Vaccine Policy

Sarah works in a small van with one dog at a time. The risk of disease transmission is lower than a salon, but not zero — she goes from one driveway to the next all day. Vaccines are how we protect every dog she sees.

What we require

Before the first groom, please send us proof of:

• Rabies vaccination (current per North Carolina law). Must be at least 48 hours post-shot.
• DAPP / DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza). Current per your vet's protocol.

Records are easy to send — a photo of the vet's printout, a PDF from the vet portal, or an email forwarded from your vet all work. We'll keep them on file (encrypted, per the privacy policy).

What we recommend but don't require

• Bordetella (kennel cough) — strongly recommended, especially for dogs who visit dog parks or boarding. Some clients don't vaccinate; we accept either choice.
• Canine Influenza (CIV-H3N2 + H3N8) — recommended if you travel with your dog or board often.
• Lyme — important if your dog spends time in wooded areas around Charlotte (we see ticks April through November in this region).

Puppies

For Puppy's First Groom (under 6 months), we ask that puppies be at least 2 weeks past their final puppy vaccine series. This is standard veterinary guidance — puppies aren't fully protected until then.

If your puppy isn't fully vaccinated yet, we offer a free 10-minute meet-and-greet (no grooming, just an intro to the van) until they're ready.

Health exemptions

If your dog can't be vaccinated for a documented medical reason (immune disorder, severe vaccine reaction, age-related contraindication), bring a signed exemption letter from your vet. We treat exemptions case-by-case and may book you in our last appointment of the day to minimize cross-contact.

Sources we follow

Our vaccine guidance is based on the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines and the AVMA's recommendations. Your vet's protocol always trumps ours — we follow what your vet says, not what we'd otherwise recommend.