08/13/2026
‼️‼️‼️‼️
I wanted to make this post because I truly don’t think most people understand what a cancellation looks like from the employee side of a small business. Before I became a commission-based employee myself, I honestly didn’t fully understand it either.
Our cancellation policy isn’t about punishing anyone. For me, it’s about protecting my time, my income, and the appointments that I have set aside specifically for each client.
I am commission-based, which means I’m not paid simply for showing up and being at work. I earn my income from the appointments I complete.
When someone cancels at the last minute and that spot cannot be filled, I don’t just lose a dog on my schedule. I lose the income I was expecting to earn from that appointment.
Think about it this way:
Imagine going to work expecting a full day of work. You wake up, get ready, drive to work, and plan your day and your bills around the income you expect to make.
Then, throughout the day, several of those jobs disappear. You are still at work. You still gave up your entire day. You were ready, prepared, and willing to work—but now you’re only getting paid for a portion of what you expected.
That would be frustrating for anyone.
That is exactly how it feels when I have multiple last-minute cancellations. I came to work expecting a full schedule and planned my income around those appointments. When they disappear at the last minute, there is usually nothing I can do to make that income back.
Unlike an hourly employee, I don’t get paid just because I am sitting at work waiting for appointments. If there is no appointment, there is no commission.
When you schedule with me, I reserve that specific time just for you and your dog. During that time, I am turning away other clients who may have been waiting for an opening.
And last-minute appointments are not always easy to replace.
People have jobs, kids, school, transportation, and busy schedules of their own. If someone cancels an hour or two before their appointment, it is very unlikely that I can find someone else who can completely rearrange their day and get their dog to me in time.
I also choose not to overbook my schedule because I want to give every dog the time, attention, and care they deserve. That means there isn’t another dog sitting around waiting to fill your appointment if you cancel.
If you give me enough notice and I am able to fill the spot, there is absolutely no problem. I would much rather groom another dog than charge someone a cancellation fee.
I also understand that life happens. Emergencies happen. Kids get sick, family situations come up, accidents happen, and sometimes things are completely outside of your control.
Those situations are very different from forgetting an appointment, oversleeping, changing your mind, or simply not respecting the time that was reserved for you.
I have compassion, and I will always try to work with people when I can. But I also have to protect my income and my ability to make a living.
I cannot waive every fee for every person every time. When that happens, I am the one who absorbs the loss.
My time has value, too.
I show up, work hard, take care of your pets like they are my own, and depend on the income from my appointments just like anyone else depends on their paycheck.
So when I have a full day scheduled and several appointments cancel at the last minute, it can have a much bigger impact on me than people realize.
I also have to be consistent with my policies. It wouldn’t be fair to enforce them with one person and make an exception for someone else simply because they are upset about the fee.
Communication makes a HUGE difference.
The earlier you let me know, the more likely I am to be able to fill your appointment, move someone else into the opening, or work with you to find another solution.
My cancellation policy is not personal.
It is not a punishment.
It is not a way for me to make extra money.
It is simply a way for me to protect the time I have reserved and the income I depend on.
I love what I do. I love getting to love on your dogs, make them feel good, and send them home looking and feeling their best. But this is also my job. This is how I make my income and support my family.
So when you respect your appointment, communicate with me, and understand my policies, please know that you are supporting more than just a small business—you are supporting me as an employee and a hardworking person trying to make a living doing something I love. ❤️🐾
I appreciate every single one of you who respects my time, communicates with me, and understands the reason behind my policies more than you know.
