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Policies and Expectations
Boarding Contact, Booking, & Security Policies
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Strict Hours: Our communication hours are strictly between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. MST.
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After-Hours Policy: Cavy Care Inc. does not respond to calls, text messages, or emails outside of these designated hours.
Reservation & Tech Requirements
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Online Booking Only: Boarding reservations must be submitted directly through our website. We are unable to provide PDF versions of our forms.
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Device Requirement: Due to formatting restrictions from our third-party software vendor, the online boarding form must be completed on a PC or laptop. It cannot be filled out on a mobile device.
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Assistance Limits: If you are unable to complete the form through our webpage, we are happy to provide a copy of our form in advance of your stay. We can email a copy of our form for you to print out and rescan to send via email.
Legal & Booking Confirmations
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Binding Agreement: The online boarding form serves as a legal, contractually binding agreement between the owner and Cavy Care Inc. It must be completed by a legal owner who is 18 years of age or older.
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Confirmation Process: Upon submission, our software vendor will automatically email you a copy of your completed form. Cavy Care Inc. will then follow up with a separate email to officially confirm your reservation.
What to Expect: Booking Confirmation & Arrival Policies
Reservation Confirmation
Once your online request is accepted, you will receive an official confirmation email from Cavy Care Inc. This email will verify your specific drop-off and pick-up times, outline your pet’s recorded details, and provide an estimated total cost for the duration of the stay.
Text Reminder Policy
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Courtesy Alerts: As a courtesy, we make every effort to send a text reminder before your scheduled drop-off day, as well as a final reminder on your scheduled pick-up date.
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Owner Responsibility: These automated text reminders are a convenience only and are not guaranteed to deliver. You remain legally and contractually obligated to arrive at the precise drop-off and pick-up times submitted on your original form, regardless of whether a text reminder was received.
Identity Verification Requirements
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Primary Owner ID: To ensure the safety of all animals in our facility, we strictly verify your identity at the time of drop-off. You must present a valid driver’s license or government-issued photo ID that exactly matches the legal name listed on the reservation.
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Designated Representatives: If you require someone else to drop off your pet, you must notify Cavy Care Inc. explicitly in advance. We will record their full name and verification details. Upon arrival, your designated representative must present a valid photo ID matching the exact information you provided.
Bonded Pairs & Safety Interventions
Our Safety First Policy
Cavy Care Inc. prioritizes the health, safety, and well-being of the animals above all else. While we firmly support keeping bonded pairs together—especially males—we will not hesitate to separate them immediately if they begin fighting or showing signs of aggression. We will never force animals to remain in a stressful or harmful environment simply to minimize boarding costs for the owner. Our primary commitment is always to the guinea pigs first, and the owners second.
Notification & Future Stays
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Active Communication: If a conflict arises and we must separate your guinea pigs for their protection, our team will notify you immediately to report our observations and confirm the separation.
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Adjusted Boarding Rates: If separation is required, the daily boarding rate will be adjusted to reflect individual housing for the remainder of the stay.
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Future Reservations: For all subsequent stays, these guinea pigs will be contractually required to board in separate enclosures, and bookings will be priced under our single-occupancy rates.
Facility Tours & Interaction Policies
In-Person Tour Requirements
To protect the health and safety of our environment, all visitors requesting an in-person tour of our setup must be fully vaccinated and present valid proof of vaccination status.
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Eligibility: In-person tours are strictly reserved for first-time boarding owners to provide personal peace of mind. We cannot accommodate tours for returning clients.
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We do not provide tours to individuals or groups wishing to "visit".
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Scheduling: Tours must be requested and scheduled in advance. They must take place on a separate day before your scheduled drop-off date; we do not conduct tours on the day of drop-off.
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Virtual Alternative: For your convenience, we offer unlimited virtual tours of our facility online at any time. (Coming Soon!)
Animal Handling & Safety Boundaries
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Staff-Only Handling: Cavy Care Inc. is a professional rescue and boarding facility, not a petting zoo. Guinea pigs entrusted to our care are handled and interacted with strictly by trained facility personnel only, staff and foster care providers where used.
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Zero Exceptions: Visitors, guests, and children are completely prohibited from touching, handling, or interacting with any animals in our facility under any circumstances. This strict boundary ensures a low-stress environment for our guests and will be enforced without exception.
Scheduling Appointments & Hours of Operation
By Appointment Only
Cavy Care Inc. operates strictly by appointment. While our general operating hours are between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., our staff is only on-site for pre-scheduled visits. If an appointment is not locked into our calendar, our personnel will be off-site or managing other facility duties. We cannot accommodate unscheduled arrivals during these times.
