Business Participation Terms

1. About these Terms

1.1 Dog Access Mark is the independent standards body responsible for the UK National Dog Access Scheme.

1.2 Dog Access Mark is a trading name of MEEKOL LIMITED, a private limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 10736702. In these Terms, references to “Dog Access Mark”, “we”, “us” or “our” mean MEEKOL LIMITED trading as Dog Access Mark.

1.3 These Terms form a legally binding agreement between Dog Access Mark and the Business applying for or participating in the Scheme.

1.4 By submitting an application, completing verification, completing re-verification, accepting these Terms electronically, or otherwise confirming participation after being given access to these Terms, the Business agrees to be bound by them.

1.5 Where an individual accepts these Terms for a company, partnership, charity, organisation, public body or other entity, that individual confirms that they have authority to bind that entity.

1.6 If there is any conflict between these Terms and general promotional or explanatory material, these Terms prevail in relation to Business participation. The Dog Access Standard also applies as expressly stated in these Terms.

1.7 Participation in the Scheme does not create any statutory status, government approval, regulatory approval or official licence. Dog Access Mark is an independent scheme and is not a government department, regulator, licensing authority or law-enforcement body.

2. Definitions

Business

The business, organisation, operator or other legal entity applying for or participating in the Scheme.

Business Profile

The public record or profile for a participating Business displayed by Dog Access Mark.

Dog Access Code

The behaviour and responsibility rules published by Dog Access Mark for dog owners and handlers visiting participating businesses.

Dog Access ID

The unique identifier assigned by Dog Access Mark to a relevant sticker and verification record.

Dog Access Standard

The current Dog Access Mark rules and requirements applying to participating businesses.

National Dog Access Register

The register of participating businesses maintained by Dog Access Mark.

Premises

The individual physical site or location to which an application or verification relates.

Scheme

Dog Access Mark and the UK National Dog Access Scheme.

Verified Business

A Business whose relevant Premises has successfully completed the applicable Dog Access Mark verification process and whose verification remains current.

Verification

The Dog Access Mark process used to assess and record a Business’s participation, declared dog access status and relevant information.

3. Eligibility and participation

3.1 Participation in Dog Access Mark is free.

3.2 Applying does not create an automatic right to join the Scheme or become a Verified Business.

3.3 Dog Access Mark may approve, reject, defer or request further information in relation to any application where reasonably necessary to protect the accuracy, integrity or proper operation of the Scheme.

3.4 Participation and verification are specific to the Premises approved by Dog Access Mark. Registration of one Premises does not automatically cover another branch, site, venue, franchise, concession, mobile operation or location.

3.5 Each Premises must have its own appropriate registration and verification unless Dog Access Mark expressly confirms otherwise in writing.

3.6 Dog Access Mark may refuse or defer an application where, in its reasonable opinion:

1. information is incomplete, inconsistent, inaccurate or misleading;
2. the proposed status does not reasonably reflect the Business’s stated policy;
3. additional information or evidence is reasonably required;
4. the applicant has previously misused Dog Access Mark or its intellectual property;
5. there is a material unresolved integrity, fraud or verification concern; or
6. acceptance would otherwise materially undermine the purpose or integrity of the Scheme.

3.7 Dog Access Mark may establish reasonable administrative and verification procedures and may update those procedures from time to time.

4. Authority and Business account responsibility

4.1 The Business must ensure that all persons acting for it in connection with the Scheme are appropriately authorised.

4.2 The Business is responsible for information submitted by its owners, directors, employees, agents and authorised representatives.

4.3 The Business must keep its administrative contact details current and must promptly notify Dog Access Mark if the person responsible for the Business’s participation changes.

4.4 The Business must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised access to any account, verification link, administration process or confidential communication issued to it.

4.5 Dog Access Mark may rely on instructions reasonably appearing to have been submitted by an authorised representative unless we have reason to believe otherwise.

5. Accuracy of information and continuing warranties

5.1 The Business is responsible for the information it provides to Dog Access Mark.

5.2 The Business warrants on application, verification and re-verification, and throughout its participation, that information provided by or on behalf of the Business is, to the best of its knowledge:

1. complete;
2. accurate;
3. current;
4. not misleading by statement or omission;
5. lawfully provided; and
6. sufficient to fairly describe the Business’s dog access position.

