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Alpine Dispatch Roster Status: 1 spot available for Friday Catskills expedition • 2 spots for Saturday
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Client Agreement & Operating Standards

Terms of Service

Gotham Paw is a boutique, single-handler dog care practice founded and operated by Christopher Mejo. These terms govern all services, including Catskills dog hikes, private grooming, and behavioral training.

Effective Date: November 2026 • Single Handler: Christopher Mejo • Questions: privacy@gothampaw.com

1 Sole Handler Practice & Roster Approval

Gotham Paw is operated solely by Christopher Mejo. When you book with Gotham Paw, Christopher personally handles the intake consultation, morning doorstep collection, transit, trail handling, post-hike rinse, and evening return. There are no secondary drivers, subcontractors, or rotating staff.

To protect pack safety and canine welfare, all new dogs must complete a complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation with Christopher before their first hike. Dogs that possess a verified AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate may skip the consultation step upon submitting their certificate details via our booking page.

2 Pack Ratio & Off-Leash Safety

  • ✓ Strict 1:4 Ratio: Gotham Paw caps all regular trail hikes at a maximum of four (4) dogs per hike. This guarantees that every dog remains within direct line of sight and voice control at all times.
  • ✓ Satellite GPS Telemetry: Every dog on the trail wears a Garmin Alpha GPS tracking collar monitored in real time throughout the expedition.
  • ✓ 30-Foot Long Lines First: New pack members hike on 30-foot biothane long lines until their recall is thoroughly proven around wilderness scents, terrain shifts, and wildlife.
  • ✓ Zero Aggression Policy: Dogs exhibiting unprovoked human or dog-directed aggression will not be accepted into group hikes. For dogs that need extra space, private solo or duo sessions are offered through our reactive dog hike program.

3 Veterinary Clearances & Preventatives

Prior to joining any hike, grooming, or training session, clients must provide current documentation from a licensed veterinarian certifying:

  • Mandatory Immunizations: Rabies, DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza), and Bordetella.
  • Parasite Defense: Active, year-round veterinarian-prescribed flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives.
  • General Health: Free from active infectious illness, open wounds, coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea within the preceding 14 days.

Records are verified during your initial consultation and can be refreshed anytime through the Client Portal.

4 Cancellations, Rescheduling & Weather Policy

More than 48 Hours Notice: Full refund or credit to your account. No fees assessed.
Between 24 and 48 Hours Notice: 100% of the booking fee is applied as a credit toward a future hike or service.
Less than 24 Hours Notice: Cancellations made within 24 hours of scheduled morning pickup are charged at the full rate, as each hike is capped at 4 dogs and spots cannot be reallocated on short notice.
Weather Cancellations (Zero Risk): We cancel for active lightning, heat index exceeding 85°F, or wind chill falling below 15°F. If Gotham Paw cancels due to adverse weather or dangerous trail conditions, you receive an immediate 100% credit or full refund.

5 Memberships & Payment Terms

All prices are clearly stated on our Pricing Page with zero hidden surcharges. Payment is handled securely via credit card on file.

  • Single Hikes: Invoiced at $250 and charged after the hike day is completed.
  • Monthly Memberships: Billed on the 1st of each month (Explorer: $450/mo for 2 hikes; Summit: $880/mo for 4 hikes; Athlete: $1,600/mo for 8 hikes). Memberships guarantee your recurring weekly day on the roster.
  • Rollovers: Up to two (2) unused member hikes roll over into the following calendar month.
  • Membership Cancellation: Memberships may be paused or canceled with 30 days' advance notice via text or email.

6 Emergency Veterinary Medical Protocol

Christopher Mejo holds certifications in Canine Wilderness First Aid and Pet CPR, and carries a comprehensive trauma kit and satellite emergency messenger on every trek.

In the event of an acute medical emergency on the trail, Christopher will immediately administer field stabilization and transport the dog to the nearest 24-hour regional facility:

Primary Emergency Hospital: Kingston Animal Hospital (approx. 12–15 minutes from Woodstock & Overlook trailheads).
Owners will be notified immediately via direct phone call and SMS with clinical status updates.

7 Commercial Liability & Bonding

Gotham Paw carries a $2,000,000 commercial animal care liability and bonding policy covering door-to-door transit, trail activities, and property access in premier residential buildings. Certificates of insurance naming your co-op or condo board as an additional insured are readily available upon request.

8 Doorman Coordination & Key Security

For doorman and concierge buildings, Christopher coordinates directly with your front desk. When physical keys are entrusted to Gotham Paw, they are stored in a heavy-gauge, PIN-coded lockbox in the transit van, labeled with an internal alphanumeric code and never your residential street address.

Questions Regarding Our Operating Terms?

If you have any questions regarding our safety protocols, cancellation terms, or custom service agreements, please reach out directly:

Direct Phone & SMS: (917) 747-8865

Email: concierge@gothampaw.com

Privacy Policy: Review our Privacy Policy