Incident & Emergency Care Policy
Effective April 18, 2026
Table of Contents
1. What Counts as an Emergency
An emergency is any situation that poses an immediate risk to a pet's health, safety, or life and requires urgent action. This includes, but is not limited to:
Injury (cuts, broken bones, falls, or impact trauma)
Sudden illness (vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing)
Seizures or loss of consciousness
Choking or difficulty swallowing
Heatstroke or hypothermia
Suspected poisoning (ingestion of toxic food, chemicals, or plants)
Escape or loss of the pet
Any other situation where a reasonable person would seek immediate veterinary care
Some situations are not emergencies but still require prompt reporting to the owner. These include:
Minor behavioral changes (excessive barking, hiding, restlessness)
Refusal to eat or drink for more than one meal
Minor scratches, limping, or skin irritation
Unusual stool or mild digestive upset
When in doubt, treat the situation as an emergency and act accordingly. It is always better to err on the side of caution when a pet's well-being is at stake.
2. Sitter's Immediate Duties
When an emergency occurs, the sitter must take reasonable steps to protect the pet's health and safety. Specifically, the sitter should:
Stay calm and assess the situation.
Remove the pet from any immediate danger (traffic, toxic substances, extreme temperatures).
Secure the pet so it cannot injure itself further or escape.
Seek prompt veterinary care when any delay could increase harm or risk to the pet.
Never leave an injured or ill pet unattended.
Administer basic first aid only if trained and comfortable doing so.
Sitters are not expected to be veterinary professionals. However, they are expected to act with the same care and diligence a reasonable pet caretaker would exercise in the same circumstances.
3. Contact Order
In the event of an emergency, the sitter must make reasonable efforts to contact the following parties in this order:
Emergency veterinary clinic — Call the nearest emergency vet or the owner's preferred vet if provided. If the pet needs immediate transport, go directly to the clinic.
Pet owner — Call, text, and message through Peddro. Try all available contact methods.
Owner's emergency contact — If the owner provided an emergency contact during booking, reach out to them next.
Peddro support — Contact us at contact@peddro.com or through the in-app support chat.
The sitter must make reasonable efforts at each step. If one party is unreachable, move to the next without undue delay. Do not wait for a response before seeking veterinary care if the situation is urgent.
4. Veterinary Treatment Authorization
By booking through Peddro, the owner authorizes the sitter to obtain emergency veterinary treatment on behalf of the pet if all of the following conditions are met:
The owner and the owner's emergency contact cannot be reached in a timely manner.
Immediate veterinary care is needed to prev