Boarding & Daycare Rules

“Services” include, but are not limited to, boarding, daycare, grooming, training, and all added amenities. Rio Gran, a Minnesota C Corporation, agrees to provide the specific “services” to the Guest for each visit as the Owner/Guardian indicates on Rio Gran Canine/Feline Services. Rio Gran will exercise reasonable judgment in all circumstances while providing “services.”

Resort Policies

Reservations will not be guaranteed without all application forms (Client Agreement, Enrollment Application, and House Rules). The profile is designed so we can get to know each pet on a personal level.

Lobby hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. The lobby is closed on all major holidays. The lobby closes early on the day prior to New Year’s, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Check-ins and check-outs are available from 7:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Sunday. There is always a full charge for the first day of stay, regardless of check-in time. Identification may be requested at check-out, and it is mandatory if a surrogate is picking up the pet. The surrogate must also be listed on file.

All reservations must be paid at the time of pick-up. Rio Gran reserves the right to refuse to accept a guest if it appears that the guest is sick, has fleas, or exhibits behavior that could jeopardize the health and safety of other guests and our staff.

All daycare guests must be picked up by the end of business hours. Daycare is available Monday through Saturday only. Dogs left after closing time must board for the night, and extra boarding charges will be the responsibility of the owner/guardian.

Cancellations for any service are requested at least 24 hours in advance of the pet’s scheduled arrival date. Rio Gran reserves the right to charge cancellation fees for late cancellations or no-shows.

All boarding reservations require as much advance notice as possible to accommodate your pet’s stay. For safety reasons, all guests must be on a leash (no retractable leashes) or in a carrier while entering and departing our lobby. Dog interaction is not recommended between dogs on leashes while in our lobby. We will properly introduce all dogs in our assigned off-leash areas.

Vaccinations

Guests must have the following required vaccinations, current within one year prior to admittance for services:

• Rabies
• Distemper
• Bordetella

Initial vaccinations must be administered at least 10 days prior to coming to Rio Gran. All sequential intranasal vaccinations must be administered 4 days prior to arrival, and all sequential injectable vaccinations must be administered 24 hours prior to arrival.

If the Owner/Guardian and veterinarian have chosen not to administer any of our required vaccinations, a signed statement from the veterinarian and titer testing is required.

Rio Gran takes serious steps to ensure the health and well-being of every guest in our care through proper cleaning, disinfection, and fresh air flow throughout our facility. Vaccine type and immunization protocols can influence the success or failure of vaccinations. Many factors may impair an animal’s ability to develop immunity after vaccination. The Owner/Guardian agrees and acknowledges that vaccines do not protect against all communicable illnesses that may affect a guest.

Health Care

The Owner/Guardian certifies that the guest is in good health and has not been exposed to any contagious or communicable illnesses within thirty (30) days prior to check-in.

While guests are staying with us, they may come into contact with other guests, depending on the services requested. Please note that there are many different airborne strains of viruses that cause tracheobronchitis, also known as “canine cough.” While vaccinating each year helps support immunity to some strains, it does not guarantee protection against all airborne strains, nor can it completely eliminate the risk of developing tracheobronchitis. This is not due to any circumstance or condition at Rio Gran, and the Owner/Guardian agrees that Rio Gran is not liable for any illness suffered by the guest during or after its stay, including but not limited to tracheobronchitis.

Rio Gran will not be held responsible for any allergic reactions the guest may have. The Owner/Guardian certifies that all allergies of the guest are recorded on the Feed and Medical Form that will be completed upon check-in.

Pets with symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and/or sneezing will not be accepted into Rio Gran. These symptoms may easily spread to other guests. If your pet has any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian for treatment and keep your pet at home until they are feeling better.

Guests in daycare found to have puppy warts, “canine cough,” worms, fleas, parasites, frequent or liquid diarrhea, vomiting, or any other potentially contagious condition, illness, or injury will be isolated from other guests. Owners will be contacted to determine the best course of action. If owners cannot be reached, the dog may be taken for treatment by a veterinarian at the owner’s expense if deemed necessary by our staff.

If symptoms of diarrhea occur while in-house, we will feed the guest a bland canned dog food that is easy for stomach digestion. Additionally, Imodium and probiotics will be provided to help control the symptoms, and both will incur a nominal cost to the Owner/Guardian.

All medications must be provided by the Owner/Guardian in the original prescription container, properly labeled with written instructions containing the guest’s name, type of medication, dosage, and schedule. Handwritten changes will not be accepted. Over-the-counter supplements and vitamins may be administered while the guest is staying at our resort.

