Property damage waiver form for rentals
A property damage waiver form for rentals that sets who pays for loss or damage, records condition, and explains deposits and caps.
Updated Oct 23, 2026Quick answer
A pet grooming waiver is a release dog and cat owners sign before grooming, daycare or boarding. It records the pet's details, vaccinations, health and behavior history, consent for matted coats and shave-downs, the extra risks for senior and anxious pets, and an emergency vet authorization with a cost limit. It also releases the business from claims caused by ordinary negligence.
Why a grooming release form matters
Grooming and boarding involve animals that cannot tell staff they are in pain, may bite when frightened, and sometimes arrive with problems hidden under their coat. The most common disputes are predictable: skin irritation found after removing matting, nicks during a shave-down, a senior dog becoming unwell after a stressful day, or a vet visit the owner did not expect to pay for.
A grooming release form makes each of these a conversation before the appointment instead of an argument afterwards.
Pet grooming waiver template
Covers grooming, boarding and daycare. Set your vaccination list and the emergency vet cost limit before using it.
Owner and pet
Owner name: [Full name] Phone: [Phone] Emergency contact: [Name and phone]
Pet name: [Pet name] Species and breed: [Breed] Age: [Age] Weight: [Weight]
Vet clinic: [Clinic name and phone]
1. Service
I am booking [grooming service / boarding / daycare] at [Business name] on [Date or dates].
2. Vaccinations and health
My pet is up to date on the vaccinations [Business name] requires: [List, e.g. rabies, distemper, bordetella]. ☐ Proof provided.
Health conditions, allergies or medications: [Details]
Has your pet ever bitten, snapped at or been aggressive toward people or animals? [Yes / No, details]
3. Matting
If my pet's coat is matted, I understand that removing mats can be uncomfortable and may reveal skin irritation, cuts or hot spots already hidden under the matting. ☐ I authorize a short shave-down if dematting would be unsafe or too stressful.
4. Senior, anxious and health-compromised pets
I understand grooming and boarding can be stressful, especially for senior pets and pets with health conditions, and may aggravate existing problems. Staff may stop a groom or contact me if my pet appears distressed.
5. Emergency veterinary care
If my pet needs urgent care and I cannot be reached, I authorize [Business name] to take my pet to [my vet / the nearest emergency vet] and I accept responsibility for the cost, up to [amount] without further approval.
6. Release
To the fullest extent permitted by law, I release [Business name] and its staff from claims arising from these services, including claims caused by their ordinary negligence. This does not apply to gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Signature
Signature: [Signature] Date: [Date]
Owner name: [Full name] Phone: [Phone] Emergency contact: [Name and phone]
Pet name: [Pet name] Species and breed: [Breed] Age: [Age] Weight: [Weight]
Vet clinic: [Clinic name and phone]
1. Service
I am booking [grooming service / boarding / daycare] at [Business name] on [Date or dates].
2. Vaccinations and health
My pet is up to date on the vaccinations [Business name] requires: [List, e.g. rabies, distemper, bordetella]. ☐ Proof provided.
Health conditions, allergies or medications: [Details]
Has your pet ever bitten, snapped at or been aggressive toward people or animals? [Yes / No, details]
3. Matting
If my pet's coat is matted, I understand that removing mats can be uncomfortable and may reveal skin irritation, cuts or hot spots already hidden under the matting. ☐ I authorize a short shave-down if dematting would be unsafe or too stressful.
4. Senior, anxious and health-compromised pets
I understand grooming and boarding can be stressful, especially for senior pets and pets with health conditions, and may aggravate existing problems. Staff may stop a groom or contact me if my pet appears distressed.
5. Emergency veterinary care
If my pet needs urgent care and I cannot be reached, I authorize [Business name] to take my pet to [my vet / the nearest emergency vet] and I accept responsibility for the cost, up to [amount] without further approval.
6. Release
To the fullest extent permitted by law, I release [Business name] and its staff from claims arising from these services, including claims caused by their ordinary negligence. This does not apply to gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Signature
Signature: [Signature] Date: [Date]
Matting consent in a pet grooming waiver
Matted coats are the single biggest source of grooming complaints. Removing dense mats can be painful, and shaving close to the skin can reveal sores, irritation or hot spots that were already there. Many groomers follow a humanity-over-vanity approach: if dematting would be painful or stressful, they shave the coat down instead.
