Handipaws Guarantee

Owners and Helpers may benefit from the Handipaws Guarantee, which is subject to these Terms and Conditions (the “Guarantee Terms”).

These Guarantee Terms apply in addition to the Terms and other terms and policies applicable to the Handipaws Service. Unless otherwise defined in these Guarantee Terms, all capitalized terms will have the meaning set forth in the Terms.

1. The Handipaws Guarantee.

Subject to all of the limitations, exclusions and conditions in these Guarantee Terms, Handipaws agrees to pay (the “Handipaws Guarantee”) a Requesting Party when a Responsible Party fails to pay for certain pet veterinary expenses as well as certain costs arising from Owner property damage or personal injury to a Third Party, all as specifically set forth below (the “Covered Losses”).

As used herein, “Requesting Party” means and is limited to an applicable Helper or Owner who is eligible to request payments for a Covered Loss under these Guarantee Terms; “Responsible Party” means, as applicable, (a) a Helper whose acts or omissions are the direct and primary cause of a Covered Loss, or (b) an Owner whose pet is the direct and primary cause of a Covered Loss; and “Third Party” means a natural person who is not a Helper, an Owner, the roommate, family member or significant other of a Helper or Owner, or any other person providing animal care on the Helper’s behalf. (This means that the Handipaws Guarantee does not provide coverage for injuries to Helpers, Owners, or their roommates or families.) “Minimum Contribution” means £50.

The purpose of the Handipaws Guarantee is to promote user confidence in, and increase use of, the Handipaws Service. THE HANDIPAWS GUARANTEE IS NOT INSURANCE. THESE GUARANTEE TERMS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN OFFER TO INSURE OR AN INSURANCE CONTRACT AND DO NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF ANY INSURANCE COVERAGE YOU MAY HAVE. TO THE EXTENT ANY HANDIPAWS USERS DESIRE PROTECTION BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE HANDIPAWS GUARANTEE, THEY MUST PURCHASE INSURANCE THAT WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT COVERAGE. PET OWNER, SERVICE PROVIDER, THIRD PARTY OR OTHER PERSON, OTHER THAN THE REQUESTING PARTY WHO MEETS THE CONDITIONS OF THESE GUARANTEE TERMS WITH RESPECT TO THE CORRESPONDING COVERED LOSS, HAS ANY RIGHTS UNDER THESE GUARANTEE TERMS OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE HANDIPAWS GUARANTEE. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES TO THESE GUARANTEE TERMS OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE HANDIPAWS GUARANTEE.

You must comply with all applicable requirements and conditions to be eligible for the Handipaws Guarantee.

2. General Conditions, Limitations and Exclusions.

When you submit a claim for reimbursement under the Handipaws Guarantee, you agree to use your best efforts to communicate honestly and transparently with Handipaws (or its agents), including by promptly providing documentation or information reasonably requested by Handipaws to assist with its review process (including information regarding applicable insurance, such as homeowners or renters policies). Failure to provide adequate documentation or providing fraudulent information will terminate all benefits under the Handipaws Guarantee.

In addition, the following terms and conditions apply to all Covered Losses:

(a) The cost(s) for which you seek reimbursement must arise from injury or damage that occurred during the scheduled start and end dates of a Booking accepted by the Helper and Owner prior to the day of the injury or damage, and must be a direct and proximate result of the booked services. (This means that costs arising from injuries or damages sustained during a pre-Booking “meet & greet”, or any other service not subject to a Booking are not eligible for reimbursement.)

(b) Payment for the Booking during which the injury or damage occurred must be completed via the Handipaws Service and must exceed, per service date, a fee of £10.

(c) The injury or damage for which you seek reimbursement must have been directly and proximately caused by the acts or omissions of a Helper (or, in the case of injury to a Helper’s pet by an Owner’s pet, the acts or omissions of the Owner).

(d) You must notify Handipaws of your claim via applicable local telephone number or email address (as indicated in the table at the end of these Guarantee Terms) during the Booking (or, if later, within 48 hours following the injury or damage).

(e) Before the Handipaws Guarantee applies, Handipawswill, in its discretion, first try to help Requesting Parties resolve problems with Responsible Parties directly or otherwise confirm independently that the Responsible Party is unwilling or unable to pay.

(f) If a Helper cedes care, custody or control of a pet to a third party during the service period for a Booking, reimbursement is not available to that Helper as a Requesting Party for injuries to pets or damages that occur during the period in which care, custody or control was ceded. If, during the service period for a Booking, an Owner instructs, authorizes or otherwise causes a Helper to relinquish the Owner’s pet to a third party, reimbursement for injuries or damages that occur during that Booking also will be unavailable.