Day Care

Daycare is a service designed for social dogs to play and have fun. Due to safety precautions, daycare is not suitable for every dog. This service is not intended to teach aggressive dogs to be social. In order to be accepted into daycare, the Owner/Guardian must:

• Complete all required forms (Client Agreement and Enrollment Application).

To ensure that each Rio Gran guest is healthy and happy in our social environment, and to ensure the well-being of all clients, we require each pet to go through our Meet-N-Greet process and become PlayGroup Certified. Dogs aged 16 weeks to 11 years are allowed at Rio Gran as long as the dog/puppy becomes PlayGroup Certified and weighs at least 10 pounds. This process helps us become familiar with your dog and determine which services would be most beneficial.

If you enroll your dog in the PlayGroup Program, Rio Gran strongly recommends a one-day-per-week commitment. This helps maintain a safe structure within the PlayGroups. Reintroducing dogs to the “regular packs” after an extended absence can be challenging and stressful for some dogs, much like sending a child to a new school for the first time. Dogs need structure in their lives. Dogs who do not attend daycare PlayGroups for an extended period may need to be re-evaluated and re-introduced to the PlayGroup.

All guests over 7 months must be spayed or neutered to participate in our daycare program (except for puppies under 6 months). Rio Gran reserves the right to refuse PlayGroup Certification to any dog and will not accept aggressive dogs.

Bandages, cones, stitches, booties/socks, bandanas, bows, flea/tick collars, and similar items are not allowed. For the health and safety of all guests, a monthly topical flea and tick preventative such as Frontline is required. Note: A flea collar is not sufficient.

Potty breaks are provided throughout the day for each guest. Guests who are not behaving or are acting cranky will be taken to a separate area for a timeout. Guests who act aggressively or endanger the safety of themselves or other dogs will be placed in a separate area, and their parents will be contacted to pick them up.

Rio Gran reserves the right to use non-harming bark control collars on guests that are excessively barking.

Boarding Accommodations

Boarding suites and popular amenities fill up quickly. To ensure guests receive the best experience during their stay, reservations should be scheduled in advance. To confirm a boarding reservation, the Owner/Guardian must:

• Complete all required forms (Client Agreement, Enrollment Application, and House Rules).

The Owner/Guardian certifies that the guest has received at least two series of distemper vaccinations, has the Bordetella vaccination, and has the rabies vaccine if the pet is 6 months or older.

The Owner/Guardian must provide appropriate food for the entire length of the guest’s stay, properly labeled. If not, Rio Gran will provide food for a nominal daily fee.

Owners are discouraged from bringing personal bedding. Additionally, soft toys are banned from our facility due to the hazards they pose to all guests. Do not send items that are valuable, irreplaceable, or have sentimental value. Rio Gran is not responsible for the loss or damage of any personal items left with pets. We ask that you limit the number of belongings sent with your pet. We provide many perks (treats, toys, bedding, etc.) to make the transition from home to the boarding facility as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

Geriatrics/Special Needs Care

Special care is available for older guests, medically dependent guests, or guests recovering from surgery or illness. The environment is tailored to meet their specific needs.

Rio Gran is equipped to handle care in most stages of illness. The Owner/Guardian certifies that all conditions, seizures, and illnesses are acknowledged at check-in.

Pets in this area will be exercised according to their condition and needs.

Feline Accommodations

All cats must be appropriately vaccinated, with current vaccinations within the last year:

• Rabies
• FVRCP
• Feline Leukemia (test only)

Pets must not have been exposed to any contagious diseases within 30 days prior to check-in. Guests must be at least 12 weeks old, with one set of vaccinations and deworming, to stay at Rio Gran. This precaution is in place due to the increased susceptibility of kittens to disease.

Legal Terms

All terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding on the heirs, administrators, personal representatives, and assignees of the Owner/Guardian and Rio Gran. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or a breach thereof, or as a result of any claim or controversy involving alleged negligence by any party to this Agreement, shall be settled in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by an arbitrator may be entered in any court with jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall determine an award to the prevailing party for the costs of such arbitration, including reasonable attorney’s fees. The arbitrator(s) shall apply Minnesota law to the merits of any dispute or claim, without reference to conflicts of law rules. The parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Minnesota, concerning any arbitration in which the parties are participants.

The parties have read and understand this clause, which discusses arbitration. By signing this Agreement, the parties agree to submit any claims arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement—including its interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or termination—to binding arbitration. This arbitration clause constitutes a waiver of the party’s right to a jury trial and relates to the resolution of all disputes regarding all aspects of the relationship between the parties.

The Owner/Guardian certifies the accuracy of all information provided to Rio Gran in writing about the guest by signing this agreement. Rio Gran reserves the right to deny admittance to any guest for any reason at any time.