Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By making a booking with The Cuddly Lane, the Owner confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions in full.

Acceptance of a booking, payment of any fee, or delivery of a dog into our care constitutes acceptance of these Terms.

2. Definitions

• "We / Us / Our" refers to The Cuddly Lane.
• "Owner" refers to the legal owner or authorised keeper of the dog.
• "Dog" refers to the animal(s) listed on the booking form.
• "Services" include dog boarding, day care, walking, and any related care.

3. Application & Acceptance of Dogs

• Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
• The Cuddly Lane will assess the dog during the meet & greet, and reserves the right to accept or reject any dog for boarding, day care, or walking at any stage, for reasons including but not limited to health, behaviour, welfare, safety, or suitability.
• Once an application is successful, The Cuddly Lane will notify the Owner and confirm eligibility to book.
• We reserve the right to terminate a stay immediately if a dog is deemed unsafe, aggressive, unwell, distressed, or unsuitable.

4. Booking Policy & Payment Terms

• Dates and timeslots will be held for 48 hours pending payment. If payment is not received within 48 hours, the dates may be released without notice.
• A 50% booking fee is required to secure your dog's placement. No dates are secured until this has been received.
• The remaining balance must be paid 48 hours before the service.
• We accept cash or bank transfer. Unfortunately we do not accept cheques.
• All bookings made for the holiday period are charged an extra 15%. Please refer to our service page for the latest holiday period dates.
• Late payment incurs a £5 per day penalty and may result in the refusal of future bookings.

5. Emergency Veterinary Costs

If emergency veterinary treatment is required, we will attempt to contact the Owner or emergency contact first.

All veterinary costs are the responsibility of the Owner and must be settled upon collection.

6. Cancellation & Amendments

• The 50% booking fee is non-refundable. It can only be transferred to other dates, and no more than twice.
• A refund of the non-booking-fee portion is available for cancellations made at least 48 hours before the service.
• No refund is available for cancellations made within 48 hours of the service.
• No refund is available for no-shows or early collection.
• We ask for as much notice as possible for any cancellation, as we only offer a limited number of spaces.
• If The Cuddly Lane cancels for any reason (e.g. emergency, illness, or safety concern), clients will receive a full refund of all payments made, including the booking fee.

7. Health, Vaccination & Disclosure

The Owner(s) must ensure their dog(s) are:

• Fully vaccinated in line with veterinary recommendations
• Microchipped
• Treated against fleas, ticks, and worms

Proof of vaccination must be provided prior to booking.

The Owner(s) must disclose any:

• Medical conditions
• Medications
• Behavioural issues
• Bite history

Failure to disclose may result in refusal or termination of care without refund.

8. Infectious Disease Risk

Where dogs are in proximity, there is a risk of infectious diseases (e.g. kennel cough). Vaccinations reduce but do not eliminate this risk. By using our services, Owners agree they will not hold The Cuddly Lane liable if their dog contracts an infectious disease whilst in our care.

You must inform us immediately if your dog has been exposed to, or is suffering from, any infectious or contagious disease or condition. The Cuddly Lane reserves the right to refuse services until satisfied that the condition has been resolved.

The Cuddly Lane cannot accept female dogs in season (or about to come into season) for boarding. Please advise us immediately if your female dog is in season or due to come into season.

Due to the nature of home boarding and the lack of full confinement, and although every effort will be made to prevent pregnancy, should a female dog be inadvertently mated, The Cuddly Lane will not be held responsible if your dog becomes pregnant.

You agree that if your dog comes into season during her stay, the emergency contact will be called to collect the dog, and no refund will be made for the remainder of the booking.

9. Veterinary Treatment & Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency involving your dog, you authorise us to obtain veterinary treatment at an available facility close to our location. This may include, but is not limited to, situations involving your dog slipping, sustaining an injury during the stay, or a fight with another dog.

We will contact the nearest veterinary clinic and notify you as soon as possible.

You acknowledge that in the event of medical treatment being required, you are liable for any veterinary, medical, travel, or other costs associated with the emergency.

10. Care, Feeding & Belongings

• The Owner(s) must supply sufficient food and clear feeding instructions.
• Personal items (beds, toys, leads) are accepted at the Owner's risk. We accept no responsibility for loss, damage, or soiling of belongings.
• Owners may bring their own dog's crate, provided it is of suitable size and construction. The Owner must notify The Cuddly Lane during the meet & greet if they plan to provide a crate.
• Crates will only be used if the dog is habituated to them and they form part of the dog's normal routine. The Consent Form must be completed with crate permissions for us to use one.
• Dogs that prefer crates may have the crate door left open for choice.
• The Cuddly Lane offers adequate separate areas to accommodate individual needs for sleeping, dining, and resting.

11. Behaviour & Safety

• Dogs must be suitable for a shared or home-style environment unless otherwise agreed.
• Aggressive, destructive, or unsafe behaviour may result in immediate removal.
• Owners are responsible for any damage or injury caused by their dog to property, people, or other animals.

12. Liability & Assumption of Risk

All dogs are accepted at their Owner's risk.

While reasonable care and attention are given to each dog, we cannot be held responsible for any injury, illness, loss, escape, or damage, howsoever arising.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Cuddly Lane accepts no liability for loss, injury, illness, or death, except where caused by proven negligence.

13. Death of Dog

In the unfortunate and unlikely event that a dog passes away from any cause while in our care — including illness, natural causes, or unforeseen incidents — we will notify you as soon as possible and take your pet to the vet. You may then liaise with the vet regarding arrangements. We will also report the incident to the local Council.

The Cuddly Lane cannot be held liable for accident, death, loss, or injury to a dog during sessions or stays. The Owner agrees that no compensation or damages will be sought against The Cuddly Lane.

14. Loss or Escape of Dog

• All reasonable precautions are taken to ensure safety; however, animals can behave unpredictably.
• In the event of loss or escape, The Cuddly Lane accepts no liability for the dog's loss, injury, or consequences arising from the escape.
• Any recovery costs remain the responsibility of the Owner.

15. Non-Collection & Abandonment

Failure to collect a dog on the agreed date and time may result in additional charges:

If a dog is not collected within 2 days, we reserve the right to take further action, including rehoming, without liability.

16. Insurance

We hold appropriate business insurance as required by our licensing conditions.

Owners are strongly advised to maintain their own pet insurance.

17. Privacy Policy

• Personal data is handled in accordance with UK GDPR.
• Data is stored securely and retained for 3 years.
• Information is shared only when legally required or necessary for animal welfare.
• With consent, photos and videos may be used for social media or marketing purposes (including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, and Rover).

18. Amendments

These Terms may be updated at any time. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.