Legal

Terms & conditions

Article 1 — Definitions

Contractor: dog walking service One Happy Hound, operating in Flanders.
Client: owner of the dog(s).
Assignment: walking the client's dog(s) by the contractor.
Registration form: agreement between contractor and client whereby the contractor walks the client's dog on the agreed day(s) for a price payable by the client.
Dog: the client's dog(s) walked by the contractor.

These terms are based on an industry standard; they apply as supplied by the contractor in the 2017 version.
These terms apply to all assignments between client and contractor unless explicitly deviated from. Any deviation must be recorded in writing and signed by both parties.
The contractor may change these terms and price quotes at any time. After written notice of changes, the client can no longer rely on information from earlier versions.
The contractor may refuse a dog at any time due to atypical or problematic behaviour.
The dog must know basic obedience cues (“Here”, “Sit”, “Down” and “Follow”) and respond to them. The dog must also be social with other dogs and people.
Dogs in heat may not join group walks. Individual walks may be possible if scheduling allows. Ad-hoc walks must be paid in cash each time.

The dog must be vaccinated with at least the annual combination vaccine and kennel cough. The client must provide proof. Vaccinations must be no older than one year and at least one week old, and renewed annually. The dog must be free of lice, ear mites, ticks, fleas and worms.
The client must inform the contractor as soon as possible of heat, illness or limitations. Any illness or abnormalities must be disclosed in advance.
If the client is not directly reachable, they authorise the contractor to consult a vet in case of accident, serious injury or illness of the dog at the client's expense. The client will be informed as soon as possible.

The client is always liable to the contractor for damage from failing to disclose or misrepresenting information about the dog covered by the agreement.
The client must ensure the dog is present on agreed days and times. If the dog is not available at pickup, the agreed walk is still charged.
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Later cancellations and same-day cancellations are charged at the normal rate.
The client must ensure the contractor has access to where the dog is kept.
The dog must be covered by the client's liability insurance. As owner you remain legally liable at all times, including off-lead, for damage your dog causes to others or their property (including other dogs).
The contractor is never liable for damage to the client's home or contents caused by a wet or dirty dog. The contractor will return the dog(s) as clean and dry as reasonably possible; the client may leave a towel for return if desired.
The client must ensure sufficient water is available for the dog.

The contractor will always treat the dog with the greatest care and affection.
The contractor may walk dogs off-lead during group walks.
The client will be kept informed (if needed) of the dog's health and behaviour while under the contractor's supervision.
The contractor may cancel or stop walks when unable to perform duties due to illness or bad weather, including but not limited to heat, extreme rain, thunder/hail, snow, ice or very strong wind.
The contractor must regularly inspect, clean and disinfect their vehicle.
The client's house key is kept with the greatest care and used only for pickup and return. No address details are kept with the key — only the dog's name. Collar and tag provided by the contractor remain the contractor's property and are only for use when the dog is with the contractor.
The contractor may terminate a walking agreement at any time, e.g. for unacceptable behaviour.
The contractor must walk the dog on agreed days unless Article 5(4) applies; then the client is responsible for walking the dog.
Force majeure (e.g. illness) releases the contractor from the agreement; the walk is not charged and moves to a later date.
The contractor will give timely notice of holidays.
The contractor may use photos taken during walks without prior consent from the client.

The client is liable for proven damage to the contractor or third parties caused by the dog. Medical costs and third-party damage are charged to the client. If the responsible dog is unclear, costs are split among the owners of the dogs involved.
The contractor is not liable for damage, illness, death, unwanted mating, conditions or injury to the dog arising from the assignment, unless proven during performance and due to the contractor's intent.
If unforeseen circumstances or force majeure prevent service, the client is notified as soon as possible. Resulting damage cannot be claimed from the contractor.
The contractor is not liable if a dog runs away; if it happens, every effort will be made to recover the dog as soon as possible.
If the contractor could be held liable for client damage from breach of these terms (except force majeure), compensation is limited to the total agreed walk fee for the agreement.
Contractor liability is in any case limited to the insurer's payout where applicable.

All prices shown are excl. VAT.
The contractor must provide a quote/invoice on request.
Payment is due on the first day of the assignment in cash or by transfer to the contractor's account.
Invoices must be paid within 14 days. Refusal to pay may delay return of the house key and legal steps may be taken; all walks stop.
Early termination by the client entitles the contractor to charge the full amount without refund.
Cash payments receive a receipt from the contractor.
Late payment allows suspension of service and recovery of legal and collection costs plus statutory interest from the due date.

Disputes fall under the court where the contractor is established in first instance, unless the client chooses the legally competent court within one month of written notice that the dispute will be brought there.
Belgian law applies to all service agreements.
Invalidity of part of these terms does not invalidate the remaining provisions.

Terms for receiving a house key. One Happy Hound declares that the key will:

not be duplicated;
not be labelled with an address;
be stored carefully at home;
be carried only on days when the dog is walked;
be used only for walking the dogs;
be returned immediately when the owner asks, ending this contract at once.
In case of loss or theft of the key, One Happy Hound will notify the owner as soon as possible but cannot be held liable for resulting damage.