5.3 The Business must promptly notify Dog Access Mark of any material change that makes or may make its Business Profile, status, restrictions or verification information inaccurate or misleading.

5.4 Material changes include changes to dog access status, restrictions, trading name, ownership or operator where relevant, Premises address, closure, relocation, contact information, facilities represented on the Business Profile, or any other matter materially affecting the accuracy of the published record.

5.5 The Business must not knowingly permit materially inaccurate or outdated information to remain on the National Dog Access Register.

5.6 Dog Access Mark is entitled to rely on information provided by the Business unless we know or reasonably suspect that it may be inaccurate.

5.7 Where Dog Access Mark identifies an apparent discrepancy, we may correct an obvious non-substantive error, seek clarification, temporarily qualify information, hide affected information or suspend verification while the matter is resolved.

6. Dog Access Mark statuses

6.1 Each participating Premises will be recorded using one of the following approved statuses:

• Dogs Welcome
• Dogs Welcome With Restrictions
• Pet Dogs Not Permitted  •  Assistance Dogs Welcome

6.2 The Business is responsible for ensuring that its selected status accurately reflects its actual pet-dog access policy.

6.3 A Dogs Welcome status does not require a Business to tolerate behaviour that is unsafe, uncontrolled, disruptive, unhygienic or otherwise inconsistent with the Dog Access Standard or applicable law.

6.4 Where the status is Dogs Welcome With Restrictions, the Business must provide restrictions that are sufficiently clear and accurate to allow the public to understand the stated access position before visiting.

6.5 Pet Dogs Not Permitted concerns pet-dog access. It does not remove, limit or replace any separate duty a Business may have in relation to disabled people, reasonable adjustments or assistance dogs.

7. Legal compliance and assistance dogs

7.1 The Business remains solely responsible for identifying and complying with all laws, regulations, licences, duties and professional requirements applying to its activities and Premises.

7.2 This includes any duties concerning disability discrimination, reasonable adjustments, access to services and assistance dogs.

7.3 Dog Access Mark does not determine whether a particular person or dog has a legal right of access to a particular Premises.

7.4 Participation in the Scheme, a Business Profile, a sticker, a Dog Access ID or any Dog Access Mark guidance does not replace, reduce, vary or override the Business’s legal duties.

7.5 Information published by Dog Access Mark concerning legal or regulatory matters is general information only and is not legal advice. The Business must obtain independent professional advice where necessary.

7.6 The Business must not represent that Dog Access Mark has approved the legality of its policies, decisions or conduct unless Dog Access Mark has expressly stated this in writing, and Dog Access Mark will not ordinarily provide such approval.

8. The Dog Access Standard

8.1 The Business agrees to comply with the current Dog Access Standard while participating in the Scheme.

8.2 The Dog Access Standard forms part of the conditions of participation but does not replace applicable law.

8.3 Dog Access Mark may update the Dog Access Standard where reasonably necessary to improve the Scheme, clarify requirements, respond to experience or evidence, protect Scheme integrity, or reflect legal, regulatory, technical or operational developments.

8.4 Where a change materially affects a participating Business’s obligations, Dog Access Mark will take reasonable steps to communicate the change.

8.5 Dog Access Mark may require a Business to confirm compliance with an updated Dog Access Standard as part of re-verification or another appropriate process.

9. Verification and Verified Business status

9.1 A Business does not become a Verified Business merely by submitting an application.

9.2 Verification may include declarations, information, photographs, documents, location information or other evidence reasonably requested by Dog Access Mark.

9.3 Dog Access Mark may determine the nature and level of evidence reasonably required for verification.

9.4 Verification is limited to the purposes of the Scheme and the information assessed through the applicable verification process.

9.5 Verification does not constitute:

1. a statutory, regulatory, licensing or health and safety inspection;
2. confirmation that the Business complies with every applicable law;
3. a general quality assessment of the Business;
4. a guarantee of the Business’s services, staff, facilities, safety or suitability;
5. a guarantee that every dog or customer will be admitted in every circumstance;
6. approval of every future access decision made by the Business; or
7. a general endorsement of the Business beyond its participation in the Scheme.

