Animal Behaviour Disclosure Policy

Last Updated: 04/12/2025

PawTrack is designed to support safe, species-appropriate care for all animals. To achieve this, Pet Parents must provide accurate and complete information about their pet’s behaviour and handling needs. Behaviour disclosure protects:

  • Pet Professionals - helping them prepare appropriately
  • Pets - ensuring safe, stress-free appointments
  • Pet Parents - avoiding service cancellations or unexpected issues
  • The community - by reducing preventable incidents

These requirements apply to every animal and every species on PawTrack.

1. What Behaviour Must Be Disclosed?

Pet Parents must disclose any behaviour that could affect the safety, welfare, or handling of the animal. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Aggression (biting, lunging, striking, charging)
  • Fear or anxiety around handling, strangers, or other animals
  • History of scratching, nipping, or defensive behaviour
  • Stress reactions (e.g., flight attempts, hiding, vocalisation)
  • Escape risk or ability to slip harnesses, break containment, or fly off
  • Handling sensitivities (touch aversion, object fear, restraint issues)
  • Resource guarding (food, toys, territory)
  • Species-specific defensive behaviours (e.g., reptile tail whipping, bird biting)

PawTrack does not diagnose behaviours; parents simply describe what has been observed.

2. Why Behaviour Disclosure Matters

Pet Professionals rely on accurate behavioural information to:

  • Determine whether they can safely accept the appointment
  • Prepare appropriate equipment and handling techniques
  • Ensure the pet is not placed in a stressful or unsafe situation
  • Plan the service according to species-specific needs

Failure to disclose behaviour may result in service refusal, early appointment termination, or safety concerns.

3. Responsibilities of Pet Parents

  • Provide accurate and complete behavioural information when creating or updating pet profiles.
  • Inform the Professional of any known triggers or risks before the appointment begins.
  • Ensure equipment (carriers, leads, enclosures) is secure and species-appropriate.
  • Update behaviour information if the pet changes over time.

Incorrect or missing information may lead to cancellations without refund if safety is compromised.

4. Responsibilities of Pet Professionals

Pet Professionals must:

  • Review behavioural information before accepting a booking.
  • Decline appointments they cannot safely perform.
  • Use humane, species-appropriate handling techniques at all times.
  • Stop an appointment if behaviour poses a safety concern.

Professionals should never attempt handling beyond their skill level.

5. Undisclosed Behaviour During Appointments

If a pet displays behaviour that was not disclosed and poses a safety risk:

  • The appointment may be stopped immediately for safety.
  • The Professional may mark the appointment as unsafe or incomplete.
  • Refund outcomes follow standard safety and cancellation rules.
  • A reliability event may be recorded for the Parent if the behaviour prevented care.

This protects both the pet and the Professional from preventable harm.

6. Species-Specific Notes

Behaviour varies widely between species. The following examples highlight the importance of full disclosure:

Dogs & Cats
  • Dog–dog reactivity, fear biting, leash aggression, overstimulation.
  • Cat fear scratching, hiding, overstress during handling.
Birds
  • Biting, flight risk, handling sensitivity, loud distress calls.
Reptiles
  • Tail whipping, defensive postures, escape attempts.
  • Temperature stress or improper handling tolerance.
Small Mammals & Exotics
  • Fear biting, fast escape behaviour, fragility during handling.

7. Behaviour-Related Service Refusal

Pet Professionals may decline or end an appointment if:

  • The behaviour creates a risk of injury to the pet or Professional
  • Behaviour was not disclosed in advance
  • The species or behaviour exceeds the Professional’s training

Ending an appointment for safety does not count as a Professional No-Show.

8. Reporting Behavioural Concerns

You may report undisclosed or unsafe behaviour to PawTrack Support:

PawTrack reviews reports to enforce policy compliance, not to determine behavioural diagnoses.

These guidelines help ensure that every pet receives safe, species-appropriate care and that both Pet Parents and Professionals can participate confidently. The latest version will always be available on this page.