# 5 AI shortcuts for pet care businesses > Five messages dog walkers, groomers and pet sitters send all the time, each with a prompt you can copy into any AI chat. You check every line, and health questions always go to the vet. - Page: https://hoursaved.com/for/pet-care/ - Covers: dog walkers, groomers, pet sitters, boarding, dog trainers ## 1. Ask a new client for vaccination records before the first visit Shortcut id: pet-care/records-request Use it when your own policy needs records first. Health questions go to their vet. Skip this if the owner asks for health or vaccine advice, or never agreed to get texts from you; health questions go to their vet. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [dog-walking / grooming / pet-sitting / boarding] business. A new client booked and I need their pet's records first. Pet: [name, type]. First visit: [date]. What my policy needs: [for example vaccination records, vet contact, emergency contact]. How to send them: [email, upload link, photo by text]. Deadline: [date]. Write a short, friendly message asking for these before the first visit. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - No medical advice. Don't say which vaccines a pet needs; that's my policy and their vet's call. - Call the pet by name or "they" unless I give its sex. - Ask only for the records I listed, worded the way I gave them. ``` **Check before you send:** - The list matches your written policy. - No medical advice. - The deadline and how to send are clear. - If you send it by text, only text people who agreed to get texts from you, and stop if they ask you to. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/appointment-reminder-no-show-messages/ ## 2. Tell an owner about a problem with their pet's behavior Shortcut id: pet-care/behavior-report Use it after an incident like snapping, pulling hard or high stress, to report the facts kindly. Don't use this when a person or animal was hurt or the owner may make a claim; call them and talk to your insurer first. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [dog-walking / grooming / pet-sitting / boarding] business. I need to tell an owner about a behavior problem. No one was hurt. Pet: [name]. What happened: [facts: when and what]. What I did: [how you handled it]. What I need from them: [for example a muzzle, a different time slot, or a call]. My policy: [in your words]. Write a calm, kind message that reports the facts and says what happens next. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - No medical or diagnosis claims; suggest their vet or a trainer if needed. Don't blame the owner. - No praise or labels about the pet that aren't in my facts. ``` **Check before you send:** - Facts only, no labels for the pet. - What you need from them is clear. - No diagnosis; health questions go to the vet. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/phone-call-recap-for-customer/ ## 3. Apply your late-cancellation policy Shortcut id: pet-care/late-cancel Use it when a client cancels at the last minute or isn't home for a visit. Skip this if you're still deciding whether a fee is fair or legal, or if the client mentions an emergency; reply yourself. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [dog-walking / grooming / pet-sitting / boarding] business. A client cancelled late or wasn't there when I arrived. Visit: [date, time, service]. What happened: [short]. My policy: [your cancellation and lockout policy, in your words]. Am I waiving anything: [no / yes, what]. Write one short, friendly, firm text that applies my policy. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - No guilt-tripping. Keep it under 80 words. ``` **Check before you send:** - The fee matches terms the client saw and agreed to (not just your current policy). - Any waiver is one you chose. - Short and kind. - If you send it by text, only text people who agreed to get texts from you, and stop if they ask you to. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/appointment-reminder-no-show-messages/ ## 4. Announce holiday booking dates and deadlines Shortcut id: pet-care/holiday-booking Use it a month or more before busy holidays, for clients who agreed to hear from you. Skip this if people never signed up for your emails or unsubscribed, or if you'd be texting them without consent. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [dog-walking / grooming / pet-sitting / boarding] business. Holiday dates fill up fast and I want clients to book early. Holiday period: [dates]. Services available: [list]. Holiday prices: [same as usual / new prices]. Booking deadline: [date, if real]. How to book: [link, phone or reply]. Write one short email to my client list, with an honest subject line. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - No fake urgency. End with a line on how to stop getting these emails. - End the email with these two lines: [your business postal address] and [how to unsubscribe]. - Write each price exactly as I gave it; don't add "per visit", "per day" or "per night" unless I did. ``` **Check before you send:** - Only send to people who agreed to hear from you, and leave out anyone who unsubscribed. - Your email includes your business postal address and a working unsubscribe link. - The subject line says honestly what the email is about. - Dates, prices and any deadline are right and real. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/monthly-customer-email/ ## 5. Send a short visit update after each walk or sit Shortcut id: pet-care/visit-update Use it from your quick notes, so owners get a clear update every time. Don't use this when something worrying happened, like an injury, illness or escape; call the owner instead. Tested once on October 27, 2026 on an example: GPT-6.1 Sol (via Codex) and Claude Sonnet 5.5 (via Claude Code) both followed the rules. One run is not proof, so still check. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. ``` I run a [dog-walking / grooming / pet-sitting / boarding] business. I want to send the owner a short update after a visit. My notes: [walk length, food, water, toilet, mood, anything unusual]. Anything the owner should know or do: [for example low on food, or "nothing"]. Write a short, warm update text, under 60 words. Rules: - Use only the facts I give you. Don't send anything. - Don't invent prices, fees, dates, policies or promises. - If anything is missing or unclear, write UNCLEAR next to it. - No health guesses; if something seems off, say they may want to check with their vet. - Use only what is in my notes, and keep the whole text under 60 words. ``` **Check before you send:** - Every detail is from your notes. - No health guesses. - Anything they need to do is clear. - If you send it by text, only text people who agreed to get texts from you, and stop if they ask you to. Full step-by-step guide: https://hoursaved.com/guides/phone-call-recap-for-customer/ ## Questions pet care business owners ask **Can AI write updates to pet owners?** Yes, from your own notes. Read it before you send so every detail is true. **Can AI tell me if a pet is sick or which vaccines it needs?** No. Health and vaccine questions go to the owner's vet. AI can help you write the message that says so. **How do I tell an owner their dog snapped or misbehaved?** Stick to the facts, say what you did and what you need from them, and keep it kind. The behavior shortcut above drafts that message. Don't paste card or bank numbers, passwords, or health, legal or other private details about anyone. Check every message before you send it.