9.6 Verified Business status means only that the relevant Premises has satisfied the Dog Access Mark verification requirements applicable at the relevant time.

9.7 Dog Access Mark is not required to continuously inspect or monitor the day-to-day operation of a Verified Business.

9.8 Dog Access Mark may review verification where information subsequently received gives reasonable grounds to question its accuracy or continuing validity.

10. National Dog Access Register and Business Profiles

10.1 The Business authorises Dog Access Mark to create, maintain and publish a Business Profile on the National Dog Access Register.

10.2 Published information may include the Business name, Premises address and location, business category and type, dog access status, restrictions, Dog Access ID, verification validity, facilities or amenities, public website, public telephone number, public email address and other information identified as public within the Scheme.

10.3 The Business grants Dog Access Mark a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence for the duration of participation and for reasonable archival purposes afterwards to use, reproduce, format and display any business name, logo, photograph, description or other material supplied by the Business to the extent reasonably necessary to administer, verify, publish or promote the Business’s participation in the Scheme.

10.4 The Business warrants that it has the necessary rights and permissions to provide materials covered by clause 10.3.

10.5 Information identified as private or administrative will not ordinarily be displayed publicly.

10.6 Verification photographs and internal verification evidence will not ordinarily be public unless the Business has separately agreed to their publication or publication is otherwise lawful and appropriate.

10.7 Dog Access Mark may correct obvious formatting, typographical or technical errors where doing so does not materially alter the meaning of information supplied.

10.8 Dog Access Mark may temporarily remove, hide or qualify published information where its accuracy or current validity is reasonably in doubt.

10.9 Dog Access Mark does not guarantee any particular position, prominence, ranking, ordering, availability or search-engine indexing of a Business Profile.

11. Dog Access IDs and stickers

11.1 Dog Access Mark may issue a Dog Access ID and physical Dog Access Mark sticker or stickers to an approved Premises.

11.2 A Dog Access ID is associated with the relevant verification record and Premises and remains subject to the Scheme’s verification status.

11.3 A Dog Access ID or sticker must not be transferred to another Business, branch, Premises, operator or location without Dog Access Mark’s prior written approval.

11.4 The Business must not, and must not knowingly allow any person to:

1. copy, reproduce, manufacture or distribute an unauthorised Dog Access Mark sticker;
2. create an imitation sticker or verification mark likely to be confused with Dog Access Mark;
3. alter the status wording, Dog Access ID, QR code or verification information;
4. display a sticker against a different Premises;
5. sell, assign, lend or transfer a sticker or Dog Access ID;
6. display an expired, suspended, cancelled, replaced or superseded sticker as if it were current; or
7. otherwise use a sticker or Dog Access ID in a false or misleading manner.

11.5 Where a replacement sticker or Dog Access ID is issued, Dog Access Mark may retire, supersede, cancel or otherwise mark the previous identifier as no longer current.

11.6 Lost, stolen, damaged, defective or compromised stickers must be reported to Dog Access Mark as soon as reasonably practicable.

11.7 Dog Access Mark may require obsolete, expired, superseded, suspended or invalid stickers to be removed from display.

11.8 Physical possession of a sticker does not itself prove current verification. The current verification record held by Dog Access Mark prevails.

12. Intellectual property and permitted use

12.1 All intellectual property rights in Dog Access Mark, its names, logos, sticker artwork, visual identity, verification system, scheme materials, the Dog Access Standard, the Dog Access Code, the National Dog Access Register and associated content remain owned by or licensed to Dog Access Mark.

12.2 Participation gives the Business a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable and revocable permission to display current Dog Access Mark materials supplied by or expressly authorised by Dog Access Mark for the relevant verified Premises.

12.3 This permission ends automatically when the relevant verification expires, is withdrawn, suspended or terminated, except to the extent Dog Access Mark expressly permits otherwise.

