www.ProDogWalker.com - Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct

This is a suggested and recommended Code of Ethics for Professional Dog Walkers. A Professional Dog Walker Should:
	Have a genuine love and respect for all animals and nature.
	Care and respect the public and the environment at all times.
	Have proven training experience handling dogs and be certified in Pet First Aid within a year of operating their business.
	Not use any form of corporal punishment on a pet.
	Abide by the animal criminal code stated by-law.
	Pay due care and attention towards the dogs at all times.
	Not walk any dog that shows aggressive behavior whereas any person or pet can be harmed.
	Clean up after the animals in their care and dispose properly of any waste.
	Not disclose any private, personal or confidential information about their clients.
	Not advertise falsely any services or credentials.
	Please show courtesy to fellow pet care professionals and shall not seek to discredit or undermine the reputation of another pet care professional and shall refrain from malicious libelous and/or slanderous comments at all times. There is no reason to discredit anyone, anywhere, at anytime in order to make you look better.
	Every Professional Dog Walker that has employees or independent contractors has membership is responsible for their workers to see that all personnel are abiding by the terms of the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics.
	A Professional Dog Walker shall not solicit the clientele belonging to another pet care professional.
	Every employee or independent contractor will in no circumstances solicit the clientele of their employer.

This is a suggested and recommended Code of Conduct for Professional Dog Walkers. Below, you will find an explanation of what is meant for each item on the list. It is recommended that a Professional Dog Walker walk a limit of 6 dogs maximum per person or abide by the limit according to their City's bylaw.
	Respect and promote all animal control by-laws.
	Endeavour to ensure the health and safety of the dogs in our care at all times.
	Endeavour to ensure the safety and well being of people and dogs we meet while on our walks.
	Clean up after the dogs in our care.
	Respect the environment in which you are walking.

Code of Conduct Interpretation

Respect and promote all animal control by-laws: This means, exactly what it says. We can respect and promote, however the city, unfortunately, does not give us much opportunity to actually obey the by-laws. This is due to the fact that there are not enough "legal" areas in which we can conduct our business. So we must be careful where we walk our client's dogs. Try to find vacant land that is unsigned or other "safe places" where you won't meet up with too many people that don't understand your job. We've all been there. For the most part, stick to the "designated areas."

Endeavor to insure the health and safety of the dogs in your care: This statement also reflects where you take your dogs. Keeping them safe from hazardous objects, away from traffic and away from crowds of people.

Endeavor to insure the safety and well being of people and dogs we meet while on our walks: This statement suggests that not only are we responsible for keeping our dogs safe, but we do have a responsibility for making sure our dogs don't endanger any people or pets that we encounter. Unfortunately, some people scare easily and just being close to a dog is too much to handle. Try to give people as much space as possible.

Clean up after the dogs in our care: This means cleaning up dog poop, vomit, (Heaven forbid they pee on something they shouldn't have) or, if they dig a hole or turn over a garbage can, please put things back the way they were.

Respect the environment in which you are walking: Since we are walking on public grounds, this statement indicates that we have a duty to not only put things back the way they were, but make an effort to ensure that nothing gets put out of place. We all agree to make a conscious effort to keep the environment clean, protected, and safe for ourselves and for any other individual whether we come in contact or not.

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