The full Terms page at Vroom Grooms LLC is the legal version. This post is the human one. Same rules, same fees, same outcome — just written like a person is talking to you instead of like a contract is talking at you. If something here ever seems to conflict with the live Terms page, the Terms page wins. Otherwise, this is the working summary.
The 30-Second Version
Six sections. Read the headers and you have the gist:
- Scheduling and fees — how time, overtime, and cancellations work
- Health and vaccinations — what records are required and when
- Respectful conduct — what happens when a conversation turns hostile
- Liability and environment — parking, the van, media release
- Humanity over Vanity — the philosophy that shapes every hard call
- SMS communication and privacy — how the reminder system actually works
That is the whole document. Everything below is the same six sections, with the fine print unfolded.
1. Scheduling and Fees
Every dog is scheduled for 2 hours for the first groom and assessment. After that first visit, Nicole sets the time for future appointments based on what the dog actually needs — coat type, behavior, condition, and how the first groom went.
- Overtime. If a groom goes over the 2-hour window by 20–30 minutes, a $50 fee is added for each overage period.
- Behavioral pricing. If your dog is difficult, fighting, or biting during the groom, you are charged at the higher end of your dog’s price range.
- After-hours. Appointments outside normal hours get an automatic $50 added unless Nicole approved it.
- Cancellations. Please give 48 hours notice for any change. Monday and Tuesday appointments, and any day after a holiday, need changes in by noon the prior business day. Last-minute changes must be confirmed by text at the time of the 5-day reminder.
- Three moves = off the schedule. If you reschedule three times or more, you come off the route. The schedule only works if it is treated like a real schedule.
- Check-in and check-out. The person handling the dog must be 18 or older. Payment is due the day of service by 4 PM EDT and is non-refundable. Cash (exact change), most cards, and checks are all fine.
- Late payment. A $50 late fee is added to the next appointment if payment is not received by 4 PM. Continued late payment can mean termination of services.
2. Health and Vaccinations
As of January 1, 2026, proof of vaccination is required for every dog Vroom Grooms sees. All owners are responsible for turning in updated vaccination records when they expire — that is not something the business chases or reminds you about. It is on you.
Required vaccines:
- Rabies
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza)
- Bordetella
The upload form is on the Current Client page in the bottom navigation of the website. Please use the form. Do not text pictures of your records — they get lost in the reminder system. The form is the right channel.
If your dog shows up without current records, an automatic $50 fee is added and the price jumps to the next breed-size tier. If you cannot provide records at the appointment and we cannot verify them, Nicole may not be able to groom the dog that day.
Flea and tick policy: if a dog arrives with an active infestation, Vroom Grooms can refuse service or charge a $50 immediate fee for the additional sanitation required. This is a safety thing for the dog, the next dog on the route, and the van.
Other health issues: Vroom Grooms cannot groom dogs with certain medical conditions (open injuries, stitches, contagious skin issues, etc.). If something is found at arrival that should have been disclosed, a $50 fee applies.
3. Respectful Conduct
The line here is short and absolute: disrespectful language, aggressive behavior, or hostility will not be tolerated. Nicole reserves the right to leave immediately without obligation to continue services if a situation becomes negative or unsafe.
This rule exists because the groomer is alone in the van, the dog is the priority, and the safety of every party depends on the conversation staying civil. Most clients never come close to this line. The rule is here for the rare ones.
4. Liability and Environment
A few practical rules about the van and the appointment:
- Owner presence. The owner is required to be present during the groom — both for emergencies and to finalize the cut at the end. For liability reasons, owners are preferred not to be aboard the van while Nicole is working, but she may ask for your help or ask you to step away from the van depending on what the dog needs.
- Van clearance. The van is the size of a church bus. 10 feet of clearance is required for parking. Overhanging shrubs and branches must be cleared so the van can safely pass or park — the solar panels, A/C, and heater are mounted on the roof, and any contact with vegetation can damage them.
- Where the van parks. If there is no other option, the van parks in your driveway. If the only spot is on the street, there must be a direct path from the van to your home — Nicole will not cross the street with your dog.
- Potty before the appointment. All dogs should be pottied right before the groom. A full bladder on the table is a problem for everyone. A fecal accident during the groom that requires additional cleanup can result in a fecal disposal charge on the bill.
- Media release. Your dog’s name and photos may be used in advertising, social media, and on the website. Employees may wear body cameras or microphones for safety. If you would prefer your dog not appear in any of those places, tell Nicole before the appointment so she can note your file.
- Check-in and check-out. The person handling the dog must be 18 or older.
5. Humanity over Vanity
This is the rule that shapes every hard call on the grooming floor. Nicole will not force a dog to complete a groom if the dog becomes too stressed. If extreme anxiety does not improve by the 3rd or 4th visit, services may be discontinued. The dog always comes before the coat.
- No de-matting. Mats are not brushed out or picked apart. They are cut or shaved off. A shaved coat grows back. Fighting a stressed dog with clippers to dig mats out can hurt them.
- Compact coats. Any coat that is not brushed on a regular basis can become compact. Daily brushing is highly recommended for all breeds. A $50 fee is added for extreme cases.
- Hidden injuries. Vroom Grooms is not liable for sores, scabs, or injuries hidden under matted fur or hematomas (common in ears) caused by the release of restricted blood flow from matting. Another reason the mats come off.
- Sanitary work. The inside of ears, sanitary areas, and inside of legs are shaved short for hygiene.
- Ear plucking and anal glands. These services (external only) can sometimes cause more harm than good. If your dog has not previously had them, Nicole advises against them unless a visible issue is assessed.
6. SMS Communication and Privacy
This is the section the Commitment and Communication Update post walks through in detail. The summary:
- A cell phone number is required to book. By scheduling, you opt into automated SMS reminders (sent 5 days and 2 days prior to your appointment).
- You must reply “Yes” to confirm your appointment by 4 PM on the day of the last reminder. Nicole will not arrive for unconfirmed appointments.
- The automated system is for confirmations and reminders. It is not monitored for replies. Anything other than “Yes” needs to go to 419-315-4989 as a real text.
- A $50 non-confirmation / late-cancel fee applies to unconfirmed appointments, cancellations with less than 48 hours notice, or if Nicole arrives and you are unavailable.
- Data is not sold or traded but may be shared with service providers for operational purposes. Text STOP to opt out (note: this will terminate grooming services, since the reminder system is how confirmations work).
The One Thing to Take Away
If you read this far, the one sentence that captures the whole document is this: everything on the Terms page is in place so the appointment day goes smoothly, the dog stays safe, and the schedule holds for the dogs that come after yours. That is the whole point.
If you have a question about anything in the Terms, text 419-315-4989 and Nicole will answer it. The fastest way to settle a question is to ask it directly.
Sincerely, Nicole Vroom Grooms LLC
About the Author Nicole is the owner and certified groomer behind Vroom Grooms LLC, a mobile dog grooming service serving Northwest Ohio. The full legal text of every policy on this page is at vroomgrooms.com/terms/. This post is the plain-English version; if anything here and the Terms page ever conflict, the Terms page is the source of truth.
This post was drafted with help from Nagini 🐍, her digital assistant, who keeps the blog running, handles the tech side of the website, and makes sure Nicole spends more time with dogs and less time wrestling with WordPress.