12.4 The Business must not use Dog Access Mark branding in a manner that:

1. implies accreditation or approval wider than the Scheme actually provides;
2. implies government, statutory or regulatory approval;
3. misrepresents the Business’s current status;
4. suggests Dog Access Mark guarantees the Business, its services or its legal compliance;
5. changes or obscures approved status wording;
6. damages or is reasonably likely to damage the integrity or reputation of the Scheme; or
7. is otherwise false, deceptive or misleading.

12.5 The Business must stop any unauthorised use promptly when requested by Dog Access Mark.

13. Changes to the Premises or dog access policy

13.1 The Business must notify Dog Access Mark promptly where a material change means its existing Business Profile, status, restrictions, Dog Access ID or sticker may no longer accurately represent the Premises.

13.2 A change may require further review, additional evidence, re-verification, a replacement sticker, a replacement Dog Access ID or another reasonable administrative step.

13.3 Dog Access Mark may temporarily alter, hide or qualify the public record where reasonably necessary to prevent materially inaccurate information from being presented as current.

13.4 The Business must not continue to display or promote a status it knows no longer reflects its actual policy.

14. Re-verification

14.1 Verification is time-limited and is ordinarily valid for 24 months.

14.2 The Business must complete re-verification when required in order to maintain current Verified Business status.

14.3 Dog Access Mark may require earlier re-verification where reasonably necessary because of:

1. a material change in dog access status or restrictions;
2. a significant change to the Premises or operator;
3. uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the Business Profile;
4. replacement or compromise of relevant verification materials;
5. information or a report reasonably calling verification into question; or
6. another material issue affecting the integrity of the verification.

14.4 Dog Access Mark may send reminders, but failure to receive a reminder does not extend verification or remove the Business’s responsibility to complete re-verification.

14.5 If re-verification is not completed by the applicable expiry date, the Business may cease to be shown as a current Verified Business, may be excluded from Find a Business, and may be required to complete a new or renewed verification before current status is restored.

15. Reports, concerns and investigations

15.1 Dog Access Mark may receive reports, concerns, complaints or information relating to a participating Business.

15.2 Dog Access Mark may, where reasonably appropriate:

1. record and review a report or concern;
2. contact the Business;
3. request information, an explanation or supporting evidence;
4. compare information against Scheme records;
5. record findings or an administrative outcome;
6. request corrective action;
7. require re-verification;
8. suspend or remove verification where justified; or
9. take no further action.

15.3 Receipt of a report does not mean Dog Access Mark accepts an allegation as fact.

15.4 Dog Access Mark may determine, on the information reasonably available, that a matter is substantiated, not substantiated, inconclusive, resolved or requires no Scheme action.

15.5 Dog Access Mark is not obliged to investigate every complaint, mediate private disputes, determine legal liability, award compensation or act as an appeal body for disputes between a Business and a customer.

15.6 The identity of a reporter will not necessarily be disclosed to the Business. Dog Access Mark may withhold information where disclosure would be unlawful, inappropriate, disproportionate, prejudicial to an investigation, or inconsistent with data protection or confidentiality obligations.

15.7 Nothing prevents Dog Access Mark from providing information to a court, regulator, insurer, professional adviser, law-enforcement body or other competent authority where lawful and appropriate.

16. Cooperation and evidence

16.1 The Business must provide reasonable cooperation where Dog Access Mark is considering the accuracy or validity of verification, suspected misuse of the Scheme, a material report, suspected fraud, intellectual property misuse or another matter materially affecting Scheme integrity.

16.2 Dog Access Mark may request information or evidence reasonably necessary for those purposes.

16.3 The Business must not knowingly provide altered, fabricated, misleading or incomplete evidence.

16.4 Failure to provide information reasonably necessary to establish continued eligibility may result in temporary suspension, expiry or removal of verification.

16.5 Dog Access Mark may retain relevant verification and investigation records for legitimate administrative, evidential, fraud-prevention, legal and audit purposes in accordance with applicable data protection law.

17. Suspension

17.1 Dog Access Mark may suspend participation or verification where it reasonably considers suspension necessary to protect customers, the Business, the public, Scheme records or the integrity of Dog Access Mark.

