Terms, Conditions and Treatment Consent

Treatment Consent

1. I am the legal owner, or authorised representative of the owner of the pet(s) to be treated.
2. I acknowledge that any specific advice given to me or my representative by PBV will have been carefully and specifically chosen to be used for the rehabilitation of the stated pet only and is not intended for use in any other circumstances. Such advice includes that given during a consultation, discussed over the phone, written in a report, written in a generic fact sheet or that given via email, SMS, social media or any other official PBV correspondence.
3. I consent to being contacted via telephone, email, SMS or social media while my pet’s case is still open. A case is considered to be open for 6 months after the last time that PBV staff have made contact with me, unless I have asked for my case to be closed. If I am not contactable during this period, PBV may cease attempting to contact me and close my pet’s case.
4. Regarding Veterinary Behaviour Consultations:
   1. I consent to having my pet(s) treated by one of PBV’s behaviour veterinarians until my pet’s case is closed. I understand that I may not necessarily see the same behaviour veterinarian for the duration of my pet’s treatment.
   2. I understand that for PBV’s veterinarians to continue to provide medical advice for my pet, I will need to book them in for regular reassessments. The recommended interval between each reassessment will be determined by my behaviour veterinarian and communicated at each reassessment. I understand that a PBV veterinarian must see my pet in person at least every 6-12 months in order to be able to continue to provide medical advice and dispense medications, or more frequently in new cases or where the patient is not yet medically stable.
   3. I understand that my behaviour veterinarian may choose to charge a Prescription Management Fee for any scripts that are written for my pet during or between consultations, as is standard practice in the veterinary industry. The number of repeats given are at the sole discretion of the behaviour veterinarian and will typically be enough to last until the next reassessment, or a maximum of 6 months’ supply, whichever comes first.
   4. I understand that repeats on medications and scripts may be refused if my pet is not doing well or overdue for a reassessment.
   5. I understand that while my pet is under the care of a PBV veterinarian, PBV will be solely responsible for the supply of any prescribed behavioural medications, whether supplied in-person or by written prescription to be filled at a pharmacy. I understand that veterinarians at other practices will not be able to supply any behavioural medications or scripts to treat the condition(s) that are being managed by a PBV veterinarian, unless a PBV veterinarian has specifically asked them to do so.
   6. I understand that PBV is a behaviour consultancy only and as such PBV may recommend that I return to my regular veterinarian for other services that may be required for the management of my pet’s behaviour problem or general health. Such services may include regular check-ups, blood tests and other clinical pathology tests, after-hours treatment and the purchase of any additional products or medications (unrelated to behaviour) that may be required for my pet’s treatment.
   7. I acknowledge that PBV does not provide an emergency service or after-hours veterinary care and that even during business hours PBV’s vets may not be contactable at all times if they are with clients, in meetings or not in the office. In such an event, PBV staff will make every attempt to respond to my message within a reasonable timeframe. If my pet requires immediate emergency veterinary attention, I will contact my primary care vet or an after-hours emergency hospital.
   8. I understand that PBV’s behaviour veterinarians are registered veterinarians who have had further formal training in veterinary behavioural medicine. Although not board-certified veterinary ‘specialists’, they have demonstrated a high level of interest and knowledge in the field of veterinary behavioural medicine.
   9. I understand that at any point during my pet’s treatment, if deemed necessary, PBV’s vets may refer me with my pet to a different professional, including my GP vet, another behaviour veterinarian within our practice or elsewhere, a qualified trainer, an animal behaviourist or a registered specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine.
5. Regarding Behaviour Modification (training) Consultations only:
   1. I consent to having my pet(s) trained by one of PBV’s trainers or animal behaviourist.
   2. I understand that in cases where a medical problem or mental illness may be involved, my trainer or animal behaviourist may deem it necessary to temporarily cease training my pet and refer me and my pet to a veterinarian for medical treatment.
   3. I understand that at any point during my pet’s treatment, my trainer or animal behaviourist may refer me with my pet to a different professional, including one of PBV’s behaviour veterinarians, my GP vet, another behaviour veterinarian, a qualified trainer, an animal behaviourist or a registered specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine, if deemed necessary.
   4. I understand that my trainer or animal behaviourist is not a registered veterinarian and as such is unable to provide me with medical advice or prescribe prescription medication.

