Terms & Conditions of Transport

Interpretation and definitions

These terms and conditions form an integral part of any written or verbal Contract between The Critter coach and any client who contracts The Critter coach to transport any animal. If you confirm a booking you are deemed to be in agreement with these terms and conditions.

The Critter coach is NOT a door to door service.  We endeavour to get as close to each client as viable, but if you require specific locations these must be negotiated early with The Critter coach and extra charges will apply. 

“owner” means any person, company or organisation who enters into or is a party to a contract with The Critter coach to transport an animal including the consignor and the consignee.

“The Critter coach” means the company, and its employees. 

Employees of The Critter coach have the authority to enter into a contract on behalf of The Critter coach but have no authority to vary these terms & conditions.

“animal” or “animals” means any animal, multiple of animals or other item provided to The Critter coach for the purpose of being transported.

“consignor” means the person The Critter coach is contracted to collect the animal from.

“consignee” means the person The Critter coach is contracted to deliver the animal to.

Unless one individual is clearly identified to The Critter coach as the animals owner at the time of booking all parties to the contract, including the consignor, consignee and any other party who is nominated or who places the booking with The Critter coach shall be held to be the owner and shall be deemed to be jointly and severally liable for any additional costs that may be incurred on their behalf during the transport.

Any person who contracts The Critter coach to conduct any such transport or delivers an animal to The Critter coach for the purpose of transport, if they are not the owner, warrants to The Critter coach that they have the authority of the owner to do so.

Pricing, Payments and Timing

Any price or quotation provided by The Critter coach is based on information provided by the owner of the animal as to the animals details and the location of pick up and delivery. The Critter coach reserves the right to vary the price in the event that the information upon which the price was quoted was incorrect or has altered or if any important details have been withheld by the client. Such as the size, weight or number of animals the quote was provided for. 

Any price provided by The Critter coach is solely for transport and care of the animal and does not include Insurance of any kind for animals during travel or any additional extras unless agreed upon at the time of booking.

Payments may be made by Cash or Bank transfer, as per arrangements made at the time of booking. Under no circumstances will cheques be accepted without prior arrangement. In the event that payment has not been made by or at the time of delivery The Critter coach reserves the right to refuse delivery of any animals and to deliver them to an appropriate boarding facility at the owners cost until such time as payment has been received in full.

The Critter coach may refuse to pick up any animal in the event that we have, at that point in time, been unable to confirm appropriate delivery details with the consignee. In the event that The Critter coach is unable to contact the consignee for delivery at the arranged time we may deliver the animals to an appropriate boarding facility at the owners cost until appropriate alternative arrangements are able to be made and payment has been received in full. If delivery is unable to be finalised due to circumstances outside of The Critter coach control the animals may be returned to the consignor and the owner may be responsible for the original cost of transport and any additional costs incurred at The Critter coach discretion. The Critter coach reserves the right to sell animals, not collected, to cover incurred costs.

The Critter coach reserve the right to charge the full quoted price or any part thereof in the event of a booking being cancelled less than 24 hours prior to the agreed pick up time or in the event that we are not informed that a booking has been cancelled. In the event we arrive to collect an animal but are unable to contact the consignor the booking shall be treated as a cancelled booking and the driver shall continue on his scheduled run.

The Critter coach endeavours to ensure we can maintain an appropriate timetable however it is inevitable that at times we will be required to make alterations to our timetable or services due to traffic and weather conditions, mechanical breakdowns or for any other reason beyond our control. The Critter coach accept no liability for any loss, cost or inconvenience suffered by any party as a result of any deviation from arranged pick up and delivery times due to circumstance beyond our control.

In the event that any animal is required to be kennelled or boarded for any reason including travel or collection delays beyond The Critter coach control, all boarding costs shall be the owners responsibility.

Any refunds requested or given shall be given at the sole discretion of The Critter coach, having regard to the individual circumstances of the booking.