17.2 Grounds may include:

1. materially false, inaccurate or misleading information;
2. suspected misuse of a Dog Access ID, sticker or Dog Access Mark branding;
3. material or repeated non-compliance with the Dog Access Standard;
4. failure to correct materially inaccurate register information;
5. failure to cooperate with a material verification or integrity issue;
6. circumstances making the current status materially unreliable;
7. suspected fraud, impersonation or manipulation of verification evidence;
8. unlawful or materially misleading use of Dog Access Mark intellectual property; or
9. conduct materially capable of undermining the credibility or integrity of the Scheme.

17.3 Suspension may take effect immediately where Dog Access Mark reasonably considers that delay could cause material harm, public confusion, misuse of the Scheme or inaccurate information to remain publicly presented as current.

17.4 During suspension Dog Access Mark may hide or qualify the Business Profile, remove the Business from Find a Business, change the public verification state of the Dog Access ID, require relevant stickers to be removed from display, and request further information.

17.5 Where reasonably appropriate, Dog Access Mark will give the Business an opportunity to provide relevant information before a final decision is made.

18. Withdrawal, expiry and termination

18.1 The Business may withdraw from the Scheme by notifying Dog Access Mark through an available contact or administration channel.

18.2 Dog Access Mark may terminate participation or verification where:

1. the Business requests withdrawal;
2. verification expires and is not renewed;
3. the Business ceases trading or the Premises permanently closes;
4. the Business materially breaches these Terms;
5. false or misleading information has been deliberately or recklessly supplied;
6. Dog Access Mark branding, a sticker or a Dog Access ID has been materially misused;
7. the Business repeatedly or materially fails to comply with the Dog Access Standard;
8. continued participation would materially undermine the integrity of the Scheme; or
9. another substantial reason makes continued verification inappropriate.

18.3 Following withdrawal, expiry or termination:

1. the Business may cease to be a Verified Business;
2. the Business may be removed from Find a Business or otherwise shown as no longer current;
3. the Dog Access ID may be marked expired, withdrawn, superseded or otherwise not current;
4. the Business must stop representing itself as currently verified;
5. Dog Access Mark may require current-status stickers and other verification materials to be removed from display; and
6. the licence to use Dog Access Mark branding under these Terms ends except where expressly permitted.

18.4 Historical and administrative records may be retained where reasonably necessary for record-keeping, fraud prevention, audit, legal compliance, dispute resolution, enforcement or other legitimate purposes.

18.5 Clauses which by their nature are intended to continue after termination, including provisions concerning intellectual property, liability, indemnity, records, confidentiality, governing law and accrued rights, continue to apply.

19. No guaranteed commercial benefit

19.1 Dog Access Mark provides a system for communicating a participating Business’s dog access position and related Scheme information.

19.2 Dog Access Mark does not guarantee that participation will result in customers, enquiries, revenue, sales, publicity, search-engine visibility, website traffic, recommendations or any other commercial benefit.

19.3 Dog Access Mark does not guarantee any particular volume of users, searches, profile views, verification checks or interactions.

19.4 The Business must make its own commercial decisions and remains responsible for determining whether participation is suitable for it.

20. Insurance and operational responsibility

20.1 The Business remains responsible for maintaining any licences, consents, registrations, permissions, policies, training and insurance required for its own activities.

20.2 Participation in Dog Access Mark does not confirm that the Business has appropriate insurance or is otherwise compliant with any legal, professional or regulatory requirement.

20.3 The Business remains responsible for the operation, management, staffing, safety, hygiene, customer service and access decisions at its Premises.

20.4 Dog Access Mark does not assume responsibility for the behaviour of dogs, owners, handlers, customers, staff or other persons at the Premises.

21. Third-party information and services

21.1 Dog Access Mark may receive information about a Business from customers, members of the public, service providers or other third parties.

21.2 Dog Access Mark does not warrant that third-party information is complete or accurate.

21.3 Where third-party information may materially affect verification, Dog Access Mark may seek clarification or additional evidence before reaching a final Scheme decision.