(g) The Handipaws Guarantee does not extend to the following:

Damage, injury or other loss or claim resulting from the care of any animal in violation of Section 4 of the Terms (including, for avoidance of doubt, any animal whose ownership or third-party care is prohibited by, or subject to registration under, applicable law).
Damage, injury or other loss arising from a Helper’s care of any Third Party animal(s) alongside an Owner’s pet during a Booking.
Damage, injury or other loss or claim arising in any way from automotive liability, including loss arising from any car or other vehicular accident or incident.
Damage, injury or other loss or claim arising from acts of nature, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, or from exigencies caused by other factors beyond the parties’ reasonable control, such as (without limitation) wildfires or lack or failure of public utilities or Internet service due to external factors.
Losses not directly caused by a Responsible Party’s acts or omissions, including without limitation consequential damages, special damages, interruption of business, lost wages, opportunity costs, loss of use, or loss associated with unauthorized access to data.
Non-economic damages of any kind including emotional damages, sentimental value, pain and suffering, scarring, and permanent disability.
Losses and damages paid by any other insurance (see Section 6(d)), including without limitation health insurance, pet insurance, homeowners insurance, or renters insurance.

(h) The Handipaws Guarantee is subject to the Terms. Handipaws reserves the right to deny a reimbursement request in the event that the loss, injury or damage arose, in whole or in part, from conduct by a claimant that violates the Terms.

3. Covered Losses for Pet Injury.

Subject to these Guarantee Terms (including without limitation Section 2, above), Handipaws will reimburse verifiable veterinary expenses arising from injuries to: (1) an Owner’s pet while in a Helper’s care or control; (2) a Helper’s own resident pet caused by an Owner’s pet under the Helper’s care; and (3) a Third Party’s pet caused by an Owner’s pet in the Helper’s care.

(a) Additional Conditions and Limitations. A claim for reimbursement of pet veterinary expenses under the Handipaws Guarantee is subject to the following additional conditions and limitations:

Within 14 days following the injury, you must submit written documentation from a board-certified practicing veterinarian that (a) specifies the costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought, (b) states the diagnosis and confirms that the injury did not result from any of the exclusions listed in Section 3(b)(4) below, (c) confirms that the injury occurred during the time period of the Booking, and (d) provides any other information we reasonably request.
Only costs incurred for treatment provided within 30 days following the date of the injury are eligible for reimbursement.
Reimbursement is limited to £25,000.
The Minimum Contribution is required per request-related incident, payable by the Owner for injury to an Owner’s pet, and by the Helper for injury to the Helper’s pet. This means that requests for reimbursement that do not exceed the Minimum Contribution will not trigger any reimbursement.

(b) Specific Exclusions. The following are not eligible for reimbursement under this Section 3:

Costs incurred more than 30 days following the date of injury, including without limitation any long-term care costs resulting from the injury.
Costs or liabilities arising from an Owner’s, Helper’s or Third Party’s refusal to authorize medical care for his or her own pet.
Injuries resulting from a pet’s contraction of fleas, ticks, worms, parasites, or other fecal bacterial or protozoan infections during a Booking (or a recurrence of a parasite issue first contracted prior to a Booking).
Injuries resulting from (or from a recurrence of) a Pre-Existing Condition, Breed-Specific Condition, Chronic Condition, Orthopedic Condition, Undetermined Cause Illness, Preventable Illness or Proptosis (as such terms are defined in Subsection (c) below).
Costs or expenses resulting from a pet’s pregnancy, illness, or recurrence of illness, or for preventative care.
Non-medical expenses of any kind (including professional training, grooming, boarding, pet food).
Any costs or expenses other than direct damages resulting from injury to the Owner’s, Helper’s or an applicable Third Party’s pet, including without limitation those resulting from (a) personal injury to the Helper, Owner, or any third party, (b) property damage or liability, (c) injury to any other pet, (d) emotional distress or “pain and suffering”, or (e) loss of wages, changed or canceled travel plans, or any other incidental expenses.

