In Loving Memory of Mango.
For those I haven’t seen recently or don’t have on Instagram— I am so sad to say that after being ill the last few months, on 12/16/22 Mango passed over the rainbow bridge. A loving hostess and little buddy to every person & pup that ever came through our doors and my best friend for 11 amazing years. Poppy & I miss her so, so much and the house just isn’t the same without her. Originally intended to be out mid-December, the following are changes and updates I will be making in 2023. I apologize for the delay in getting this notice out as I was dealing with Mangos final days here with me.
Important Pricing & Policy Changes and News for 2023
To my treasured clients:
As Darling Dogs approaches its very first anniversary, I'd like to take a moment to thank you all so much for your support and business over the past year. When starting out and setting my prices, I was unaware of truly how much time and effort went into house call grooming and being a "solopreneur" in general, and set my prices accordingly. In order to provide the best possible experience in a sustainable way, I will be raising my prices and adjusting my policies to reflect what I have learned after coming up on one year having the honor of caring for your beloved Darling Dogs as my own!
Effective January 1, 2023 I will be implementing the following changes:
Pricing Changes:
Grooming
A $25 house call fee will apply to all grooming visits. One fee applies per household. Clients paying in cash will receive a reduced house call fee. Please let me know if you’d like to pay in cash. Due to being unable to send out notification of this increase sooner, any appointments scheduled before 1/15/22 will have this fee waived.
I will be updating my pricing menu to include a wider price range in order to better reflect time and skill required to complete each visit. If you have not been notified of a change, your dogs price will remain the same.
House Sitting
My new daily rate for sitting will be increasing from $50 to $60.
Pick up/drop off Service
Due to the ever rising costs associated with owning a car, I will no longer be providing free pick up and drop off services.
Pup shuttle to and from my home can be provided at a $20 charge each way and is subject to availability. Additional fees may apply for peak hours, extra distance, etc.
I will be unavailable for pup shuttles on Mondays & Fridays. You may pick up/drop off at my home or arrange an extra night stay if needed!
A Note On Grooming Prices
I will always try my best to be as upfront as possible with pricing, but please be aware that all prices are estimates until I see your dog in person. If your pup has a lot of floof, gets matted or excessively tangled, or gets a highly stylized haircut, pricing may vary from appointment to appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns about pricing please let me know before we begin so we can come to an agreement on styling for your pup that works for your grooming frequency and budget.
Policy Updates:
Now that I am becoming more and more booked, in order to ensure I have time for breaks & to allow for any delays throughout the day without rushing, I must be more mindful of completing appointments in a timely fashion. You can help me by making sure your pup is pottied before I arrive, as well as having the area you'd like me to bathe and set up in clear and ready to go. I love chatting & getting to know you all so so much, but sadly I must start to do so as I work, rather than instead of. :)
Exciting News!
Over the next 2 months I will begin rolling out the following updates to enhance & streamline your entire Darling Dogs experience!
Automated confirmation texts, appointment reminders, and more using top rated pet care software.
A redesigned website with online booking requests!
Bill pay via electronic invoice with the option to receive a receipt, save a payment for automatic checkout later on, and more!
I am passionate about learning more, honing my skills, and improving my craft. I have many continuing education events on my calendar for 2023 that I am really excited about. A part of my mission at Darling Dogs is to never stop investing in myself and my business to grow and share my knowledge & bring the absolute best to each and every pup I visit or who stays with me.
Over the next few weeks I will be announcing some new offerings that you're all going to be really excited about so keep an eye out! Speaking of new offerings... By the end of 2023 you might even catch me grooming more than just pups! Meow!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am beyond grateful for you and appreciate your business so much. Thank you for reading through these updates & understanding and valuing my small business by working with me as I continually make tweaks and adjustments that align with my commitment to have a business that honors my amazing clients, my physical and mental health, and my family as I create something sustainable for all of us.