Community Care FundHelp with vet billsduring a booking.
If your pet needs an unexpected vet visit during a WinniePaws booking, we reimburse eligible costs up to $250. Here is exactly how it works, and what it doesn't cover.
Get early accessAt a glance
What the fund does
The Community Care Fund is a discretionary reimbursement program run by WinniePaws. It is not insurance. These are the rules we follow for every claim.
- No negligence to proveEligible vet costs up to $250. Send the vet receipt.
- Your own insurance stays out of itWe don't ask you to claim on your renters or homeowners insurance first.
- No confidentiality agreement to claimNo gag orders.
- A local team you can reachCall or email our team in Easley, SC during support hours.
Our promise
Three things we actually do
Three commitments we make to every pet owner who books through WinniePaws.
Sitters can earn the Vetted, ID Verified and Trusted badges, shown on their profile. Each badge names what was checked, so you can see it before you book. You choose your sitter yourself, after a free meet & greet if you like.
If your pet needs an unexpected vet visit during a booking, we reimburse eligible vet costs up to $250 from the Community Care Fund — no negligence finding needed. Send us the receipt and we check its date against your booking. The fund is a discretionary program, not insurance.
We don't ask you to claim on your renters or homeowners insurance before the fund helps. If something happens during a booking, contact us and we'll work through it with you.
The Community Care Fund
Clear limits, written down.
So you know what to expect before you ever need it.
How it works
Up to $250
for eligible vet costs.
The Community Care Fund is a discretionary reimbursement program administered by WinniePaws. It is not an insurance product. It covers unexpected vet visits during a booking made and paid through WinniePaws, or within 24 hours of the booking ending.
Full eligibility criteria are detailed below.
Claiming your reimbursement
Four steps. No runaround.
No phone trees. No claim numbers. Send the receipt and we take it from there.
Get care first. Don't worry about paperwork until after your pet is seen.
Email a photo of the vet receipt and your booking confirmation.
support@winniepaws.comWe check the receipt date against your booking. Approved claims are paid up to $250 by Venmo, Zelle or check, usually within 3 business days.
For anything beyond $250, contact us directly. We're local — we'll work through it with you.
Call (864) 607-8798Community Care Fund
What qualifies — and what doesn't
We keep this fund healthy for every pet in our community by being clear upfront. No surprises when you need it most.
✓ What's covered
- Unexpected injury during a bookingYour dog cuts a paw, your cat swallows something — incidents that happen while your sitter is responsible.
- Sudden illness with no prior historyA first-time reaction, acute distress, or illness not known at booking time.
- Vet visit within 24 hours of booking endSome symptoms appear after the sitter leaves. We cover visits up to 24 hours after the booking closes.
- Emergency after-hours visitsEmergency and after-hours clinic visits qualify the same as regular vet visits.
✗ What's not covered
- Pre-existing or documented conditionsAny condition with prior vet history, or that you knew about before the booking.
- Routine and elective careVaccinations, dental cleanings, grooming, annual checkups, or any planned procedure.
- Incidents outside the booking windowAnything before the sitter arrives or more than 24 hours after the booking ends.
- Second claim within 90 days for the same petOne claim per pet per 90-day window keeps the fund fair for everyone.
- Claims without a vet receiptA receipt showing the visit date is the only document we require — but we do require it.
- Bookings outside of WinniePawsCare arranged directly with a sitter, or through any other platform, isn't covered by the Community Care Fund.
Why we built this
A word from our founder
WinniePaws was built by pet owners who got tired of the same story — big promises, small payouts, and no one local to call.
“I built WinniePaws because I wanted a platform I could actually trust with Daisy — not one that hands me a 25-page terms document when something goes wrong. The Community Care Fund is the thing I'm most proud of. It's simple, and it's honest.”
Todd is a software developer and lifelong animal lover based in Easley, SC. After years of dealing with inconsistent national platforms, he teamed up with co-founder Lorcan to build a genuinely local alternative — one where the people running it have pets, live nearby, and answer the phone. When he's not working on WinniePaws, he's out with Daisy, his rescue dog.
Your pet deserves better than fine print.
Find a WinniePaws sitter in Greenville and surrounding areas — backed by the Community Care Fund.
Get early accessGreenville · Easley · Powdersville · Piedmont · Pickens · SimpsonvilleThe Community Care Fund is a discretionary reimbursement program administered by WinniePaws LLC and is not an insurance product or regulated financial instrument. Reimbursements up to $250 per qualifying incident apply to unexpected veterinary visits occurring during an active booking or within 24 hours of booking end. Claims must be submitted within 72 hours of the vet visit accompanied by a receipt. Pre-existing conditions, routine care, elective procedures, and incidents outside the booking window are excluded. One claim per pet per 90-day period. WinniePaws is not affiliated with any national pet sitting platform.