Grooming Service Agreement

Tanks A Lot Pet Shop, LLC dba Fort Wagg 

Grooming Service Agreement Current as of 12/17/24

Fort Wagg is a full-service grooming salon.  Our stylists can provide full body cuts, or basic trims.  Our bath package includes nail trim, ear cleaning, shampoo, blow dry and brush out.  For an additional fee, we offer paw pad trims and sanitary trims, de-shedding, teeth brushing, nose and paw balm.

Fort Wagg Grooming Experience Philosophy:  Unlike many other salons, Fort Wagg strives to be interactive in a friendly and reassuring way with your pet during its entire stay in our salon.  This reduces stress and barking due to dogs being left unattended in a kennel.  For this reason, and possibly contrary to your previous experience, Fort Wagg chooses to schedule appointments for multiple pet owners that ensures each pet is "hands-on" with a groomer during its entire time in the salon.  We will not schedule two dogs at the same time with a single groomer.  Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Fort Wagg staff will make every attempt to complete the grooming service in the allotted time for your pet.  Unforeseen circumstances may cause delays during the appointment and our staff will notify you when necessary to keep you informed of the progress.

Between grooming appointments, walk-in services are available, such as nail trims, ear cleaning, etc.  Appointments aren't necessary; however, it is best to call ahead to ensure staff is present to perform the service.  Proof of current rabies vaccination is required for walk-in services.

Our appointment confirmation system is primarily based on automated text messaging.  If you do not have or regularly use a cell phone, please let the Fort Wagg staff know so we can use other means (e-mail, landline phone) to communicate with you.

We will occasionally use a photo of your pet in the salon either prior to or after any appointment to promote our business and services.  If you do not want your pet's photo used in this manner, please let our staff know and we will make a note in your account.

——Pets are accepted for grooming only under the following circumstances....
      —The pet is fit and healthy, has no open wounds or incisions.  Grooming which takes place on an elderly or infirm pet will be at the owner's risk. Grooming may expose pre-existing health\skin conditions for which Fort Wagg cannot be held liable.
     —Female dogs cannot be in heat at the time of service.  
     —The pet's rabies vaccine is up to date (as required by law).  We require proof of vaccination prior to confirming any appointment.  Dogs receiving a vaccination within 48 hours of an appointment will not be accepted (to ensure no adverse reactions from the vaccination).
      —In the event of an emergency, in your absence, you authorize Fort Wagg to contact the nearest Veterinarian and authorize the Vet to treat the pet as necessary at your expense.

——Flea-free salon:  Fort Wagg does not accept dogs with fleas.  Since our store also sells pet food and live pets, it is difficult to treat the facility for fleas without exposing food and pets to pesticides.  If you think your pet may have fleas, DO NOT bring it into the store.  If we find fleas on your pet prior to grooming, you will be required to remove your pet without grooming service being performed.  If fleas are found on your pet after grooming has begun, you will be charged $10 per pet for flea treatment, PLUS a $40 facility treatment fee, in ADDITION to any grooming service performed.  We can suggest a variety of products to treat your pet for fleas prior to making an appointment for grooming.

——Payment is to be made at the time of service. Payment can be cash, check or credit card. Returned checks will incur a $35 charge. Our grooming rates are based on the breed of the pet and duration of the groom.  Nail cutting, ear cleaning are part of the service unless the process is too stressful for the pet or too dangerous for the groomer.  

——Dogs with matted coats require extra attention.  The staff at Fort Wagg will not cause serious or undue stress to pets by de-matting.  However, mats are difficult to remove and may require the pet to be shaved, in which case our stylist will perform this service at an additional cost.  In extreme matting, we may refer you out to a vet that offers this service.
      —Possible de-matting risks include:
      —Removing a matted coat can cause nicks, cuts or abrasions.
      —Matting can trap moisture and urine near the pet's skin, allowing mold, fungus or bacteria to grow and/or cause skin irritations.  Removing a matted coat can reveal problems that existed prior to the grooming process.
      —After-effects of mat removal can include behavioral changes, itchiness, redness, bruising of the skin, hematomas, self-inflicted irritations or abrasions and possible failure of hair to regrow.
De-matting fees range from $5-$35.  Any mat removal that exceeds the cost of $35 will result in the pet being referred to a veterinary clinic for medically supervised removal of mats.
If at any time, the grooming and mat removal process causes your pet extreme stress resulting in bite attempts, breathing issues, seizures or any other sign of stress, Fort Wagg will contact the owner for immediate pick up of the pet.

