1.  Appropriate Conduct.  The Behavior Vet has a zero-tolerance policy for hatred or abuse of any kind.  Yelling at, swearing at, being abusive towards, threatening, harassing, or otherwise disrespecting any employee of The Behavior Vet, our colleagues, or our patrons will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the practice.

2.  Scope of Practice.  The Behavior Vet is a practice limited to veterinary behavior.  We are not a full-service veterinary hospital.  We do not have diagnostic testing equipment, vaccines, or an on-site pharmacy.  We cannot board, hospitalize, or provide medical treatment for patients.  If your pet requires these services, we will refer you to your primary care veterinarian or a veterinary specialist as needed.  If you do not have a primary care veterinarian, we are happy to recommend one in your area.

3.  Business Hours & Communications.  Please note that our physical office is open by appointment only.  Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays.  We ask clients and rDVMs to be patient with us as we have limited staff and we cannot respond to all communications immediately.  Most communications will receive a response within one business day.  Patient reports and medical records are sent by email to clients and rDVMs within three business days following a consultation due to the length and detail with which these documents are written.

4.  Accessibility.  Please note that our office is located on the second floor of a building that does not have handicapped access.  Our building does not have an elevator and the only access to our office is up a flight of stairs.  If you are disabled and require accommodation, please contact us and we will be happy to work with you to find a solution that meets your needs.

5.  Methodology.  The Behavior Vet practices evidence-based medicine and strongly advocates for the minimization of risk and the improvement of a pet’s quality of life.  Our practice does not use or recommend the use of aversive training methods, including “balanced training” or any training involving the use of positive punishment or negative reinforcement.

6.  Payment & Refunds.  Payment for your consultation is due in full when your appointment is scheduled and is non-refundable.  No refunds are given for canceled appointments, missed appointments, or late arrivals that result in the cancelation of your appointment.  Payment can be made via our online appointment scheduler or by scheduling an appointment over the phone.  Payments are not accepted on site.

7.  Rescheduling.  If you wish to reschedule your appointment, you must do so at least 48 hours in advance.  An appointment may be rescheduled a maximum of two times.

8.  Arrival Time.  Please arrive on time for your appointment.  If you will be late for your appointment, please call to let us know.  If you are more than 15 minutes late, your appointment will be marked as missed and will be canceled without a refund.  If you arrive early for your appointment, we ask that you please do not enter the building until your scheduled appointment time.  Our office is small and we see only one patient or family at a time to prevent confrontations between patients.  If you arrive early, you are welcome to call the office to ask if we are ready for you to come in.  Please note that we cannot always accommodate an early arrival and you may be asked to wait.

9.  Parking Lot Safety.  All pets must be securely leashed or placed in an appropriately sized, closed carrier upon arrival.  Please note that we share our parking lot with other businesses, including a pet groomer.  There may be other people or pets in the parking lot when you arrive.  If your pet is reactive in these situations, please wait a moment for the parking lot to clear before bringing your pet into the building.  If you encounter a problem while entering the building, please call our office at (860) 458-4424 and someone will come outside to assist you.

10.  Contagious Illness.  For the safety of all of our pets and pet owners, if you or your pet have been diagnosed with a contagious illness or are experiencing symptoms of contagious illness, please reschedule your appointment.  Due to current concerns about canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), if your dog displays symptoms of respiratory disease upon arrival, you will be asked to reschedule your appointment.

11.  Pet Owner Expectations.  Please note that a pill will not fix your pet’s behavior.  While medication is used in the management of some behavior conditions, it does not solve problems by itself.  Pet owners will be expected to put forth a reasonable effort towards their pet’s treatment, which may include training and making changes to your pet’s care or environment.  Pet owners simply seeking a pill to fix the problem will be disappointed with the results.  The Behavior Vet is not responsible for a lack of improvement in your pet’s behavior resulting from a failure to put forth reasonable effort into your pet’s treatment plan.

12.  Telehealth.  Due to Connecticut state laws regarding veterinary telehealth and the importance of establishing a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR), all new patients must be seen in person for initial behavior consultation.  Established patients must be seen in person once every 12 months to continue receiving treatment recommendations from our practice, including prescription medication.  Although follow-up consultations may be offered via telehealth, The Behavior Vet reserves the right to require that a follow-up consultation be conducted in person at any time.

13.  Rabies Vaccination.  In accordance with Connecticut state law, all dogs and cats over the age of 12 weeks must be vaccinated against rabies to receive services from our veterinary practice.  If your pet’s rabies vaccination has expired, you will be required to update your pet’s vaccination and submit a current rabies certificate before your next visit.  If your pet has received a rabies exemption, a copy of the exemption certificate issued by the State Veterinarian must be submitted.

14.  Medications & Refills.  Please allow us 5 business days to process any requests for refills of your pet’s medication or any new medication requests.  It is your responsibility to keep track of your pet’s medication and notify us when you are running low.  We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a refill on short notice, so please plan ahead.

15.  Safety.  We understand that some behaviors are dangerous and may put you or others at risk.  The Behavior Vet strives to help owners identify and minimize these risks for the safety of everyone involved.  The Behavior Vet is not responsible for accidents or injuries resulting from a failure to follow recommended safety tips or a failure to use common sense.  Please note that we do not need to see your pet perform a behavior to make a diagnosis or develop a treatment plan.  While you are welcome to submit photos or videos for our review, we NEVER want you to provoke or trigger a behavior for the sake of obtaining a video.

16.  Policy Changes.  The Behavior Vet reserves the right to update and modify these policies at any time.

17.  Agreement.  By scheduling an appointment with The Behavior Vet, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these policies and agree to abide by them.