Effective Date: October 15, 2026 Version: 1.0 Applies to: All Groomers, booking staff, and salon locations that book or serve animals through the Platform, and all Customers whose animals receive Services.
Article 1: Introduction and Scope
1.1 This document governs which vaccinations an animal shall hold before Services are provided through the Platform, what proof counts, how expiry is handled, and the narrow exemptions available. A grooming salon places animals in close contact, sharing air, surfaces, and equipment; the vaccination gate is what keeps one animal's illness from becoming every animal's illness.
1.2 The verification duties in this document fall on the party who controls the booking and the door: the location for a salon Appointment, and the Marketplace Groomer: acting as an independent contractor and marketplace service provider: for an Appointment the Marketplace Groomer books and serves, as the participation modes are defined in the Groomer Terms of Service. The requirement itself does not vary by mode, location, or channel. A Salon Groomer acting as a salon service provider under the salon program terms applies the same gate at check-in under the Appointment Operations Policy.
1.3 If a provision of this document conflicts with the Terms of Use, this document controls for the subject it governs, except that where the law of the jurisdiction in which the Service is performed imposes a stricter vaccination requirement, the law controls. Policies and help pages explain this document; they do not amend it, and in any conflict this document prevails.
Article 2: Definitions
2.1 The definitions in the Terms of Use and in the Groomer Terms of Service are incorporated into this document by reference and apply to this document. This article defines only the additional terms used in this document, in alphabetical order.
2.2 Proof: a veterinary certificate or record satisfying Article 4.
2.3 Required Vaccine: a vaccine designated required under Article 3, including rabies.
2.4 Required-Vaccine List: the list maintained for each location or program designating the Required Vaccines and the validity period of each.
2.5 Vaccination Record: the record maintained for each pet, stating each vaccine, the date administered, the expiry date, the verification status, and the attached Proof.
Article 3: Required Vaccinations
3.1 Rabies is required for every animal receiving Services, without exception at the policy level. Current rabies vaccination for dogs and cats is required by the law of Tennessee and of most United States jurisdictions; the requirement in this clause states the Company's gate and does not displace the law of any jurisdiction, which governs where it is stricter. Proof is a current rabies certificate, and the expiry date shall fall after the Appointment date. An expired rabies certificate is the same as no certificate.
3.2 The Required-Vaccine List designates the additional Required Vaccines, with a validity period set for each vaccine. The designated set is: for dogs, DHPP (distemper combination) and Bordetella; for cats, FVRCP.
3.3 An animal whose Proof of a Required Vaccine is missing or expired shall not be booked and shall not be served. The booking process blocks confirmation. A walk-in animal without Proof is turned away, with an explanation and an invitation to return with documentation. No member of staff makes an exception at the register: the exception that admits one unvaccinated animal exposes every other animal in the building.
Article 4: Proof and Verification
4.1 Acceptable Proof is a veterinary certificate or record showing the pet's identity, the vaccine name, the date administered, the expiry date, the lot number where available, and the veterinarian's name. The Proof is recorded in the pet's Vaccination Record with the document attached and the status marked verified.
4.2 "Verified" means a person acting for the Company or the Groomer confirmed that the document matches the pet and that the dates are current. An uploaded file that has not been so confirmed is not Proof. A Customer's statement that an animal is up to date, without documentation, is not Proof, and an Appointment is not confirmed until Proof is recorded.
4.3 The Company notifies the Customer thirty (30) days and seven (7) days before a Required Vaccine recorded in the Vaccination Record expires. An Appointment booked beyond a vaccine's expiry date is flagged at booking; the Customer sees the flag, and Proof of renewal shall be recorded and verified before the Appointment date. An expired certificate shall not first be discovered at check-in as a surprise to either party: but where it is, Article 3 applies and the animal is not served.
Article 5: Exemptions
5.1 A medical exemption is available for an animal that genuinely cannot be vaccinated. The exemption requires a licensed veterinarian's written statement that a specific vaccine is contraindicated for that animal. The statement, with the veterinarian's name and the supporting documentation, is recorded in the Vaccination Record's notes and reviewed by the location manager or, for a Marketplace Groomer, by the Company. A statement attributed to a veterinarian without the written documentation is not an exemption.