Liability

Whilst The Critter coach conducts itself with the utmost care and attention to clients’ animals, they are handled under the understanding that The Critter coach are not to be held responsible for any loss, death, illness, injury or accident due to any cause whatsoever.

It is the owners responsibility to satisfy themselves as to the circumstances of their animals transport arrangements and to notify The Critter coach of any relevant details regarding their animal that may affect safe or appropriate transport.

Where any animal is collected from or delivered to another animal transporter or other third party at the request of the owner The Critter coach accepts no liability for any loss, death, illness, injury or accident due to any cause whatsoever whilst the animal is in the care of that other party.

Where any animal is collected from or delivered to another animal transporter or other third party for the provision of services which form a part of the total contract with The Critter coach, these Terms & Conditions shall be deemed to be applicable whilst the animal is in the care of that third party.

Nothing in these terms & conditions is intended to discharge The Critter coach normal duty of care or liability in the event that The Critter coach or its staff are found to be negligent in their care for the animal or provision of the services.

In the event that any dispute may not be reasonably resolved by the parties and legal action becomes necessary the Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) shall be deemed to be the appropriate start for the filing of such legal action by either party. 

Privacy

The Critter coach may collect information from, & about, our clients and their pets for the sole purpose of the provision of pet transport services and may disclose this information to others as is necessary in the provision of said services. This includes but is not limited to other transporters, veterinarians, kennels or individuals with whom we would reasonably be expected to share information in the provision of said services. The Critter coach shall accept no liability for any loss or inconvenience suffered by any party as a result of the disclosure of any such information. The Critter coach will not knowingly disclose or sell your information to an unknown third party. 

Animal health and welfare

Veterinary attention

It is a condition of transport that The Critter coach are authorised by the owner to seek veterinary attention for any animal should it be deemed necessary whilst it is in our care. The Critter coach shall make every effort to contact the owner prior to authorising appropriate treatment however, in the event that we are unable to contact the owner The Critter coach have a duty of care to make such decisions as may be necessary, based on veterinary advice received. Any veterinary costs incurred shall be the owners responsibility and where possible shall be billed directly to the owner. Any veterinary costs incurred by The Critter coach shall be forwarded to the owner for reimbursement.

In the event we are required to take your animal to a vet, it is possible that the animal may be required to stay at the vet for an extended period of time and The Critter coach may not be able to wait for treatment to be finalised. This may result in additional costs to the owner for extended care, boarding or alternative transport to complete the journey.

It is the owners responsibility to inform The Critter coach of any illness, medical condition or special needs relevant to their animal prior to the animal being collected for transport.

In the event that an animal requires veterinary attention during transport The Critter coach is not obligated to refund any prepaid transport fees.

Vaccinations

It is not The Critter coach policy to require vaccination certificates for animals being transported. It is the owners responsibility to ensure that their own animal is appropriately vaccinated and protected. During transport animals may come into contact with other animals and may be walked in public places. Young animals should not be transported within 10 days of receiving their first vaccinations due to an increased risk to the animal of contracting diseases, becoming unwell or suffering from side effects in the immediate period following vaccination. Young animals transported within this period shall only be carried at the owners risk.

Tranquilisers and sedatives

It is The Critter coach policy that tranquilizers or sedatives should not be used on animals being transported due to increased health risks to animals under sedation. Where tranquilizers are required they are to be arranged by the client and prescribed and issued by the client’s own veterinarian. The Critter coach will not be held responsible for complications arising from the administration or use of tranquilizers or sedatives.

Exercising of animals

It is The Critter coach policy to exercise dogs, as appropriate, if they in our care for an extended period. It is an inevitable consequence that there is an increased risk of loss, injury or the contraction of communicable diseases whilst animals are being exercised. It is the owners responsibility to inform The Critter coach if they do not want their animal to be exercised for any reason.

Dangerous animals

We reserve the right not to transport or handle any animal that is considered to present a danger to any person or other animal and this shall be at the sole discretion of our staff.