“Pre-Existing Condition” means any injury, disease or condition, whether diagnosed by a veterinarian or not, that affected a pet prior to a Booking, including without limitation urinary tract/bladder infections, blood disorders, periodontal/dental disease, and gastrointestinal disorders.
“Breed-Specific Condition” means any condition that frequently occurs in a particular breed of dog or cat, including without limitation brachycephalic syndrome (common in Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Chow Chows, Boston Terriers and others), hip and/or elbow dysplasia (common in Afghan Hounds, Beagles, Border Collies, Chow Chows, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers, and others), Hypothyroidism (common in Bulldogs, Border Collies, Boston Terriers, Poodles, Great Danes, and Standard Schnauzers and others, especially large breeds), intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and other disc issues (common in Beagles, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Corgis, Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Pomeranians, Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and others including cats), patellar luxation (common in Boston Terriers, Cavalier King Charles, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Persians, and others, especially small breeds), Gastric dilatation and Volvulus, otherwise known as Bloat (common in Great Danes, German Shepherds, St. Bernard, Labrador Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Great Pyrenees, Boxer, Weimaraner, Collie, Standard Poodle, and others), prolapsed third eyelid, otherwise known as Cherry Eye (common in Boston Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, Beagles, and others), Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (common in Maine Coons, Ragdolls, Bengals and others), and Polycystic Kidney Disease (common in Persians, Himalayans, Ragdolls, Exotic Shorthairs and others).
“Chronic Condition” means an illness or condition that is persistent or otherwise has long-lasting effects and that generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, including without limitation allergies, anxiety or behavior disorders, dermatitis/hot spots, ear infections, cancer, diabetes, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), anal gland impaction/infection, Addison’s disease, cardiac disease, Cushing’s disease, dry eyes (KCS), epilepsy, glaucoma, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, lipomas and skin masses, renal disease, and urinary or bladder crystals or blockage.
“Orthopedic Condition” means a disorder of the musculoskeletal system and any associated muscles, joints, and ligaments. This includes but is not limited to arthritis, IVDD & cruciate ligament tears, bicipital tenosynovitis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, fragmented medial coronoid process of the ulna (FMCP), orthopedic illness or injury on the opposite side of a prior injury, osteochondrosis (OCD), osteosarcoma and other orthopedic cancers, patellar luxation, and ununited anconeal process (UAP).
“Undetermined Cause Illness” means any condition for which the cause is undetermined or any condition that amounts to a “diagnosis of exclusion,” including without limitation autoimmune conditions, pancreatitis, colitis, anxiety or stress-related symptoms, cardiac disease, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections (including Bordetellosis (“kennel cough”), Distemper, influenza, Feline Herpesvirus), conjunctivitis, Hepatic Lipidosis, gastrointestinal disorders (including vomiting, diarrhea, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, Canine parvovirus infection (“parvo”)), any form of cancer and Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.
“Preventable Illness” means any illness or condition that could have been prevented by vaccination or normal veterinary care, including without limitation Rabies, Canine parvovirus infection (“parvo”), Leptospirosis, distemper, Adenovirus2, Parainfluenza, Enteric Coronavirus, Canine Influenza, Lyme disease, Bordetellosis (“kennel cough”), Heartworm disease, Intestinal worms, Mange, and Staphylococci.
“Proptosis” means the displacement of an eye out of the eye socket, typically occurring following trauma to the head.

4. Covered Losses for Damage to Owner Property.

Subject to these Guarantee Terms (including without limitation Section 2, above), Handipaws will reimburse an Owner as Requesting Party for expenses that a is legally obligated (but fails) to pay for damage to the Owner’s personal property (other than injury or damage to his or her pet, covered above in Section 3).

(a) Additional Conditions and Limitations. A claim for reimbursement of expenses arising from damage to Owner property is subject to the following additional conditions and limitations:

Within 14 days following the incident causing property damage, you must (a) submit written documentation of the same, including clear photographs of the claimed damage, proof of ownership, and receipts or other reliable evidence of fair market value and/or repair cost, and (b) provide any other information we reasonably request.
Only expenses arising from damages incurred during the Booking and paid for remediation occurring within 30 days after the Booking are eligible for reimbursement.
Reimbursement is limited to £100,000 per occurrence/incident. However, in all cases reimbursement will not exceed the lesser of the cost of replacement or the cost of repair, at Handipaws’ sole discretion.

The Minimum Contribution is required per request-related incident, payable by the Owner, for damage to the Owner’s property. This means that requests for reimbursement that do not exceed the Minimum Contribution will not trigger any reimbursement.

(b) Specific Exclusions. The following are not eligible for reimbursement:

Damage to the Owner’s own personal property caused by his or her pet.
Damage to property of the Helper (or anyone related to, living with or providing care on behalf of the Helper).
Ordinary wear and tear, meaning deterioration that occurs under normal use and conditions.
Loss due to intentional or criminal acts, including theft.
Any form of automotive vehicle, including without limitation automobile, aircraft or watercraft.
Currency, money, precious metal, securities or negotiable instruments.
Crops, timber, or other natural or cultivated features of the land.
Food, consumables and other perishables.
Fine art or heirlooms, meaning paintings, etchings, printed photos, pictures, tapestries, rare or art glass, art glass windows, valuable rugs, statuary, sculptures, antique furniture, antique jewelry, bric-a-brac, porcelains, coins, stamps, other collectibles, collections, furs, jewelry, precious stones, analog film or audio recordings, negatives, records, manuscripts, drawings, and other similar property of rarity or historical, archival or sentimental value.
Electronic Data, meaning audio or video recordings, photographs, drawings, records, manuscripts, data, information, files, facts, programs or other materials stored in digital or electronic format, whether in computer software, systems application software, disk, CD-ROM, tapes, drives, cells, data processing devices, cloud storage, or any other media.

