Equipment
Furry Land provides the van as a loaner to the Groomers. Furry Land pays for the fuel to run the motor, but in most respects it is much like renting a car. Furry Land provides dog cleaning products, all brushes (fulminator, rake, combs, etc), dremel & leashes. Groomers provide their own cleaning products to clean the van (bleach, windex, paper towels…) and their own grooming equipment such as shears, clippers, blades (10, 5F, 7F, 3 3/4, 40) and combs. Groomers must reload propane when they are done after 4-5 days work which Furry Land will reimburse upon receiving the receipt. Groomers Must Wash Outside Van once a week (car wash high pressure $5 for 7 minutes) and will be reimbursed as well by Furry Land.
Commission Rate
Contracted groomers will be paid 40% commission on all standard grooming fees. This does not include the travel fee per household.
Good Standing with Company
Staff are in good standing if they are following the guidelines set out above. Good standing will be removed particularly if a customer has a reasonable complaint or less than 5 star review of the services rendered. Our desire is for our contracted groomers is to be in good standing 100% of the time. Some reasons that a groomer may not be in good standing are as follows:
- Being late
- Injuring a dog
- Being rude
- Smelling like smoke
- Taking far too long to groom
- Not asking “Is this a 5 star groom?”
- Damage to the van
- Damage to equipment
- Daily cleanliness standards not being met
- Not filling out daily paperwork
- Not following the end of day procedures
Good standing is removed if the Van is damaged, dirty, unmaintained or neglected.
Good standing is used to ensure the company is operating smoothly. When standards are not followed, the company must dedicate resources to correct the situation, which costs the company time and money. This is why grooming procedures are directly tied to commission rates.
Tips
Tips are kept by the groomer, but can not be asked for directly. All credit card tips will be given on checks. All cash tips can be taken at the point of sale by the groomer.
Refunds
We value customer service 100%. If a customer gives 3 stars or less refunds will be issued. If the customer’s refund is issued as a result of the groomer’s behaviour, no commission will be awarded and the groomer is responsible for 100% of the refund issued (not just the commission).
Absence & Tardiness Policy
Your timely attendance at appointments is crucial to making the business run smoothly. It is one of our differentiating traits as a business. Furry Land is always on time. Any absence or tardiness becomes a part of your record as a contractor and is taken very seriously in considering you for further appointments.
In the event that there is some sort of factor that prevents you from being punctual to the next appointment, you must let the dispatch know immediately, as soon as you know.
If it causes a ripple effect to effect all appointments for the day, dispatch will be forced to make modifications to the day and assess the reasoning for why the issue occurred.
Any tardiness to appointments as a result of groomer’s negligence will effect the good standing.
Absences will be considered as a voluntary termination of our contractor agreement.
Smoking
Groomers may not smoke while on grooms, near the van, in the van, on customer property, or within customer sight. Further, groomers can not smell like smoke at any point, as this is unprofessional and we will not continue any contracted services.
Injury of an Animal and Liability
Due to the nature of the business, the groomer accepts all responsibility for animals they injure. The groomer will have to pay for any veterinarian bills, and 100% of the refunds to the customer. A groomer can deny service if they are not comfortable. Groomers must inform dispatch.
Denying Service
If a groomer does not feel comfortable with requested service or the ability to perform clips, they should not perform the service on the dog. They must reach out to dispatch and explain the situation. They should never put a dogs, or human’s safety in jeopardy.
Workplace Safety
• Never leave an animal unattended while on a table.
• Be sure when an animal is in the tub that it is supervised.
• Monitor any animal tied to hook.
• Supervision while an animal is in the tub includes preventing them from spinning where they can wind the lead to choke.
• Do not allow slack in lead while in the tub so that animal may try to jump out of the tub and choke.
• Do not allow leash chewing where they free themselves and jump out of the tub, or off of drying bench, risking injury.
• Do not allow a dog to jump out of the tub.
• Wear shoes that prevent slipping on wet floor.
• Keep floors wiped dry.
• Wear protective eye gear, breathe mask, or protective apron when handling any cleaning solutions such as bleach, or flea dips.
• Keep dryer motors and any electrical appliance away from water at all times.
• Be sure water temperature is luke warm and can not burn animal or yourself.
• Use muzzles to protect yourself when an animal shows signs of aggression.
• Never get shampoo in the eyes of pets. If it happens, rinse well immediately with eyewash.
• Wear protective gloves when cleaning up or handling feces or urine.
• Keep all electrical cords untangled to prevent damage to them.
• Report any damaged electrical appliance and/or cords.
• Keep dryer vents free of hair and debris.
• Do not allow contact between any two pets.
• No one is allowed to walk animals out of doors except when instructed to and extreme caution taken when doing so.
• Caution must be taken when taking out a pet as they may show aggression.
• Never leave extensive slack in leads when an animal is on drying bench, or in tub.
• Always wash your hands if you handle questionable open skin soars, eyes, rectum, vulva, or penis.
• Caution is to be taken when attempting to brush out any mats to prevent skin injury or redness.
• Never leave an animal alone or unattended on a grooming table. Always keep one hand on the pet at all times.
Van Driving and Van Safety
Groomers are not only responsible for safety during grooming, but they must be safe while on the road. All traffic laws must be obeyed at all times, as the van is a representation of the company. Breaking the law is grounds for termination of any future contracts and appointments. The vans are equipped with sensors that alert dispatch when the speed limit is exceeded by over 5 mph.
Vans are over 9ft high and require extreme care while operating.
Mobile phones must never be used when the vehicle is motion. All navigation must be understood before leaving the initial destination. If the driver needs to read a GPS they must pull over to do so.
Texting is forbidden and illegal while driving. Any phone calls must be received with a hands free.
100% of attention must be paid to driving.
Drivers must be 25 years of age, or older hold a valid license and have at least 5 years of driving experience.
Grey Water Dump
Grey water is the dirty water that goes down the drain in the van. It is held in the tank at the back of the Van. The grey water release valve is on the right back exterior of the van. The grey water must be dumped at designated locations, such as RV Parks and some specifically designated car washes at the end of the day. Incorrect disposal of grey water is wasteful and in violation of health codes.
Dog Safety
Never allow an animal to roam free in the van. Always double check to ensure the dog is properly secured before opening the doors.
Always check the temperature of water before bathing the dog. Never apply direct heat to the dog. Be sure to oscillate the dryers. Take precautions whenever clipping, washing or drying around the eyes.
Be extremely careful when using sheers and clippers.
Grooming Safety
Caution should be taken when clipping sensitive areas, such as face cheeks, stomach, tuck up, front leg pits, rectum, bony areas, near eyes, Heavily matted areas, etc.
Never use hot clipper blades.
Always check that the clipper blade is the one you are supposed to be using so you don’t clip shorter than intended.
When using blade guard comb attachments, rest your finger on it to prevent it from popping off. Always sanitize blades, brushes, combs and table between each pet. Keep your grooming tools organized in such a way that they won’t fall on the floor or be tripped over or get knocked off your table. The groomer is responsible for any damage to the equipment due to neglect, misuse or lack of care.
Sweep your grooming area after each pet groomed. Always exercise caution when using scissors. Wear protective mask and/or clothing when applicable.