Boarding, a good idea or a bad idea?

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Since some of you seem to have such strong opinions on this, I'm guessing you guys got burned in the past?

If so, what would you change about what you did?

I'm not sure if I should ask for some kind of damage or security deposit for this and if we should put a time length on it like a lease, or if it should be month to month?

I was originally thinking of writing out a 6 month "lease" but what should the wording be like in the case of non-payment? Should I state that non-payment for even one month will relinquish the ownership to me or something?
Should I have a late payment fee?

Hmmmm, I hate paperwork but I agree that this is really nessesary. I cannot afford to get burned here and I'm just trying to be nice and help someone out.

 

[sandypaws]

i have been "burned" MANY times.... in MANY different situations

call your local animal control because the laws might be different in your area... about "abandonment" and "late bording fees"

most places say you can sell the animals to pay for feed/care if left "abandond" at your property over so many days...
i do reptile boarding.. and my contract states if the animals are left beyond 10 days (of agreed pick-up date) the animals are consided abandoned and are now legally MINE and i can sell them for care costs..

also make sure there are agreements about emergancy medical care.... and feed and CLEANING of pen agreements... ect....

i am sure on-line there are boarding contracts you could sneak a copy of... or make up your own..
just PLEASE get something SIGNED

 

[sandypaws]

... signed AND NOTERIZED .. if possible

 

[katrinag]

I would ask for a $100 deposit for damage. Just like a real "lease". I would give her 2 months of non-payment then do something about it. The best thing you can do it to sit and talk with the lady about it.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Well I met her today and she is a very nice woman. We talked for a long time and she likes my place alot. She even asked me if I had something I wanted signed!
I told her that I would have something written up for us both to sign together when she comes out next, no money or anything changed hands today, she was only coming to see if my place was suitable for her needs.
I will be seeing her again next week when she comes out to build her goat house, we will sign an agreement then.
I will call animal control, that is a good idea!
Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[patandchickens]

Here is the problem (I'm only saying this b/c you asked what problems people had experienced -- and I am speaking of a lot of other peoples' experience I've observed in this, not having had it happen to me personally) --

Written agreements only help insofar as a) you want to take the person to court, b) you can afford to take the person to court, and c) the issues are simple and merely financial-settlement in nature.

Here is an example. Person A agrees to board Person B's horse. (I have seen this happen at large boarding barns *and* in one-horse backyard boarding-only-to-help-person-in-need situations). They write and sign an agreement about monthly board fees, other services and fees, what will be done in the event the horse needs vet care, and what will be done in the event of nonpayment of board. Person B then stops coming to see or do anything with the horse and stops paying board. Person A invests large amounts of time in handling the horse to keep it manageable and maybe correcting some behavior problems; doctors up some minor health problems such as fungus or cuts/scrapes; has the vet out for routine and/or emergency vet care. Yet, no board, and no sign of Person B (or maybe occasional teary-eyed oh-I-wish-I-could-get-out-here-more-often visits).

After some time, possibly longer than stipulated in contract, person A has had enough and sends a certified letter to person B saying 'pay X amount in full and remove your horse by <date> or the horse will go to sheriff's auction and I will be paid out of the proceeds". (For horses, dunno bout other animals, this is usually the legal requirement -- you can't just keep the horse or sell it).

Person B then descends with hysterics and lawyers, often not until the day before the horse goes for auction. Not only do they claim that they paid you already, or had an agreement to pay in installments, or the need to pay was voided by <something>, they decide that you have not taken good care of the animal and owe THEM a bijillion dollars in damages. (Alternatively, sometimes Person B sneaks in at night and takes their horse back along with half your show tack).

Lots of fun ensues.

The best that Person A generally gets away with is a court judgement for board and documentable undebatable vet bills... which Person B often does not actually ever get around to paying.

Seen it happen a number of times in various forms.

Legal agreements are nice, but they really don't do anything to prevent hysterics, midnight disappearances, badmouthing campaigns, the need to take care of the animal while this is going on, or all sorts of other stressful things.

Obviously many of these agreements go amicably... but my observation with horses, dogs and cats is that it is not at ALL uncommon for things to go seriously awry.

Again, not saying don't do it, just sayin'.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[sandypaws]

thats is why you need EVERYTHING in writing and signed.... oh yeah take pictures too..... of the condition of the animals when they get to your house.. look them over for injuries and signs of sickness..

 

[sandypaws]

and again.. check all of YOUR LOCAL laws... because here the animals dont need to be sold at a "sherriffs auction"

after having 7 turtle/tortoises, 3 snakes, and one 4 foot lizard dumped on me (all starving to death and full of shell and mouth rot)... i was told by animal control that 10 days after agree'ed on date (for boarding small animals, not horses) .. the animals are considered abandon, and are yours to do with as you wish,,(keep/sell),
the lizard died, even tho i took it to the VET with my own money and force fed it for 3 weeks... the snakes i kept, the turtles all went to different rescue groups..

 

[abluechipstock]

a couple things make her sign a contract!!! and don't put up with nonsense, remember it is your farm and your rules, make sure you include every detail in the contract from the money, how the animals must be treated and what happens if she doesn't pay, believe me i do contracts with the dogs i sell because i've been burned and it was from friends, so you can make this work just be smart about it

 

[gaited horse]

so when do you start boarding