription clients receive priority during busy weeks.
  • Delivery windows: 10 AM – 6 PM.
12.2

Storage Requirements

Clients must:

  • Refrigerate meals immediately upon delivery
  • Freeze meals if not used within 3 days
  • Use treats within 1–2 weeks
12.3

Allergies & Sensitivities

  • All allergies must be disclosed upfront.
  • We may decline orders if a recipe contains an allergen we cannot safely remove.
12.4

Safety Disclaimer

  • Meals are not vet-formulated.
  • Intended as occasional fresh meals or toppers unless you consult your vet.
  • We do not replace therapeutic diets.
12.5

Containers

  • Containers are recyclable and food-safe.
  • Returnable container options earn $1 credit per container.
12.6

Payments

  • Payment required at time of order.
  • Subscriptions auto-bill weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
  • Cancellations must be made 48 hours before delivery.
12.7

Payments

For both services, we always provide:

  • “Running low?” reminders for subscription clients
  • Order confirmation
  • Delivery ETA
  • Photo of delivery
  • Payment summary
  • Allergy check (for fresh food)
13

referral Program

13.1

Referral Eligibility

  • You must be an existing or new client with an active profile.
  • Referred person must be a new client.
  • Referral credits apply once the new client completes their first paid service.
13.2

Reward Distribution

  • Credits are automatically added within 24 hours after the referred service is completed.
  • Credits apply to any service except tips.
  • Cashback is not provided (credits only).
13.3

No Limit on Referrals

  • Unlimited credits can be earned.
  • VIP status resets annually.
13.4

Free Service Reward

  • Calculated at the average value of a standard visit ($25 max).
  • Can be applied to a longer or more expensive service as a credit.
13.5

Referral Tracking

We track referrals by:

  1. Referral code
  2. Name used on booking
  3. Phone number
  4. Date of initial service
13.6

Abuse or Fraud

We reserve the right to decline referral credits if:

  • Referree uses fake accounts
  • Multiple sign-ups from the same pet/household
  • Self-referrals
  • We will always communicate first before removing credits.
13.7

Expiration

VIP status lasts 1 year from activation.
Credits never expire as long as the client uses at least one service every 12 months.

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