The template's matting clause explains this to owners in advance and records their consent to a shave-down. Pair it with a quick photo of the coat at drop-off.
Pet boarding waiver essentials
- Vaccination proof for every boarder, checked against your requirements.
- Feeding and medication instructions, with times and doses.
- Behavior history with other dogs, especially for group play.
- Group play consent, acknowledging minor scrapes can happen in play.
- Emergency vet authorization with a cost limit and preferred clinic.
- Pickup authorization for anyone other than the owner.
Vet release and cost limits
The vet clause is where good intentions turn into bills. Agree three things in writing: which clinic you will use, that the business can act if the owner is unreachable, and a cost limit up to which staff can approve treatment without further contact. Above the limit, staff keep trying the owner and emergency contact. A clear limit protects the pet, the owner's budget and the business's relationship with both.
Grooming release wording for senior and anxious pets
Older pets and pets with heart, breathing or joint problems can find grooming exhausting. Brachycephalic breeds, such as pugs and bulldogs, can struggle with heat and stress. Ask about these conditions, keep sessions shorter, and include the right to stop a groom and call the owner. Owners usually appreciate a groomer who stops rather than pushes on.
Pet grooming waiver and bite policies
Bites are a real occupational risk in grooming and boarding. Ask owners honestly about past bites or snapping, without judgment, and make the answer a flag. Set a written policy: muzzling where needed, stopping a groom if the pet becomes dangerous, and charging or refusing service after repeated aggression. Include the policy in the release, so owners agree to it in advance. Staff safety matters as much as the pet's.
Grooming release form for mobile groomers
Mobile groomers work from vans at the owner's home, which changes a few details. Add parking and access instructions, confirm whether the owner will be present, and agree what happens if the pet is not ready or cannot be handled. Because there is no front desk, an online grooming release signed with the booking is especially practical: the groomer arrives with vaccination proof, health notes and consents already on their phone.
Pet grooming waiver: an example scenario
A mobile groomer had several disputes a year about matted dogs whose owners were upset to see a short shave-down and skin irritation underneath. Nothing was in writing.
The groomer added an online grooming release sent with every booking, including the matting clause with a shave-down tick box and a request for a photo of the coat. Owners now know in advance what may happen. When a matted doodle arrived, the groomer pointed to the signed consent, sent a before photo, and the owner booked a regular schedule instead of complaining.
Best practices for a pet grooming waiver
- Collect pet details, vet clinic and vaccination proof.
- Ask about bites and aggression honestly and without judgment.
- Get written consent for matted coat shave-downs.
- Set an emergency vet cost limit.
- Take a coat photo at drop-off.
- Renew the release yearly or when the pet's health changes.
Animal care businesses also sometimes need a property damage waiver for equipment or kennel damage.
Pet grooming waiver: FAQ
Yes. Most groomers and kennels require proof of core vaccinations, such as rabies, and record them on the pet grooming waiver.
A responsible groomer will stop, give first aid, contact you and arrange vet care under the emergency authorization in the pet grooming waiver.
Yes. A grooming release form can include a policy allowing groomers to stop or refuse service for pets that become dangerous to handle.
Daycares usually use a pet boarding waiver that adds group play consent and behavior history with other dogs.
A pet grooming waiver is a release owners sign before grooming or boarding, covering health, vaccinations, matting, senior pets, emergency vet care and a release.
Removing mats can be painful and reveal hidden skin problems, so a pet grooming waiver records the owner's consent to a shave-down if dematting is unsafe.
A pet boarding waiver should include vaccinations, feeding and medication, behavior history, group play consent, emergency vet authorization and pickup permissions.
Only if your grooming release authorizes it. Most releases allow emergency vet care if you cannot be reached, up to an agreed cost limit.
Ask owners to sign a grooming release form once a year, and again if their pet's health, behavior or medication changes.
Yes. Owners can sign a pet grooming waiver online with their booking, so details and consents are ready before drop-off.
This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Laws on waivers vary by country and state, so have a local attorney review any waiver before you rely on it. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.