5. Covered Losses for Third Party Injury.

Subject to these Guarantee Terms (including without limitation Section 2, above), Handipaws will reimburse a Third Party, on behalf of a Requesting Party, for actual, out-of-pocket medical costs directly arising from personal, physical injury to a Third Party resulting from an interaction with an Owner’s pet while under the care of such Helper, where Handipaws accepts (acting reasonably) that such injury would give rise to a valid legal claim by the Third Party.

(a) Additional Conditions and Limitations. A claim for reimbursement of expenses arising from Third Party injury is subject to the following additional conditions and limitations:

Within 14 days following the incident causing personal injury, the Third Party must (a) submit written documentation of the same, including clear photographs of the injury, verifiable receipts for necessary medical treatment showing the out-of-pocket costs, and any explanation(s) of benefits, and (b) provide any other information we reasonably request.
Only injuries incurred during a Booking are eligible for reimbursement.
Reimbursement is limited to £100,000 per occurrence/incident (the “Limit”).

(b) Specific Exclusions. The following are not eligible for reimbursement:

Costs, expenses or damages based on a Helper’s assumption of liability in a contract or written agreement.
Costs, expenses or damages based on defamation, intellectual property infringement, advertising, or other personal injury claims.
Losses due to intentional or criminal acts, including assault.
Physical or personal injury or damage to Helpers, Owners or their respective roommates or families.

Agreements of Helpers and Owners.

(a) Inspection of Loss. Each Requesting Party agrees to produce or make available for inspection, at such reasonable times and places as may be designated by Handipaws or any claims administrator or agent, all evidence of loss, damage, cost, ownership or other claim-related information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Handipaws will have no liability to Owners, Helpers or any other person because of any inspection or failure to inspect.

(b) Legal Compliance. Helpers are solely responsible for carrying insurance sufficient to comply with legal requirements in the jurisdictions where Helpers provide services. The Handipaws Guarantee does not suffice for that purpose. Handipaws does not verify whether Helpers have obtained insurance, and Owners are advised to inquire directly with Helpers about this subject.

(c) Claim Settlement. Handipaws may condition final payment of costs under the Handipaws Guarantee on execution of a Guarantee Settlement Agreement, including a release of claims against Handipaws or any other applicable party and an obligation to keep confidential the reimbursement amount and circumstances. Where an approved claim under the Handipaws Guarantee involves the Covered Loss of a party other than the Requesting Party, Handipaws reserves the right (but has no obligation) to pay all or a portion of the approved amount to such third party.

(d) Offset; Subrogation. Amounts payable under the Handipaws Guarantee are in excess of any insurance coverage or insurer payment. Handipaws reserves the right to offset or deduct from amounts payable to you any amounts it may have or obtain from any other person or entity obligated to compensate for Covered Losses. Handipaws and/or Handipaws’ insurers have the right to subrogate against any person or entity allegedly responsible for causing the losses in question, even if that person or entity is you. You hereby agree that, in connection with any payments made under the Handipaws Guarantee, you will cooperate fully with Handipaws in its efforts at subrogation.

(e) Amendment; Termination. Except as prohibited by law, Handipaws may modify or terminate the Handipaws Guarantee at any time in the manner described in Section 1 of the Terms, and such modification or termination will apply to incidents occurring after the effective date of the modification or termination. Handipaws also reserves the right to modify the Handipaws Guarantee to the extent required to comply with applicable law, including in the event that a regulatory authority determines that Handipaws must obtain any license or other governmental permission to provide the Handipaws Guarantee. In addition, you acknowledge and agree that all benefits made available to you under the Handipaws Guarantee shall immediately terminate in the event you initiate any action, suit or claim against Handipaws, or its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, or affiliates, concerning a claim otherwise subject to reimbursement under these Guarantee Terms.

(f) No Waiver. Handipaws’ failure to enforce any right or provision of these Guarantee Terms will not constitute a waiver of future enforcement of that right or provision. The waiver of any such right or provision will be effective only if in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of Handipaws.

(g) Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Arbitration. You acknowledge and agree that any claims arising from or in relation to the Handipaws Guarantee or these Guarantee Terms are subject to the Terms, including the Warranty Disclaimer and (except for Handipaws’ obligation to pay amounts pursuant to an approved reimbursement request made under the Handipaws Guarantee) the Limitation of Liability set forth in the Terms. You further acknowledge and agree that any dispute or claim relating in any way to the Handipaws Guarantee will be adjudicated in accordance with the applicable manner set forth in the Terms.