An amendment from the Ministry of Agriculture would put a cap on fees charged by pet salons to customers who cancel prepaid grooming services.
Many pet owners who have paid grooming fees in advance and later canceled have been hit with heavy fees, which has prompted a spate of complaints, ministry official Chiang Wen-chuan (江文全) said yesterday.
Under the proposed amendment, which is under review by the Executive Yuan, cancelation fees would be capped at NT$1,000.
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In cases where both parties agree with not having a fixed contract-termination fee, the fee cannot exceed 5 percent of the total contract value, or NT$1,000 — whichever is lower, Chiang said.
The amendment also stipulates that operators must guarantee the welfare of dogs and cats in their care. If an animal needs emergency medical treatment during grooming, the salon must send it to a veterinary hospital designated by the pet owner. If one is not designated, the animal should be sent to the nearest facility.
If a pet dies while under the care of the salon, the operator should send the body of the animal to the animal protection agency for disposal by the following day at the latest. If the injury or death is determined to be attributed to the salon operator, the operator would be liable to pay compensation.
One salon owner surnamed Lee (李) who has been in the industry for six years said that the new law would potentially harm businesses.
Pet grooming is generally a monthly subscription service, and advanced payment allows businesses to offer discounted rates, Lee said, adding that when pet owners cancel the services — usually after a pet is lost or dies — the owner should bear the cost of the discounts they have already received.
Businesses also sometimes incur unexpected costs caused by irresponsible owners, Lee said, citing the example of an owner who left their pet dog at the salon overnight the day before going to jail.
The salon was unable to reach the owner and had no contact information for members of the owner’s family who could take the dog, Lee said.
Chiang said that under the amendment, if an owner fails to pick up their pet on time, the salon operator could charge the pet owner damages of between NT$1,000 and NT$2,000 per day.
If the consumer does not pick up the pet for more than three days, the operator should notify the animal protection agency, he said.
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