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Petzy Hardship Fund Policy & Terms

Operated by MLGR Ltd · Version 1.4 · Last Updated: March 2026

1. Overview

The Petzy Hardship Fund is a welfare assistance initiative operated by MLGR Ltd to support pet owners within the United Kingdom who are experiencing genuine financial hardship and are unable to afford essential veterinary care, emergency treatment, or necessary rehoming costs for their pets.

The fund exists to protect animal welfare by helping ensure pets can receive necessary medical treatment or welfare support when financial barriers would otherwise prevent it.

The Petzy Hardship Fund is funded through voluntary donations from members of the public, Petzy platform users, and partner organisations.

The fund is not insurance, not a charitable entitlement, and not a guaranteed source of financial support. All grants are discretionary and subject to the availability of funds.

2. Status of the Fund

The Petzy Hardship Fund is a privately operated welfare initiative administered by MLGR Ltd.

The fund is not a registered charity and does not operate as a charitable organisation. Donations made to the fund are voluntary contributions to support animal welfare initiatives operated by MLGR Ltd.

Donations made to the Petzy Hardship Fund do not qualify for charitable tax relief.

3. Operator

The Petzy Hardship Fund is owned and administered by:

MLGR Ltd is responsible for reviewing applications, verifying documentation, approving grants, and distributing payments where assistance is approved.

4. Purpose of the Fund

The Petzy Hardship Fund aims to:

  • Prevent unnecessary suffering due to lack of financial resources
  • Support responsible pet ownership during periods of financial hardship
  • Provide emergency veterinary care where treatment cannot otherwise be afforded
  • Assist with ethical rehoming where an owner can no longer care for their pet
  • Improve animal welfare outcomes within the community

Priority may be given to cases involving urgent medical needs or immediate welfare risks.

5. What the Fund May Cover

Where approved, grants may contribute toward essential welfare-related costs including:

Veterinary Treatment

  • Emergency veterinary treatment
  • Medically necessary surgery
  • Diagnostic tests required for urgent treatment
  • Pain management or essential medication
  • Emergency stabilisation procedures

Preventative Veterinary Care

  • Core vaccinations
  • Basic veterinary health checks
  • Spaying or neutering where medically appropriate

Welfare and Rehoming Support

  • Transport costs required for safe rehoming
  • Temporary foster care costs
  • Shelter intake or welfare assessment fees
  • Veterinary checks required for rehoming

MLGR Ltd retains sole discretion to determine whether a cost qualifies as essential under the fund.

6. Exclusions

The Petzy Hardship Fund does not cover:

  • Cosmetic procedures
  • Routine grooming
  • Breeding-related expenses
  • Elective or non-essential treatments
  • Behavioural training or behavioural specialists
  • Pet food or day-to-day living costs
  • Long-term ongoing medical conditions
  • Pet insurance policies
  • Any form of cash payment to applicants

The fund is strictly limited to essential welfare needs directly benefiting the pet.

7. Payment Policy

To ensure transparency and responsible use of donations:

  • Payments are made directly to verified service providers
  • Payments are never issued directly to applicants
  • Approved providers may include veterinary practices, animal shelters, transport providers, or foster organisations
  • Providers may be contacted to verify treatment details and costs
  • Invoices or treatment confirmation may be required prior to payment

This ensures funds are used solely for the welfare of the animal.

8. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be the owner or primary carer of the pet
  • Be experiencing genuine financial hardship
  • Reside within the United Kingdom
  • Provide accurate and truthful information

Applicants may be required to provide supporting documentation including:

  • Veterinary quotes or treatment plans
  • Veterinary medical records
  • Evidence of financial hardship
  • Proof of ownership or responsibility for the pet

Failure to provide requested documentation may result in an application being declined.

9. Application Process

Step 1 – Application Submission

Applicants must complete the official Petzy Hardship Fund application form providing:

  • Personal contact information
  • Pet details
  • Description of hardship circumstances
  • Details of required treatment or welfare support

Step 2 – Supporting Documentation

Applicants may upload supporting documents including:

  • Veterinary quotes
  • Medical records
  • Evidence supporting financial hardship

Step 3 – Review Process

Applications are reviewed by the Petzy Hardship Review Team. Typical review time is up to 5 working days, although urgent cases may be prioritised.

