Effective Date: 17/12/25
At Strawberry Paws, we take every precaution to ensure the safety of the animals in our care. However, in the event of a sudden illness or injury, it is vital that we have clear instructions and authorisation to act in the pet’s best interest.
1. Emergency Authorisation
- Duty of Care: By booking our services, the Client authorises Strawberry Paws to seek veterinary attention for their pet in the event of an emergency, accident, or suspected illness.
- Immediate Action: If we believe a pet requires urgent care, your pet’s welfare will be prioritised, and we will transport them to a vet immediately. We will attempt to contact the Client and the nominated Emergency Contact while en route or upon arrival.
2. Choice of Veterinary Practice
- Primary Vet: Whenever possible and safe to do so, we will take your pet to your named Veterinary Practice as provided on the Pet Information Form.
- Emergency Vet: If your primary vet is unavailable, closed, or too far away for the nature of the emergency, we reserve the right to take the pet to the nearest available veterinary surgery or 24-hour emergency hospital (e.g., Vets Now).
3. Financial Responsibility
- Payment of Fees: All veterinary fees, including consultation, treatment, medication, and out-of-hours surcharges, are the sole responsibility of the Client.
- Direct Billing: If Strawberry Paws is required to pay a fee upfront to secure treatment, the Client must reimburse Strawberry Paws in full within 24 hours.
4. Decisions in the Client’s Absence
- Medical Decisions: If the Client or Emergency Contact cannot be reached, the Client authorises the attending Veterinary Surgeon to perform any life-saving procedures or treatments deemed necessary.
- Welfare First: Strawberry Paws will always act in the animal’s best interest, following the professional advice of the attending vet.
5. Transport and Handling
- Safety: In an emergency, pets may be transported in the Strawberry Paws vehicle. While we take every care during transport, Strawberry Paws is not liable for any complications that arise during transit to the veterinary facility.
- Infectious Diseases: If a pet is found to have a contagious condition (such as Kennel Cough or parvovirus), the Client must inform us immediately. We reserve the right to cancel services to prevent the spread to other pets, as per our Wellness Policy.
6. First Aid
- Strawberry Paws carries a pet first aid kit. We may administer basic first aid (e.g., cleaning a minor wound or applying a bandage) where appropriate, but this is never a substitute for a professional veterinary assessment.
7. Limitation of Liability
- Provided that Strawberry Paws has acted with reasonable care and followed the protocols in this policy, Strawberry Paws shall not be held liable for the death, injury, or illness of any pet, nor for any veterinary costs incurred.