Effective Date: October 15, 2026 Version: 1.0 Applies to: All animal owners who receive a veterinary referral through the Platform, and all veterinarians who receive referrals through the Platform.
Article 1: Introduction and Scope
1.1 This document governs referral by the Company of an animal owner to a veterinarian through the Platform: what a referral is, eligibility of a veterinarian to receive referrals, the information transferred on a referral and the owner's consent to that transfer, the compensation structures that are permitted and prohibited, and records.
1.2 The tele-triage service from which a referral may arise is governed by the Tele-Triage Terms. A veterinarian's participation in the Platform's veterinary programs is governed by the documents in Veterinary and Pharmacy, including the Veterinarian Eligibility and Participation and the License Verification.
1.3 If a provision of this document conflicts with the Terms of Use, this document controls for the subject it governs. If a provision of this document conflicts with the terms of a program in which a party participates, the program terms control for that program. Policies and help pages explain this document; they do not amend it, and in any conflict this document prevails.
Article 2: Definitions
2.1 Account: the account a person or business establishes with the Company to use the Platform.
2.2 Company: All About Pawz, LLC, a Tennessee limited liability company.
2.3 Owner: a person who owns or is responsible for an animal and who seeks veterinary care for that animal through the Platform.
2.4 Platform: the websites, applications, and services the Company operates under the name All About Pawz, including aapawz.com.
2.5 Referral: an introduction by the Company of an Owner to a Veterinarian, effected by presenting the Veterinarian's practice information to the Owner and, with the Owner's consent under Article 5, transferring the Referral Information to the Veterinarian.
2.6 Referral Information: the animal's name, the Owner's name, and the Owner's contact information, together with the category of care sought as the Owner states that category. Referral Information does not include medical records for an animal.
2.7 Services: services offered through the Platform, including grooming, veterinary, pharmacy, and fulfillment services, as applicable.
2.8 VCPR: a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, as defined by the law of the state in which the animal patient is located.
2.9 Veterinarian: a veterinarian licensed and in good standing in the jurisdiction in which the Veterinarian practises, who has been verified by the Company under Article 4 to receive Referrals.
Article 3: Referral Is Introduction, Not Agency; No Practice of Veterinary Medicine
3.1 A Referral is an introduction only. By making a Referral, the Company does not act as agent for the Owner or for the Veterinarian, does not become a party to any relationship between the Owner and the Veterinarian, and does not undertake any obligation of the Veterinarian to the Owner or of the Owner to the Veterinarian.
3.2 The Company does not practice veterinary medicine. The Company does not diagnose, prescribe for, or treat any animal, does not direct a Veterinarian's clinical judgment, and does not hold itself out as a provider of veterinary services. Clinical decisions after a Referral are the Veterinarian's alone.
3.3 No VCPR is created by a Referral, by the transfer of Referral Information, or by the Company's presentation of a Veterinarian to an Owner. A VCPR arises, if at all, between the Owner and the Veterinarian in accordance with the law of the state in which the animal is located, as governed by the VCPR Establishment Policy (VCPR Establishment Rules). In Tennessee, a VCPR cannot be established by electronic means alone (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-12-103). For a booking in Tennessee, the Platform requires an in-person examination within the prior twelve (12) months, attested by the Owner, or routes the Owner to an in-person booking; a telemedicine consultation through the Platform is offered as a follow-up for an existing patient and not as new-patient intake where the law of the patient's state does not permit a VCPR to be established by telemedicine.
3.4 The Company does not guarantee any outcome of a Referral or of veterinary care that follows a Referral, including availability of an appointment, acceptance of the animal as a patient, a diagnosis, a treatment result, or a fee quoted by a Veterinarian. Presentation of a Veterinarian in a Referral is a statement that the Veterinarian meets Article 4 at the time of verification, and is not a recommendation of clinical quality and not a warranty of care.
3.5 Fees for veterinary care are a matter between the Owner and the Veterinarian, are set by the Veterinarian, and are payable as that relationship provides, except where a consultation is booked and paid through the Platform, in which case payment is governed by the Payment Terms and the consultation payment terms in Veterinary and Pharmacy.
Article 4: Veterinarian Eligibility and Verification
4.1 A Veterinarian is eligible to receive Referrals only if the Veterinarian: (a) holds a current licence to practice veterinary medicine in the jurisdiction of the consultation or visit; (b) is in good standing in that jurisdiction, with no restriction that bars the care for which the Referral is made; and (c) has been verified by the Company before receiving a Referral.