Step 4 – Decision Notification

Applicants will be notified by email whether their application has been:

  • Approved
  • Declined
  • Pending additional information

Step 5 – Payment

If approved, payment will be made directly to the veterinary practice or service provider.

10. Grant Limits

Because the fund operates using community donations:

  • Maximum grant amounts per case may apply
  • Maximum support per applicant within a given period may apply
  • Partial funding may be provided where full treatment costs cannot be covered

Typical grants may range between £50 and £10,000, depending on available funds and the circumstances of the case.

Receiving assistance once does not guarantee eligibility for future support.

11. Application Volume and Waiting Lists

MLGR Ltd reserves the right to manage application volumes in order to ensure fair and responsible use of the fund.

Where application numbers exceed available capacity or funding, MLGR Ltd may:

  • Temporarily pause new applications
  • Place applications on a waiting list
  • Prioritise urgent welfare cases

12. Priority Cases

Applications involving urgent veterinary emergencies or immediate welfare risks may be prioritised.

MLGR Ltd reserves the right to determine priority based on the information provided and confirmation from veterinary professionals.

13. Decision Authority

All grant decisions are made at the sole discretion of MLGR Ltd.

Decisions may consider:

  • Urgency of the pet's medical needs
  • Severity of financial hardship
  • Quality of supporting documentation
  • Available funds
  • Expected outcome of treatment

Decisions made by MLGR Ltd are final.

14. Donation Transparency

The Petzy Hardship Fund is supported through voluntary donations.

MLGR Ltd commits to the following principles:

  • Donations may be used for hardship grants and the administrative costs required to operate the fund
  • Donation totals or fund activity may be publicly reported
  • Donations do not guarantee a specific case will receive funding
  • Donors do not influence individual funding decisions

Donations contribute to the overall hardship fund and may be distributed across multiple cases.

15. Donation Refunds

Donations are voluntary contributions.

Donations are generally non-refundable once processed, except where required by law or where a payment error has occurred.

16. Fraud Prevention

To protect the integrity of the fund, MLGR Ltd may:

  • Verify veterinary quotes directly with clinics
  • Confirm treatment details with providers
  • Request additional evidence
  • Reject applications where information cannot be verified

Fraudulent applications may result in:

  • Immediate rejection
  • Permanent ineligibility
  • Reporting to relevant authorities

17. Duplicate Applications

MLGR Ltd may restrict multiple applications from the same applicant, household, or pet within a defined time period.

18. Data Protection

MLGR Ltd processes personal information in accordance with:

  • UK General Data Protection Regulation
  • Data Protection Act 2018

Personal information is used only for:

  • Assessing eligibility
  • Verifying veterinary information
  • Processing payments
  • Preventing fraud

Applicant data will not be sold or used for marketing purposes.

19. Availability of Funds

The Petzy Hardship Fund operates solely from available donations.

Therefore:

  • Funding is not guaranteed
  • Applications may be declined where funds are unavailable
  • Partial funding may be provided in some cases

20. Limitation of Liability

MLGR Ltd is not responsible for:

  • Outcomes of veterinary treatment
  • Actions of third-party veterinary providers
  • Delays caused by verification or funding limitations

Approval of funding does not constitute veterinary advice.

21. Programme Suspension or Closure

MLGR Ltd reserves the right to suspend or discontinue the Petzy Hardship Fund at any time.

Remaining funds may be used to honour approved cases or support animal welfare initiatives associated with the Petzy platform.

22. Policy Updates

MLGR Ltd may update this policy at any time to maintain compliance with UK law or improve the operation of the fund.

The most recent version will always be published on the Petzy website.

23. Contact

For enquiries relating to the Petzy Hardship Fund:

Back to Hardship FundApply for Assistancehardship@petzy.co.uk