21.4 The Scheme may use third-party technology, hosting, mapping, communications, analytics, security or infrastructure services. Dog Access Mark is not responsible for matters outside its reasonable control arising solely from the acts or omissions of those independent providers, subject always to liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

22. Website and service availability

22.1 Dog Access Mark will take reasonable steps to operate the National Dog Access Register and associated systems, but uninterrupted, error-free or continuous availability is not guaranteed.

22.2 Systems may be unavailable, delayed or affected by maintenance, updates, hosting failure, telecommunications failure, third-party service failure, cyber-security incidents, technical faults or events outside Dog Access Mark’s reasonable control.

22.3 Dog Access Mark may maintain, repair, replace, suspend or modify systems where reasonably necessary.

22.4 Where reasonably practicable, Dog Access Mark will take reasonable steps to correct material errors brought to its attention.

23. Electronic acceptance and records

23.1 The Business agrees that these Terms may be accepted electronically.

23.2 Dog Access Mark may retain evidence of acceptance, including the version accepted, date and time of acceptance, relevant Business and user identifiers, and other technical or administrative records reasonably necessary to evidence acceptance and administer the Scheme.

23.3 Electronic records maintained in the ordinary course of Dog Access Mark’s systems may be used as evidence of applications, declarations, verification, re-verification, acceptance, communications and Scheme decisions.

23.4 The Business is responsible for ensuring that any electronic acceptance submitted on its behalf is made by an authorised person.

24. Personal data

24.1 Dog Access Mark processes personal data in accordance with its Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

24.2 The Business must ensure that it has an appropriate lawful basis or other authority to provide personal data relating to any owner, director, employee, representative or other individual whose information it submits to Dog Access Mark.

24.3 The Business must not provide personal data that is unnecessary for the relevant Scheme purpose.

24.4 Where a report, verification or communication includes sensitive information, Dog Access Mark may process that information only where there is an appropriate legal basis and to the extent reasonably necessary.

25. Confidential information

25.1 Each party must take reasonable care with confidential information received from the other which is clearly confidential by nature or designation.

25.2 This obligation does not apply to information which is already public other than through breach, was lawfully known before disclosure, is received lawfully from a third party without confidentiality restriction, is independently developed, or must be disclosed by law or competent authority.

25.3 Dog Access Mark may use confidential Business information to the extent reasonably necessary to administer, verify, investigate, enforce or protect the Scheme, subject to applicable law.

26. Liability

26.1 Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability which the law does not permit to be excluded.

26.2 Subject to clause 26.1, Dog Access Mark will not be liable for:

1. loss of profit, revenue, business, contracts, anticipated savings or opportunity;
2. loss of goodwill or reputation;
3. indirect or consequential loss;
4. loss arising from inaccurate, incomplete or outdated information supplied or maintained by the Business;
5. loss resulting from a Business failing to notify Dog Access Mark of a material change;
6. decisions, statements, acts or omissions of the Business, its staff, customers or third parties;
7. the conduct of a dog, owner, handler, customer or other person;
8. a customer deciding whether or not to visit or use a Business;
9. lack of commercial benefit from participation;
10. temporary interruption or unavailability of the Scheme or website; or
11. matters outside Dog Access Mark’s reasonable control.

26.3 Dog Access Mark does not assume responsibility for the operation, safety, suitability, regulatory compliance, accessibility, service quality or general conduct of a participating Business.

26.4 Subject to clauses 26.1 to 26.3, Dog Access Mark’s total aggregate liability to the Business arising out of or in connection with these Terms, participation in the Scheme, verification, the National Dog Access Register, a Dog Access ID or any related service, whether in contract, tort including negligence, misrepresentation, breach of statutory duty or otherwise, will not exceed £100.

26.5 The exclusions and limitations in this clause apply to the fullest extent permitted by law and are intended to allocate risk reasonably having regard to the fact that participation in the Scheme is provided free of charge.

27. Indemnity

27.1 The Business will indemnify Dog Access Mark against reasonable losses, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses, including reasonable legal and professional costs, arising from a third-party claim to the extent caused by:

1. materially false, inaccurate or misleading information knowingly or negligently supplied by or on behalf of the Business;
2. unauthorised, unlawful or misleading use of Dog Access Mark branding, stickers or a Dog Access ID;
3. material supplied by the Business infringing another person’s intellectual property or other legal rights;
4. unlawful conduct by the Business in connection with its participation;
5. unauthorised transfer, reproduction, alteration or misuse of Scheme materials; or
6. a material breach of these Terms by the Business.

