Can the agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and state UETA laws where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Do I need a notary or witness for boarding agreements?

Typically no. Boarding agreements rarely require notarization or witnesses, but state or special-purpose forms (e.g., transfer of ownership) may; verify local rules before notarizing.

What happens if vaccination proof is missing?

Facilities may refuse service, require immediate vaccination at owner expense, or impose isolation fees. Clear contract language on vaccination requirements reduces ambiguity and regulatory risk.

Who can authorize emergency veterinary care?

The owner or a designated emergency contact should provide written authorization and a monetary limit. If unreachable, the agreement should specify facility authority and preferred veterinarians.

How do I cancel or revoke authorization?

Revocation should be in writing and include an effective date. For ongoing care already commenced, acknowledge any fees or obligations per the agreement's cancellation terms.

How long should records be retained?

Keep executed agreements for at least three years after the agreement term for tax and business purposes; retain six years if HIPAA-protected health information is involved (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

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Agreement to Board Animals

Agreement to Board Animals

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Agreement to Board Animals

Agreement made, effective as of the day of , 20, by and between

Animal Boarding, LLP, of herein referred to as Animal Boarding, and of

, herein referred to as Owner.

The undersigned Animal Boarding and Owner hereby agree as follows:

1. Receipt of Animal

Animal Boarding hereby acknowledges receipt of the following described animal:

2. General terms

Animal Boarding has received the animal described above for the purpose of boarding and any other service now or hereafter ordered by Owner. Owner agrees to pay Animal Boarding the sum of Dollars ($) per .

Owner and Animal Boarding agree that Animal Boarding will not allow the animal to leave the premises on any given day later than , without charging one full day’s board for boarding the animal.

Owner shall pay all costs and charges of and for special services ordered pursuant to this agreement, and all veterinary and medical costs that may be incurred during the term of this agreement for the animal pursuant to this agreement.

3. Liability

Animal Boarding shall not be liable for any damages to the animal arising out of or from the boarding of the animal or that may accrue from any cause whatsoever in connection with such boarding, including loss by fire, theft, running away, death, or injury during the term of this agreement, whether the animal is on the premises of Animal Boarding or not, except where any such loss is caused by the neglect or intentional act of Animal Boarding or by any of Animal Boarding’s agents or employees.

Owner shall be solely responsible for all acts and behavior of the animal at any time during the term of this agreement, and in no case shall Animal Boarding be liable for the animal’s acts and behavior other than for the exercise of gross negligence on the part of Animal Boarding its agents or employees, in the boarding or keeping of the animal. Owner shall indemnify Animal Boarding from and against any and all damages sustained or suffered by reason of the boarding of the animal for any claims or injuries whatsoever arising out of the boarding and keeping of the animal.

4. Ownership

Owner specifically represents that he is the owner of the animal and that there is not now any lien or other encumbrance against the animal and that the animal has not been exposed to rabies within the last days prior to admittance to the custody of Animal Boarding.

5. Lien for Charges

Animal Boarding shall have a lien on the animal for all unpaid boarding and other charges resulting from the boarding of the animal under and pursuant to this agreement.

Owner agrees that in the event the specified boarding charges are not paid within days after they become due and payable, in accordance with the terms of this agreement, Animal Boarding may exercise its lien rights, and in connection with such rights, may dispose of the animal for any and all unpaid charges, at private or public sale, after days’ notice to Owner of such unpaid charges.

In the event such sale does not secure a sufficient price to pay the costs of board and other charges, plus costs of sale, Owner shall pay to Animal Boarding the difference. Any amounts realized by Animal Boarding at such a sale, over and above charges due and costs of sale, shall be retained by Animal Boarding as liquidated damages for breach of this agreement by Owner.

6. Illness of Animal

In the event the animal becomes ill, Owner shall be notified at once at the address listed above. If Owner does not immediately inform Animal Boarding regarding measures to be taken or if the animal’s health requires emergency action, the right to call a veterinarian or to furnish other advisable attention within Animal Boarding discretion is granted to Animal Boarding and any expenses incurred in connection with such care shall be promptly paid by Owner.