5.2 An exemption under this article does not waive rabies where the law mandates rabies vaccination. Where the law of the jurisdiction permits a rabies exemption, the veterinary documentation shall cite the provision relied on; the documentation carries the law, and the manager is not required to supply it.
5.3 An exemption is specific to the animal and to the vaccine stated, and is time-bound: it expires on the date stated in the veterinary documentation or twelve (12) months after it is recorded, whichever is earlier. An exemption does not become permanent by lapse of attention.
Article 6: The Sick Animal, and Hygiene
6.1 An animal presenting with symptoms of contagious illness: coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, or skin lesions of unknown origin: shall not be served. The Appointment is rescheduled, the Customer is advised to consult a veterinarian, and the refusal is recorded with its reason. A refusal under this clause is the policy working: it is not counted against the Customer under the Booking, Cancellation and No-Show policy: no cancellation penalty, no no-show mark, and no rebooking friction.
6.2 Hygiene is a daily duty of every person handling animals under this document: hand washing between animals, tools sanitized between Appointments, and isolation of any animal showing signs of contagious illness, in accordance with the Pet Safety and Handling standards and the facility duties in the Service Standards.
Article 7: Animals in Care and the Vaccination Gate
7.1 The vaccination gate is a condition of custody, not a formality at the door. An animal accepted into the Groomer's custody without the Proof this document requires places every other animal in that custody at risk, and the Groomer who accepts the animal breaches the bailee's duty of reasonable care stated in the Groomer Terms of Service as well as this document.
7.2 Where an animal in custody falls ill, or an illness is discovered during a Service, the Groomer's incident duties under the Incident and Injury Reporting policy apply: work stops where the Pet Safety and Handling standards require it, the animal is isolated and secured, the manager or the Company is notified at once, and the Customer is informed as that policy requires.
7.3 The cost of veterinary care is allocated by its cause, as the Incident and Injury Reporting policy provides: care made necessary by the Groomer's negligence: including admitting an animal in breach of this document, where that breach causes another animal's illness: is not borne by the Customer whose animal was harmed; care made necessary by an animal's own pre-existing condition, including a condition a vaccination would not have prevented, is the Customer's. Treatment of an animal in distress is never delayed while cost is allocated.
Article 8: Liability
8.1 To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party is liable to the other for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages, or for lost profits, lost revenue, or loss of goodwill, arising out of or relating to this document, even if the party has been advised of the possibility of those damages.
8.2 To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company's total liability arising out of or relating to this document shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amounts the Groomer paid to the Company under this document in the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) one hundred dollars ($100).
8.3 This article does not limit (a) a party's indemnification obligations under this document; (b) liability for fraud or willful misconduct; (c) amounts the Groomer owes for fees, chargebacks, or refunds under this document; or (d) liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
8.4 Nothing in this article limits liability for personal injury or injury to an animal caused by negligence, where applicable law does not permit the limitation. The animal-in-care allocation in Article 7 of this document applies in full.
8.5 The parties agree that this article allocates risk between them, that it is an essential part of the basis of their bargain, and that it applies even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose.
Article 9: Indemnification
9.1 The Groomer shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company and its members, managers, employees, and agents from and against every claim, demand, action, loss, liability, judgment, settlement, cost, and expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) the Groomer's breach of this document, including serving an animal without the Proof this document requires; (b) the Groomer's Services, listings, or User Content; (c) the Groomer's violation of any law or of the rights of any person; and (d) taxes for which the Groomer is responsible under this document.
9.2 The Company shall give prompt written notice of a claim under this article. The Groomer shall control the defense with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company. The Company may participate in the defense at its own expense. The Groomer shall not settle a claim in a manner that imposes any obligation or restriction on the Company, or that does not release the Company fully, without the Company's prior written consent.
9.3 This article survives the termination of this document.
Article 10: Enforcement and Appeals
10.1 The Company may investigate any suspected violation of this document. The Groomer shall cooperate with an investigation and shall produce the records this document requires the Groomer to keep.
10.2 If the Company determines that the Groomer has violated this document, the Company shall give written notice stating the provision violated and the facts relied on, except where notice would compromise an investigation of fraud, a safety risk, or a legal obligation.