Signing this agreement releases Fort Wagg and its staff from any and all liability associated with any and all injuries or medical problems that may be uncovered and/or occur during the de-matting process.  Should your pet require medical treatment at a veterinarian during or after the process, you agree to pay any and all veterinarian fees.

——Double-Coated Dogs:  Dogs with double coats (shepherds, huskies, retrievers, etc) have hair designed to keep them cool in Summer, warm in Winter and protect from various elements of weather.  Some pet parents choose to shave their dog in an effort to provide comfort.  Shaving a double coated dog can permanently damage the coat and cause the hair to permanently re-grow unevenly and/or with a different texture.  Consider a de-shedding service instead:  It thins out the coat by removing the loose hair, including from the under-coat.  De-shedding can provide significant relief from the heat.

Fort Wagg does not shave double-coated dogs, except to provide relief from severe mats.

——Handling Fees:  We may charge an additional handling fee for pets that have out of the ordinary requirements.  Examples include dogs that are aggressive and require being alone in the salon, after-hours appointments or dogs that require more than one person to complete the groom.

——Appointment Times:  It is very important to arrive ON TIME to your scheduled appointment.  This keeps the groomers on track and allows them to service all scheduled clients.  Please do not arrive earlier than 15 minutes of your scheduled appointment time unless coordinated with Fort Wagg.  Clients arriving too late means the groomer will not be able to finish grooming your pet in the allotted time.  Customers arriving more than 15 minutes PAST their appointment time WILL be turned away and required to reschedule and charged a "no-show" fee.  

——No-Shows:  It is considered a "no-show" when the client is not available at the scheduled appointment time and does not contact Fort Wagg to cancel or reschedule.  We reserve the right to charge 50% of the grooming service fee due to the loss of revenue caused by a "no-show".   Please make every effort to call and cancel or reschedule when possible, to avoid such situations.

No-show fees will be added to the next scheduled appointment.  Repeat no-show clients will be required to pre-pay for all future appointments.  This ensures no loss of income for our grooming staff.

——-Cancellations:  We follow the Harnett County public school closures as they pertain to inclement weather. We try to work as long as conditions are not dangerous. If you are unsure, please call us to confirm.
Cancellation and rescheduling of an appointment, by the client, requires 24 hours notice to waive 50% of the grooming service fee.  Our groomers work on commission and do not get paid when clients do not show.
In the event of inclement weather, a family emergency or any other uncontrollable circumstance, the groomer has the discretion to waive the fee within the 24 hour period.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we reserve the right to cancel or reschedule an appointment.   Every effort will be made to reschedule at a time convenient for both the client and the groomer.    

——Pickup Times:  Owners are required to pick up their dog within 30 minutes of being notified of completion time of grooming for several reasons:  1. Fort Wagg is a busy and small salon with limited kennel space.  We book other client's appointments according to the estimated time it takes to complete your pet's service.  2.  We cannot keep your pet in a kennel that needs to be sanitized and prepared for the next customer.  3.  Unattended dogs may bark loudly and will disturb the other retailers in the shopping center (walls are thin) and other pets in the salon.  We are trying to be good neighbors!  For this reason, we may also require customers to book multiple pets on separate appointment times so an unattended pet is not causing a disturbance.

Please do not plan any errands or activities that take you more than 30 minutes away from Fort Wagg during your scheduled appointment.  Owners will be charged a $10 holding fee for every 15 minutes beyond 30 minutes after being notified of grooming service completion.  You will be notified of service completion by phone or text.  Leaving a voicemail is considered notification.  Please add 910-493-0889, 919-343-2273 (calls to you) and 941-960-7235 (text) in your phone contacts as Fort Wagg.

*This agreement applies to you and anyone acting as your agent.  We may modify this agreement from time to time and request you resign it.  By signing this agreement (even if you didn't actually read it), you agree to all policies.  We reserve the right to refuse service to any pet or client for any reason.*