7. Claims for Damages

Owner must file with Animal Boarding a written claim for any claimed injury or damages resulting from the boarding of the animal under this agreement within days from delivery of the animal to Owner pursuant to this agreement, and unless Owner files such notice within the prescribed time, he waives any and all rights that he may have against Animal Boarding for any liability arising under this agreement for damages to the animal.

8. Binding Effect

This agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective heirs, personal representatives, successors, and assigns of the parties.

9. Governing Law

It is agreed that this agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of .

10. Arbitration of Disputes

All disputes, claims, and questions regarding the rights and obligations of the parties under the terms of this agreement are subject to arbitration. Either party may make a demand for arbitration by filing such demand in writing with the other party within days after the dispute first arises. Thereafter, arbitration shall be conducted by an arbitrator chosen pursuant to and acting under the rules of commercial arbitration of the American Arbitration Association.

11. Attorneys

In the event that any action is filed in relation to this agreement, the unsuccessful party in the action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the sums that either party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party’s attorneys’ fees.

WITNESS our signatures the day and date first above named.

Animal Boarding, LLP

Owner

What an Agreement to Board Animals Covers and Why It Matters

An Agreement to Board Animals is a written contract between an animal owner and a boarding facility that records services, fees, care instructions, health requirements, emergency treatment authorization, and liability terms. It sets expectations for drop-off and pick-up, payment and cancellation policies, vaccination proof, pet behavior rules, and dispute resolution. Completed and signed by both parties, the agreement protects owners and providers by documenting consent and operational terms, and it can be executed electronically where permitted by U.S. e-signature law such as ESIGN and state UETA statutes.

Why a Clear Boarding Agreement Reduces Risk and Disputes

A well-drafted boarding agreement clarifies responsibilities, documents health and vaccination status, authorizes emergency care, and defines fees and cancellation terms. It reduces litigation risk and speeds incident resolution while preserving written proof of consent and instructions.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs a Boarding Agreement

Common parties include boarding facilities, pet owners, and veterinarians; each relies on the agreement for operational clarity and liability limits.

Pet owners and guardians who provide animal identity and emergency contact information and authorize care.
Boarding facilities and kennel managers that set services, rules, and fees and require proof of vaccinations.
Veterinary clinics or mobile vets who may be authorized to provide emergency treatment during boarding.

Step-by-Step: Completing an Agreement to Board Animals

Follow this sequence to prepare, finalize, and distribute a boarding agreement reliably.

01

Gather Information: Collect owner ID, emergency contacts, vet info, and vaccination proof.
02

Describe Services: List boarding dates, feeding, exercise, grooming, and additional care items.
03

Set Terms: Define fees, payment method, cancellation policy, and liability limitations.
04

Sign and Store: Obtain signatures from owner and facility, then save a dated copy for both parties.

Essential Parts of a Professional Boarding Agreement

A complete agreement addresses identity, services, health and emergency authorizations, fees, liability, and governing law to reduce ambiguity and protect both parties.

Parties

Identify the owner and the boarding facility with full legal names, business address, and authorized representative contact details to establish contractual capacity and notice addresses.

Pet Details

Record species, breed, age, microchip or tag number, and temperament notes so staff can identify the animal and apply appropriate handling.

Services & Fees

List daily rates, one-time fees, optional services such as grooming or medication administration, payment timing, and accepted payment methods to avoid disputes.

Health Requirements

Specify required vaccinations, parasite prevention, and documentation format; indicate refusal consequences, such as service denial or additional fees for isolation.

Emergency Care

Detail authorization for veterinary care, cost limits, preferred vets, and owner notification procedures to enable prompt treatment while containing financial exposure.

Liability

Include indemnity, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution clauses; clarify when the facility is not responsible for illness, escape, or pre-existing conditions.