Timing & Late Fees
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Daily Closing Time: Our facility closes promptly at 5:30 p.m. To ensure a smooth check-out process, the latest pick-up appointment available each day is at 5:20 p.m.
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Outside-Hours Fee: Any drop-off or pick-up scheduled or executed outside of our standard 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. window will incur a mandatory $25.00 after-hours fee.
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Prior Approval Required: Please note that after-hours accommodations are subject to staff availability and are not guaranteed.
Boarding Terms: Minimums, Fees, and Cancellation Policies
Minimum Stay Policy
Late Arrivals & No-Shows
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3-Day Minimum Charge: All boarding reservations are subject to a mandatory 3-day minimum billing charge. You may choose to pick up your guinea pig before the 3 days are up, but you will still be billed for the full 3-day minimum.
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Late Fee: Cavy Care Inc. implements a $10.00 late fee if you are more than 15 minutes late to your scheduled appointment without providing prior notice.
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Automatic Cancellation: If you are more than 30 minutes late with no communication, your appointment is automatically marked as a no-show, and your reservation will be canceled.
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Rescheduling Limits: Due to our active waiting list, we cannot guarantee that a canceled reservation can be reinstated for the same day or hour.
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No Show Policy
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6-Month Booking Suspension: Instead of requiring an upfront financial deposit to secure your dates, Cavy Care Inc. enforces a strict booking restriction for missed appointments. If you no-show a reservation, you will be unable to schedule any boarding services with us for six calendar months from the date of the missed appointment.
Long-Term Boarding Guidelines
Definition & Payment Terms
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30+ Day Stays: Any reservation extending beyond 30 consecutive days is classified as a long-term boarding stay.
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Payment in Full: Long-term boarding reservations must be paid in full at the time of drop-off.
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Early Return Refunds: If you return early and cut your stay short, Cavy Care Inc. will calculate the remaining time and issue a prompt refund for the unused portion of your payment.
Rate and Supply Policies
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No Long-Term Discounts: We do not offer discounted or reduced rates for extended stays. Our standard daily rates apply for the entire duration of the booking.
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No Owner-Supply Discounts: You are welcome to bring your own specialized food, bedding, or accessories if preferred. However, providing your own items will not lower or alter the daily boarding rate.
Cancellation Policy
Flexible Cancellation Window
Cavy Care Inc. does not charge any cancellation fees. You may cancel your reservation at any time without monetary penalty—even up to an hour before your scheduled drop-off appointment.
Mandatory Notification Requirement
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Confirmation Required: To officially cancel your reservation, you must directly notify Cavy Care Inc. and receive an explicit email or text confirmation back from our team verifying that we received your request.
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Missed Appointment Penalty: If you fail to notify us and simply do not show up for your scheduled time, your account will be marked as a no-call/no-show. Because we do not charge upfront reservation deposits, any client who no-shows without a confirmed cancellation will be restricted from booking any future boarding services with us for six calendar months.
When in doubt, please pick up the phone and call us immediately to protect your booking status.
Schedule Changes & Texting Policies
No Automatic Approval
Texting Cavy Care Inc. regarding a change to your scheduled appointment time does not automatically guarantee that the modification is approved. Due to potential network delays or staff availability, your change is only finalized once you receive a direct, explicit text or email confirmation back from our team. If you do not hear back from us, we have not received or approved your request.
Last-Minute Adjustments
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Confirmation Required: Last-minute text updates may not be seen in time. We cannot guarantee staff availability for any arrival time changes unless you have a confirmed validation from us.
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Call for Direct Assistance: If you are changing your plans at the last minute and need an immediate response, please pick up the phone and call us directly to ensure your change is managed safely.
Medical Boarding Restrictions & Emergency Procedures
Strict Health Requirements
Cavy Care Inc. cannot accept guinea pigs with any type of active or pre-existing medical condition, including pets recovering from post-surgical procedures. This policy is enforced without exception to protect the health of all animals in our facility.
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Pre-Stay Health Screening: If your guinea pig is found to be ill or showing signs of sickness during the drop-off inspection, we will immediately send the animal home with you.
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10-Day Wellness Window: Any guinea pig recovering from an illness must be completely symptom-free and clear of any apparent health issues for at least 10 consecutive days before boarding. There are absolutely no exceptions.
Emergency Illness Protocol
If your guinea pig becomes ill while staying in our care, we will take immediate action to secure veterinary treatment at your expense. Please ensure that your emergency contact is accurate and available to take the guinea pig.
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Veterinary Transfer: Your pet will be taken to your designated veterinarian on record or to our trusted facility vet. If treatment requires hospital placement, the animal will be left in the clinic's care until your return.