Treatment Recommendations

1. I will follow all recommendations given to me by PBV staff to the best of my ability, and will encourage others who come in contact with my pet to do the same. I acknowledge that if I do not follow all recommendations, it is less likely that my pet’s behaviour problem will improve at an acceptable rate and in cases where aggression is involved, it will be more likely that my pet will remain a high bite risk.
2. I understand that the advice given to me by PBV staff may need to be modified periodically in order to suit my pet’s individual needs and my family’s situation. This means that in most instances, follow up consultations will be necessary, which each come at an additional cost, as was discussed upon booking.
3. I will keep PBV staff regularly updated by email and phone with my pet’s progress to allow them to be able to suggest any such changes in order to improve the chances of a successful overall outcome.
4. In some circumstances, my behaviour veterinarian, animal behaviourist or trainer may recommend euthanasia as a realistic treatment option. This recommendation may be given if either:
   1. my pet is considered to be a serious danger to itself, other pets, humans and/or property; or
   2. in my behaviour veterinarian, trainer or animal behaviourist’s professional opinion, my pet’s physical or psychological welfare is compromised to such a degree that it is unlikely to be able to be managed at an acceptable level.
5. I understand that in such a case, if I decline to euthanase my pet, I will take full responsibility to ensure that my pet does not cause any damage to any person, animal or property by taking appropriate safety precautions, which may be recommended during the consultation.
6. If I decline any reasonable treatment or training recommendations, I understand that PBV staff may refuse to continue to provide service for ethical and/or safety reasons.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

1. I will not make copies of any material distributed to me by PBV, unless I am given direct written permission to do so. If such permission is granted, I will copy or print such material in its entirety, including the PBV logo or letterhead and authorship (if present), so as not to alter the original meaning and context of the content, and I will cite authorship where it is due. Any copies made will be for my own reference only, and for the management of the intended patient only.

Liability

1. As will be discussed in detail during the consultation, I understand that, due to the biological nature of behaviour, nobody (including PBV staff) can ever fully guarantee that my pet will be completely cured of its behaviour problem(s). PBV cannot be held liable for any future costs related to this or any other behaviour problem that my pet may currently have or may subsequently develop, nor will PBV be liable for any injury or damage that my pet may cause to any person, animal or property in any context in the future.
2. I understand that it is impossible to guarantee that my pet will never injure any person or animal. I understand that the only way to ever ensure that my pet will not injure another person, another animal or themselves, or damage any property is to euthanase them.
3. I acknowledge that although PBV may recommend other professionals (such as veterinarians, dog trainers or a re-homing organisation) to help me manage my pet’s behaviour problem, PBV cannot be held liable for any recommendations made by such professionals.
4. I understand that, as the owner of my pet, I am fully responsible for any damages caused by my pet at all times, as outlined by the NSW Companion Animals Act.

Privacy

1. PBV will not disclose my personal details or my pet’s medical records to any third party, unless I have given PBV permission to do so, or where required by law. The following exceptions apply:
   1. I consent to allowing PBV staff to contact my pet’s current or previous veterinarian(s), behaviourist(s), trainer(s) and/or other pet care professional(s) in order to collect a medical or behavioural history and/or discuss my pet’s case management until my pet’s case is closed, unless I specifically request the staff not to.
   2. I acknowledge that PBV staff may discuss my pet’s case with other veterinarians, behaviourists, trainers or pet professionals in a professional capacity, or use such information for teaching or research purposes. In such an event, no information identifying me or my pet will be shared.
2. I consent to having my pet photographed or videoed during the period of treatment, including during consultations or training sessions, if required. Such media will form a part of my pet’s medical record and, accordingly, will be treated confidentially.
3. I will not take videos, photos or audio recordings of any consultation or conversation with PBV staff.

Fees, Payment and Cancellation Policy

1. I will pay a $100 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking my initial consultation. This deposit not only secures my appointment, but covers administration costs associated with setting up my case file, the time taken for staff to begin gathering information on my pet’s case, and the loss of revenue associated with last minute cancelled appointments. As such, it is not refundable.
2. Similarly, as the PBV calendar is booked and planned several months in advance, I agree to pay a non-refundable deposit of $50 to secure a date and time for all subsequent house calls.
3. Deposits will remain on my account to be used as credit towards my next appointment, and will be forfeited if the appointment is cancelled or rescheduled or if I don’t show up to my appointment; that is, it will no longer be available as credit on my account. A new deposit will need to be paid to secure my rescheduled appointment. Exceptions to this policy will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
4. If purchased, my pre-paid training package will serve as a deposit for all pre-booked training appointments with PBV’s animal behaviourist or trainers. If I postpone my training session, a cancellation fee of $50 will be deducted from my account balance.
5. I acknowledge that PBV has a strict No Accounts policy. I will pay all fees owing by cash or credit card at the conclusion of every consultation, or prior to any product (such as medications and scripts) being provided to me. If paying by bank transfer, I will do so at least two business days prior to the payment due date, in order to allow sufficient time for my payment to reach the PBV bank account. Failing to do so may result in delays in my pet’s medication being posted to me.
6. I will ensure that the Behavioural History Questionnaire, previous medical records (if requested) and relevant videos are submitted by the due date. Failure to do this may reduce the ability of the treating clinician to adequately prepare for my consultation, and in some cases may result in my booking being postponed.
7. In the event PBV is unable to accommodate an existing appointment, I will be notified as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. PBV will not be liable for any consequential real or perceived losses as a result of the appointment change.
8. Prices are subject to change without notice, with the exception of written estimates, which are valid until the expiry date recorded on the estimate, or 3 months if there is no expiry date recorded.