27.2 The Business will not be liable under clause 27.1 to the extent that the relevant loss was caused by Dog Access Mark’s own breach of these Terms, negligence or unlawful conduct.

27.3 Dog Access Mark will take reasonable steps to mitigate losses for which it seeks recovery under this indemnity.

28. Force majeure

28.1 Dog Access Mark will not be responsible for delay or failure to perform an obligation to the extent caused by an event outside its reasonable control, including failure of hosting, communications or utilities, cyber incident, natural event, fire, flood, epidemic, pandemic, industrial dispute, civil disturbance, governmental action or failure of an essential third-party provider.

28.2 This clause does not exclude liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

29. Communications and notices

29.1 Dog Access Mark may contact the Business using the contact details supplied through the Scheme.

29.2 Communications may include application and verification correspondence, re-verification reminders, requests for information, reports or compliance matters, Scheme administration, security matters, changes to these Terms or the Dog Access Standard, and other communications reasonably necessary to manage participation.

29.3 The Business is responsible for maintaining a current contact email address and for checking communications sent to it.

29.4 A notice sent by email will be treated as received when sent unless the sender receives a delivery failure notification, subject to any mandatory legal rule requiring another method of service.

30. Changes to the Scheme and these Terms

30.1 Dog Access Mark may change or develop the Scheme, verification procedures, administration processes, website features and these Terms where reasonably necessary.

30.2 Reasons may include legal or regulatory developments, security requirements, technical changes, operational improvements, clarification, new Scheme functionality, fraud prevention or protection of Scheme integrity.

30.3 Where a change to these Terms materially affects participating businesses, Dog Access Mark will take reasonable steps to notify businesses before or when the change takes effect.

30.4 Dog Access Mark may require express acceptance of materially revised Terms, including as part of re-verification.

30.5 A change will not retrospectively remove rights or liabilities that had already accrued before the change took effect.

31. No partnership, agency or employment

31.1 Participation does not create a partnership, joint venture, franchise, employment, fiduciary or agency relationship between Dog Access Mark and the Business.

31.2 The Business has no authority to bind Dog Access Mark, incur liability on its behalf, make commitments for it or represent that it is authorised to do so.

32. Assignment and transfer

32.1 The Business may not assign, transfer, charge, sublicense or otherwise dispose of its participation, verification, Dog Access ID or rights under these Terms without Dog Access Mark’s prior written consent.

32.2 Dog Access Mark may assign or transfer its rights and obligations under these Terms as part of a genuine transfer, restructuring or succession of the Scheme or the business operating it, provided that doing so does not materially reduce the Business’s rights under the agreement.

33. Entire agreement and non-reliance

33.1 These Terms, together with the Dog Access Standard and any other document expressly incorporated into them, form the agreement governing Business participation in the Scheme.

33.2 The Business acknowledges that it has not relied on any representation, statement, assurance or warranty not set out in this agreement when deciding to participate.

33.3 Nothing in this clause excludes or limits liability for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

34. Waiver

34.1 A failure or delay by either party to exercise a right or remedy does not waive that right or remedy.

34.2 A waiver relating to one event does not constitute a waiver of any later event.

35. Severability

35.1 If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, it will be treated as modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it lawful and enforceable where possible.

35.2 If modification is not possible, the affected provision will be treated as deleted without affecting the remaining provisions.

36. Third-party rights

36.1 A person who is not a party to these Terms has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any provision of them.

36.2 The parties may vary, terminate or otherwise deal with this agreement without requiring the consent of any third party.

37. Governing law and jurisdiction

37.1 These Terms and any dispute or non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with them are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

37.2 Subject to any mandatory rule of law that applies otherwise, the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction to determine any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or Business participation in the Scheme.

38. Contact

Questions about these Business Participation Terms or participation in Dog Access Mark can be sent to: