Pet Sitting Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

T.M.J. Tutoring Pty Ltd (ACN 672 218 978) (we, us) runs a pet sitting marketplace that connects pet owners with sitters from our own tutoring team. These terms apply when you use it. By booking, whether online, by phone or in person, you agree to them. Our Privacy Policy, which covers pet sitting as well as tutoring, explains how we handle your information.

2. How it works

(a) We introduce you to a sitter we have vetted, for care of your pet in your home, such as drop-in visits, dog walks or overnight house-sitting. Your pet means each animal a booking covers.

(b) Before your first booking, you and your sitter meet and both agree that it is a good fit. Each booking is an arrangement between you and your sitter.

(c) Your sitter provides the care directly to you. All our sitters are T.M.J. tutors. Sitters are independent contractors, not our employees. We look after the introduction, the booking, invoicing and payment, and we are here to help if anything comes up.

3. Your pet

(a) You confirm your pet is registered and microchipped where the law requires, and up to date with the vaccinations and treatments your vet recommends.

(b) You will tell us and your sitter honestly about your pet's health, medication and behaviour, including any history of biting, scratching, aggression or escaping, and any dangerous or menacing dog declaration, and you will keep us updated.

(c) You will give written care instructions, including feeding, medication, exercise, whether your pet may go outside or off-lead, your vet's details, an emergency contact, and how much your sitter may spend at the vet before reaching you (the default amount in our pet sitting pricing if you don't set one).

(d) Together, the information in (b) and (c) is your pet's Care Information. We share it with your sitter so they can care for your pet safely.

(e) We or the sitter may decline or end a booking if a pet's behaviour puts anyone at risk.

4. Your home

(a) You give your sitter permission to enter your home for the booking, and only for the booking.

(b) You will tell your sitter about anything in your home that could be a risk, such as other animals, a pool or gaps in fencing, and make sure your home and yard are secure for your pet.

(c) Your sitter will keep your keys and access details secure and return keys as agreed.

(d) Please put away anything valuable or fragile before a booking.

5. Fees and payment

Meeting your sitter before your first booking is free, with no obligation to book. Prices are as set out in our pet sitting pricing, which we give you before your first booking, or as quoted to you when you book, and include GST. We invoice you fortnightly for the bookings delivered in that fortnight, and payment is due within 7 days by bank transfer.

6. Changes and cancellations

(a) Please let us know as early as you can if you need to change or cancel a booking.

(b) If you cancel 7 days or more before your booking starts (14 days or more for a booking over the Christmas period, as set out in our pet sitting pricing), there is nothing to pay.

(c) If you cancel within that time, or the booking doesn't go ahead without notice, we charge half the booked nights.

(d) If your sitter can't start your booking, we will offer you a replacement sitter you can meet first, or you can cancel at no cost.

(e) If your sitter can't carry on during a booking, we will arrange another T.M.J. tutor, introduced to you by phone first (you can say no), or your emergency contact takes over. You are not charged for any night that isn't delivered.

(f) If a booking doesn't go as agreed, tell us within 48 hours and we won't charge for the nights that went wrong.

7. Emergencies and responsibility

(a) If your pet needs urgent care and you can't be reached, you authorise your sitter or us to take your pet to your nominated vet, or the nearest available vet, and approve the urgent treatment the vet advises is necessary, up to the spend limit in your Care Information, while we keep trying to reach you and your emergency contact. You are responsible for vet costs, and will reimburse any amount paid on your behalf.

(b) You remain responsible for your pet, including any injury or damage it causes to people, other animals, property or your sitter, except to the extent it is caused by your sitter's or our negligence. If a claim is made against us or your sitter because of something your pet does, you agree to cover it, on the same basis.

(c) We and your sitter are not responsible for any loss, injury or damage, including to people, animals or property, arising from a condition or behaviour that is not in your pet's Care Information.

(d) The care is provided by your sitter. Our role is introducing you, managing the booking and collecting payment. To the extent the law allows, our liability for any booking is limited to the fees you paid for it.

(e) We recommend you hold pet insurance and check that your home and contents insurance covers a sitter in your home.

(f) Nothing in these terms excludes any right you have under the Australian Consumer Law.

8. Booking sitters through us

While you use our marketplace, and for 12 months after your last booking, we ask that you book any sitter you met through us only through us.

9. Photos

Your sitter may send you photos of your pet. We will only share photos publicly with your consent.

10. Disputes, changes, governing law and contact

If something goes wrong, contact us first and we will work with you, and with your sitter where needed, in good faith to resolve it within 14 days. We may update these terms and will tell you about any material change first. These terms are governed by the laws of Victoria. Contact us at enquiries@tmjtutoring.com.au.