The friendly ground rules for boarding your bird with us in Pickering.
Last updated: June 2026
These terms explain how things work when you use this website to reach Pickering Bird Retreat and when you board a bird with us. We serve Pickering and the surrounding Durham Region. By sending us an inquiry or booking a stay, you're agreeing to the points below. We've kept them plain and fair — if anything needs explaining, just ask.
Submitting our contact or booking form starts a conversation — it isn't a confirmed reservation on its own. A stay is only booked once we've talked through your bird's needs, agreed on dates, and confirmed it with you directly. We board a limited number of birds at a time, so we can't guarantee availability until your dates are confirmed in writing.
Because every bird and every stay is different, our pricing is quoted individually. Any prices or ranges you see on this website are starting points to give you a sense of cost, not a final figure. Your quote depends on things like your bird's species and care needs, the length of the stay, and the time of year. We'll confirm the full price with you before your bird's stay begins.
So we can give your bird the best possible care, we ask that you:
We watch your bird closely and treat it like one of our own flock. If your bird becomes unwell during its stay and we can't reach you, you authorize us to seek appropriate veterinary care on your behalf, and you agree to be responsible for those reasonable veterinary costs. We'll always do our best to contact you first.
Plans change — we get it. If you need to cancel or move your dates, please let us know as early as you can so we can offer the space to another family. Because we hold a spot for your bird, late cancellations or no-shows may affect any deposit. We'll go over the exact cancellation terms with you when we confirm your booking, so there are no surprises.
If you're running late for pick-up, just give us a heads-up and we'll do our best to accommodate you; additional days may be charged at our standard rate. If a bird is left well beyond the agreed pick-up date and we genuinely can't reach you or your emergency contact, we'll continue to care for it and will take reasonable steps to reconnect you with your bird.
We care for every bird with genuine attention and experience, and we take real precautions to keep your bird safe and comfortable. That said, animals can become ill or injured for reasons outside anyone's control. Except where caused by our own negligence, Pickering Bird Retreat is not liable for illness, injury, or loss that occurs despite reasonable care, and our responsibility is limited to the cost of the boarding services provided. Nothing here is intended to remove any rights you have under applicable Ontario law.
To keep every guest safe, we may decline or end a stay if a bird arrives unwell or aggressive in a way we're not equipped to handle safely, or if information we were given turns out to be inaccurate. We'll always communicate openly and try to work something out with you first.
We may update these terms from time to time. The version posted on this page, with the date above, is the one that applies.
If you'd like anything clarified before you book, reach us any time at info@pickeringbirdretreat.ca or through our contact form. We're glad to talk it through.