10.3 Where a violation is capable of cure, the Groomer has ten (10) business days from notice to cure it and to confirm the cure in writing. No cure period applies to fraud, a risk to the safety of a person or an animal, unlawful conduct, or a violation that by its nature cannot be cured.
10.4 If a violation is established and is not cured within the period allowed, the Company may, proportionate to the violation: (a) issue a written warning; (b) suspend the Groomer's assignments; (c) cancel an Appointment or a booking; (d) suspend the Account or a program participation, in whole or in part; (e) terminate this document and the Account; and (f) exercise any other right or remedy available under this document or at law.
10.5 The Company may suspend the Groomer immediately, without prior notice and without a cure period, where a risk to the safety of a person or an animal arises, or where a qualification or license relied on for activation lapses.
10.6 The Groomer may appeal a measure under this article by written notice to legal@aapawz.com within thirty (30) days of the measure, stating the grounds and attaching the records relied on. The appeal is decided by a person who did not make the original decision. The Company's decision on appeal is final. A measure remains in effect during an appeal unless the Company directs otherwise in writing.
10.7 The Company's delay in acting on a violation is not a waiver of the violation or of any later violation of the same kind.
Article 11: Term and Termination
11.1 This document takes effect when the Groomer is activated under the Groomer Onboarding and Qualification policy and continues until terminated under this article.
11.2 The Company may terminate this document and the Account on thirty (30) days' written notice for any reason, and immediately on written notice if the Groomer materially breaches this document, engages in fraud, or becomes ineligible to participate.
11.3 The Groomer may terminate this document on thirty (30) days' written notice to support@aapawz.com, provided the Groomer has no Appointment, booking, or investigation outstanding.
11.4 On termination: (a) the rights granted under this document end; (b) obligations that arose before termination: including payment, refund, record-keeping, and indemnification obligations: survive until satisfied; and (c) the Company shall disburse amounts owed, less amounts the Company may set off under this document, within thirty (30) days, except amounts held in connection with an open investigation or dispute.
11.5 The Definitions, Liability, Indemnification, Enforcement and Appeals (for measures taken before termination), Dispute Resolution, and General Provisions articles survive termination.
Article 12: Dispute Resolution
12.1 Any dispute arising out of or relating to this document, or to the relationship it governs, is governed by the Dispute Resolution Policy, which is incorporated into this document by reference.
Article 13: General Provisions
13.1 The Company may amend this document by posting the amended document in the Document Center and giving notice to the Groomer at the email address in the Account. An amendment that materially increases the Groomer's fees or obligations takes effect thirty (30) days after notice; other amendments take effect on posting. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of an amendment is acceptance of it. If the Groomer does not accept an amendment, the Groomer's remedy is to terminate under the Term and Termination article before the amendment takes effect.
13.2 Legal notices under this document shall be sent to legal@aapawz.com. Operational notices and all other communications shall be sent to support@aapawz.com. A notice to the Company is effective when the Company acknowledges receipt or, for email, one business day after sending, whichever is earlier. Notices to the Groomer are effective when sent to the email address in the Account or posted to the Account's notice facility in the portal, whichever occurs first. The Groomer shall keep the email address in the Account current. Notices under the DMCA and Copyright Policy are given as provided in that policy, to the designated agent at legal@aapawz.com.
13.3 This document is governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to the Dispute Resolution Policy, any proceeding arising out of this document shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Shelby County, Tennessee, and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction there.
13.4 If any provision of this document is held unenforceable, the provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted, and the remaining provisions continue in full effect.
13.5 This document, together with the documents it incorporates by reference, is the entire agreement between the Company and the Groomer for the subject it governs and supersedes every prior or contemporaneous statement, communication, or agreement on that subject, whether written or oral.
13.6 The Groomer shall not assign this document or any right or obligation under it without the Company's prior written consent, and an assignment without consent is void. The Company may assign this document to an affiliate or in connection with a sale of all or part of its business, on notice to the Groomer.
13.7 A waiver of any provision of this document is effective only in writing and only for the instance stated. No waiver is a waiver of any other provision or instance.
13.8 Headings are for convenience only. "Including" means "including without limitation." This document shall not be construed against a party as its drafter. The English-language text controls over any translation.
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