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On-Site Medical Boarding Surcharge: If your veterinarian is unable or unwilling to house your guinea pig at their clinic until you return, Cavy Care Inc. will manage the pet's isolation and recovery. Because of the intensive monitoring required, we charge a mandatory $30.00 per day medical care surcharge from the exact date of diagnosis until your return. You remain fully responsible for all off-site veterinary expenses.
Alternative Medical Boarding Options
If your guinea pig currently requires specialized medical supervision or post-op care that prevents them from staying with us, Homestead Animal Hospital provides professional medical kenneling services specifically for guinea pigs.
Personal Property & Sanitation Policies
No Discount for Personal Supplies
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Standard Pricing: You are welcome to bring your own specialized food or bedding if your pet requires it. However, providing your own supplies will not reduce or discount our standard daily boarding rates.
State-Mandated Sanitation Restraints
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No Outside Comfort Items: As a state-licensed facility, Cavy Care Inc. cannot accept personal comfort items (such as blankets, fleece, toys, or soft hideouts) to be placed in your guinea pig's cage. To comply with strict state sanitation regulations, we must prevent the introduction of outside germs, bacteria, or microscopic organisms. Cavy Care Inc. does provide a library of free-to-rent soft hideouts, beds, or pillows, beds or mats
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Pet Carriers: For the same biosecurity and sanitation reasons, we cannot store your pet carrier at our facility during your guinea pig's stay. We ask that you take your carrier home with you after completing the drop-off process.
Complimentary Media Updates
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Photo & Video Service: We love keeping you connected with your pets! We will happily provide a video and your first set of photos completely free of charge. If you are boarding a pair, we will provide 2 sets of photos at no charge. After that, we do charge $1 per photo or set of photos if you have a pair.
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Please note: Media updates are not sent automatically and must be explicitly requested by the owner at check-in.
Payment Terms & Accepted Methods
Accepted Payment Forms
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Cards & Cash Only: Cavy Care Inc. accepts cash and all major credit cards.
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No Checks: We absolutely do not accept personal or business checks under any circumstances.
Standard Stays (Under 30 Days & Under $300)
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Payment Due at Pickup: For established clients, final payment is expected in full at the time of pickup. There are no exceptions.
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Cost Estimates: Your total boarding costs are calculated and provided in your initial confirmation email so that pricing surprises are kept to a minimum. Please note this is an estimate and final totals may change based on owner-requested modifications or updates during the stay
Deposits & Special Billing Requirements
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First-Time & New Clients: If you are a new client or using our boarding services for the first time, a mandatory deposit of half (50%) of the estimated total cost is due upfront at the time of drop-off. The remaining balance is due at pickup.
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Stays Over $300: For any reservation where the estimated total exceeds $300, we require a half (50%) deposit at the time of drop-off, with the remaining balance due upon your return.
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Long-Term Boarding (30+ Days): Any stay extending past 30 days must be paid in full at the time of drop-off, regardless of your client status with Cavy Care Inc.
Animal Abandonment Policies & Legal Actions
Our Operational Status
Please be advised that Cavy Care Inc. permanently closed its physical shelter facility on March 16, 2019, and completed its temporary pandemic-related adjustments. We operate strictly as a licensed boarding and education facility. We do not accept unapproved drop-offs or animal surrenders without an active agreement.
Abandonment Timeline & Definition
A boarding animal is legally considered abandoned if it remains in our care for seven (7) consecutive days past its originally scheduled pick-up date without the owner making explicit, successful contact with our team to arrange a contract extension or reclamation.
Consequences of Abandonment
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Transfer to Animal Control: If an animal is deemed abandoned, our governing board contractually requires us to immediately transfer the guinea pigs
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Lack of Protective Oversight: Once transferred, the animal will be processed entirely under that shelter's independent operating guidelines. This means your guinea pigs may be permanently separated, adopted out to strangers, or humanely euthanized based on that facility's resources and health policies.
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Legal and Civil Prosecution: Abandoning an animal is a violation of state animal welfare laws. Cavy Care Inc. and any receiving shelter reserve the right to pursue full legal and civil action against the owner for abandonment and unpaid boarding costs.
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A pig to the nearest municipal shelter or humane society with open capacity.
Reporting cases of abuse:
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Cavy Care Inc. Boarding is a mandated reporter of abuse and is required by state law and as part of our licensing to report any instances where we suspect abuse, neglect, or abandonment so that the State of Colorado can take legal action against the owner.
Shannon Cauthen
Boarding Manager
720-235-2492
4343 S. Jasper St. Aurora, CO 80015
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