Information Required on the Agreement

Owner Identity: Full legal name

Contact Details: Phone, email, and address

Pet Details: Breed, age, microchip

Health Records: Vaccination dates

Emergency Authority: Veterinary authorization

Payment Terms: Rates and due dates

How to Route and File the Signed Agreement

A simple routing process ensures signatures are captured, copies distributed, and records archived for the facility and owner.

Upload Document: Import the finalized template into your signing system.
Place Fields: Add signature, initial, date, and conditional fields where required.
Send to Signer: Email or SMS link to owner with signing instructions.
Archive Signed Copy: Store executed agreement in the customer record and provide owner copy.

Distribution and Digital Signing Considerations

Choose delivery and authentication methods suited to the parties and the agreement's sensitivity.

File Types: PDF or DOCX preserved for records
Integrations: CRM and cloud storage recommended
Authentication: Email link or SMS OTP works for most cases

Common Timing and Deadline Items to Record

Document these dates and deadlines clearly to avoid misunderstandings about care windows, cancellations, and medical authorizations.

Boarding Dates:

Start and end dates including drop-off/pick-up times

Payment Due Date:

When fees must be paid or deposit forfeited

Cancellation Notice:

Number of days required to avoid penalty

Vaccination Validity:

Enter vaccine dates; e.g., rabies expiry or booster due date

Emergency Approval Window:

Duration owner authorizes care if unreachable

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Agreement

Leaving emergency contact information incomplete or listing a contact who cannot authorize veterinary care can delay treatment and increase liability.
Using vague care instructions such as 'feed as necessary' instead of precise feeding schedules or quantities creates avoidable disputes about pet care.
Failing to attach or verify vaccination proof can expose the facility to regulatory risk and require last-minute isolation or service refusal.
Relying on unsigned or dated agreements — lacking a signature or clear date undermines enforceability and complicates dispute resolution.

Consequences of an Incomplete or Incorrect Agreement

Liability Disputes: Civil claims risk

Medical Delays: Treatment authorization issues

Regulatory Fines: Local ordinance violations

Invalid Signature: Enforceability challenges

Insurance Denial: Claims may be rejected

Data Exposure: Privacy breach consequences

Online Configuration Settings for Boarding Agreement Workflows

Configure fields, authentication, and retention to match facility processes and legal requirements.

Field	Configuration
Signature Authentication	Email link or SMS OTP verification
Conditional Fields	Show emergency authorization only if owner selects 'yes'
Template Placeholders	Auto-fill owner name, pet, and dates
Retention Settings	Auto-archive signed PDF in customer folder

Comparing eSignature Options for Executing Boarding Agreements

Basic vendor pricing and capability indicators help choose an eSignature provider for boarding workflows; signNow is listed first per vendor-comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Available (Business Premium)	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA available)	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently Asked Questions About Boarding Agreements and Electronic Signing

Answers to common legal, technical, and operational questions about executing and managing Agreements to Board Animals in the United States.

Need help? Contact support

Can the agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and state UETA laws where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Do I need a notary or witness for boarding agreements?
Typically no. Boarding agreements rarely require notarization or witnesses, but state or special-purpose forms (e.g., transfer of ownership) may; verify local rules before notarizing.
What happens if vaccination proof is missing?
Facilities may refuse service, require immediate vaccination at owner expense, or impose isolation fees. Clear contract language on vaccination requirements reduces ambiguity and regulatory risk.
Who can authorize emergency veterinary care?
The owner or a designated emergency contact should provide written authorization and a monetary limit. If unreachable, the agreement should specify facility authority and preferred veterinarians.
How do I cancel or revoke authorization?
Revocation should be in writing and include an effective date. For ongoing care already commenced, acknowledge any fees or obligations per the agreement's cancellation terms.
How long should records be retained?
Keep executed agreements for at least three years after the agreement term for tax and business purposes; retain six years if HIPAA-protected health information is involved (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

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