Our Impact

At Only Paws, we believe that building Australia's largest pet community comes with a responsibility to the animals that need us most. We don't just exist for the pets who already have loving homes; we are dedicated to ensuring every "paw" has a path to a better life.

That's why we are establishing a giving framework where a portion of our platform's proceeds goes directly to verified animal welfare organisations across the country.

Our Vision for Community-Driven Giving

Once our platform reaches full force, our giving model will be driven by the community:

• Platform Contributions: As we scale, a dedicated percentage of our revenue will be allocated directly to verified animal welfare organisations.
• Member Voting: As an Only Paws subscriber, you will have a voice. Our Only Paws community will be provided the opportunity to vote on a shortlist of registered causes and local shelters to receive our quarterly community grants.
• The "Round-Up" Feature: We are building a feature where members can opt to round up their purchases in our Marketplace, sending those extra cents directly to a charity. The supplier will disclose the organisation's details at checkout, and this will be completely optional to the purchasing member.

Our Giving Framework: The Causes We Champion

We have structured our future support system to maximise impact across the entire Australian animal welfare spectrum. Our goal is to dedicate our funding to registered, audited organisations working in these vital areas:

• Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rehoming: Supporting the boots-on-the-ground state and local shelters that rescue abandoned pets, provide essential veterinary care, and connect animals with their forever homes.
• Assistance and Support Animals: Funding the incredible organisations that breed, train, and place guide dogs and assistance animals that provide essential independence to Australians living with disabilities.
• Native Wildlife Rescue: Australia's wildlife is unique and fragile. We intend to allocate emergency and ongoing funding to the volunteer networks and wildlife hospitals dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating native animals.
• Emergency & Disaster Relief: Building a dedicated reserve fund mobilised specifically to support animal rescue operations during national emergencies, such as bushfires and severe floods.

As we build our trusted, verified Marketplace, Only Paws is committed to developing a sustainability framework that helps our community make eco-conscious choices. But we know that true sustainability must start from within.

Our Roadmap to a Greener Ecosystem:

The Partner Onboarding Pack: Sustainability is a conversation we start on Day One. During our Verified Partner onboarding, we actively assess and strongly encourage eco-conscious practices. While we cannot mandate every operational choice a partner makes, we purposefully preference, highlight, and champion Australian businesses that utilise sustainable sourcing, biodegradable packaging, and ethical manufacturing.

Mindful Operations & Internal Footprint: Change begins at our Sydney HQ. We take ownership of our own environmental footprint by operating with a strict "digital-first, low-waste" policy. This means making mindful, conservative choices regarding our office supplies, and ensuring the energy-efficient use, extended lifecycles, and ethical recycling of all our tech hardware and equipment.

Digital Efficiency & Green Hosting: As a tech platform, we acknowledge the hidden carbon cost of data. Our operational standard is to actively prioritise cloud services and server hosting partners that are committed to renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.

Carbon-Conscious Shipping: We are actively exploring integrations with logistics providers that offer carbon-neutral delivery options, with the goal of giving our community the power to choose greener shipping for their marketplace purchases.

Community Education: Using our platform's reach to provide members with actionable guides and resources on sustainable pet ownership - from eco-friendly waste disposal to sustainable diets.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, and of the many diverse lands across Australia where our members and their pets play, walk, and connect. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.

As an Australian-born company, we recognise that true community connection must include First Nations peoples.

Our Commitment to Reconciliation:

• Developing our RAP: As Only Paws reaches full operational maturity, we are committed to formally registering and developing a "Reflect" Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) with Reconciliation Australia.
• Economic Inclusion: We intend to actively seek out, support, and highlight First Nations-owned businesses, artists, and creators within our Directory and Marketplace.
• Continuous Learning: Embedding cultural awareness into our corporate governance and team and business partner onboarding processes as Only Paws - a Who Knew Co company grows.

We're building more than a platform — we're creating a space where pet lovers can connect, share experiences, and support each other. From local meetups to online forums, our community initiatives are designed to foster meaningful relationships between pets and their people.

Community Initiatives:

• Local Pet Groups: Connecting pet owners in the same area for walks, playdates, and support.
• Expert Q&A: Access to veterinarians, trainers, and pet care professionals.
• Educational Content: Resources to help pet owners be the best caregivers they can be.
• Events & Meetups: Regular gatherings for pets and their humans to socialize and learn.

Beyond our platform-level commitments, we're dedicated to empowering our community to give back in ways that matter. Whether through time, resources, or expertise, there are countless ways to make a difference in the lives of animals and their people.

Ways We're Giving Back:

• Volunteer Matching: Connecting members with local shelters and rescue organisations.
• Donation Drives: Regular collection events for pet food, supplies, and equipment.
• Skill Sharing: Platform for professionals to offer pro-bono services to rescue organisations.
• Foster Networks: Supporting and promoting foster care programs for animals in need.