Terms of Service

Last updated: 1 April 2026

1. Acceptance of terms

By creating an account or using the Central Barks platform, you agree to these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform. These terms apply to all users: pet owners, dog walkers, and business owners.

2. Platform description

Central Barks is an online marketplace that connects pet owners with independent dog walkers and pet care businesses. We provide the technology platform and payment infrastructure but are not ourselves a dog walking service. Dog walkers are independent contractors, not employees of Central Barks.

3. User responsibilities

All users agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information when creating an account
  • Keep your account credentials secure and not share them with others
  • Use the platform only for lawful purposes
  • Treat other users with respect and not engage in harassment, abuse, or discriminatory behaviour
  • Not attempt to circumvent the platform to arrange bookings or payments outside of Central Barks
  • Not post false, misleading or defamatory reviews

4. Walker responsibilities

Dog walkers and pet care businesses using Central Barks agree to:

  • Hold current public liability insurance appropriate for pet care services
  • Maintain an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
  • Only accept bookings for services they are qualified and equipped to provide
  • Communicate promptly with pet owners before, during, and after booked services
  • Notify pet owners immediately of any incident involving their pet
  • Comply with all relevant UK regulations, including animal welfare legislation

5. Payment terms

Payments are processed through Stripe. By making a booking, you authorise Central Barks to charge your payment method for the agreed service fee.

  • Payment is taken at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed
  • Payouts to walkers are processed according to the Stripe Connect schedule
  • All prices on the platform are inclusive of VAT where applicable

6. Cancellation policy

Cancellation terms are set by individual walkers and displayed on their profile. As a general guideline:

  • Cancellations made more than 48 hours before a booking are typically fully refunded
  • Cancellations within 48 hours may incur a partial or full charge at the walker's discretion
  • If a walker cancels a booking, the pet owner will receive a full refund

Disputes about cancellations should first be raised with the walker directly. If unresolved, contact us at hello@centralbarks.co.uk.

7. Limitation of liability

Central Barks acts as a marketplace and is not liable for:

  • The actions or omissions of dog walkers or pet owners
  • Injury to pets or third parties during a booked service
  • Loss or damage to property during a booked service
  • Consequential, indirect, or economic losses arising from use of the platform

Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be limited by law.

8. Intellectual property

All content on the Central Barks platform (including text, images, logos, and software) is owned by or licensed to Central Barks. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use our content without written permission.

9. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms, at our sole discretion. You may delete your account at any time from your account settings.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

11. Messaging and community guidelines

All users must follow our Community Guidelines when using the messaging features on Central Barks. This includes one-to-one messages between pet owners and walkers, and team chat between business owners and their walkers.

  • Messages must be professional, relevant to dog walking services and respectful
  • Harassment, threatening behaviour, offensive content and spam are strictly prohibited
  • Users may report any message that violates these guidelines using the built-in report function
  • Central Barks will review all reports within 24 hours and may suspend or remove accounts in breach
  • Deleted messages are retained for legal compliance and investigation purposes

Our messaging moderation practices comply with the UK Online Safety Act 2023. For full details see our Community Guidelines.

12. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the platform after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. We will notify registered users of significant changes by email.