4.2 Verification under this Article is the Company's duty. The Company shall verify licence and standing before a Veterinarian first receives Referrals, shall monitor standing on a recurring basis in accordance with the License Verification, and shall suspend Referrals to a Veterinarian whose licence lapses, is restricted, or cannot be verified, until verification is restored.
4.3 A Veterinarian shall notify the Company promptly of any change in licence status, any disciplinary action, and any change in practice information presented to Owners. Presentation of inaccurate practice information is a breach of this document.
4.4 A Veterinarian who receives a Referral shall handle Referral Information in accordance with Article 5 and shall use that information only to respond to the Referral and to provide care the Owner requests.
Article 5: Information Transferred on Referral; Consent; Limited Data
5.1 The Platform stores and transfers Referral Information only: the animal's name, the Owner's name, and the Owner's contact information, together with the category of care sought. The Company does not store animal medical records in connection with a Referral: no clinical notes, no treatment histories, and no patient record repository is maintained for Referral purposes: and a Veterinarian shall not transmit animal medical records to the Company for storage under this document.
5.2 Referral Information is transferred to a Veterinarian only with the Owner's consent, given for that Referral through the Platform's referral flow, distinct from the Company's general consents. The consent shall identify the Veterinarian or the practice to which the information is transferred.
5.3 Before consent is requested, the Company shall present to the Owner the Veterinarians available for the category of care and the Owner's location, with each practice's information, and the Owner shall choose the Veterinarian to whom the Referral is made, where more than one Veterinarian is available.
5.4 An Owner may withdraw consent to a transfer that has not yet occurred, through the Account or by notice to support@aapawz.com. Withdrawal does not recall information already transferred; the Owner's rights in information already transferred are governed by the Privacy Policy.
Article 6: Compensation: Prohibited and Permitted Structures
6.1 Per-referral payment is prohibited. Neither the Company nor a Veterinarian shall pay or receive remuneration for referring a patient or client to another provider of veterinary services, on a per-lead, per-referral, or other volume-based basis. Florida law (Florida Statutes Chapter 474) makes payment or receipt of remuneration for such a referral a ground for discipline, and the form of the payment does not change that character. A structure that scales with referral volume is presumed prohibited under this document and shall not be used unless a written compliance determination specific to that structure and jurisdiction has been made before use.
6.2 Permitted structures. The commercial relationship between the Company and a Veterinarian in connection with Referrals is limited to structures that do not scale with referral volume: (a) a flat monthly directory or marketing fee not tied to the number of leads or Referrals; (b) a fee for a Platform dashboard subscription or seat, payable by the Veterinarian at a stated rate; or (c) Referrals provided without a referral fee, with the Company's revenue arising from consultation services sold through the Platform rather than from the Referral.
6.3 Fees between the Company and a Veterinarian under this Article are governed in amount and payment by the Vet Fees and Payouts Policy and, for lead and referral compensation, by the Vet Lead Compensation Policy, each read subject to clause 6.1, which controls in any conflict.
6.4 A Veterinarian shall disclose to an Owner any fee the Veterinarian charges for care, before care is provided, as that Veterinarian's own obligation. No fee is charged to an Owner by the Company for a Referral itself.
Article 7: Records
7.1 The Company shall keep a record of each Referral stating the Referral made, the parties, the time, the consent given, and the outcome category reported (contact made, appointment booked, care declined, or no response), and shall retain that record in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
7.2 A Veterinarian shall keep records of Referrals received and of the disposition of each Referral sufficient to demonstrate compliance with Articles 4, 5, and 6, and shall produce those records to the Company on request under Article 11.
Article 8: Risk Article: Veterinary Care After Referral
8.1 Veterinary care provided after a Referral is provided by the Veterinarian as an independent practitioner. The Veterinarian bears professional responsibility for that care, including compliance with the practice law of the state in which the animal is located, establishment of a VCPR where that law requires one, and record-keeping for the animal patient as that law requires.
8.2 Nothing in Article 10 limits liability for personal injury or injury to an animal caused by negligence, where applicable law does not permit such a limitation.
8.3 The Company's responsibility in connection with a Referral is limited to the duties stated in this document: verification under Article 4, presentation and consent under Article 5, compensation compliance under Article 6, and records under Article 7.
Article 9: Liability
9.1 Exclusion of certain damages. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party is liable to the other for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages, or for lost profits, lost revenue, or loss of goodwill, arising out of or relating to this document, even if the party has been advised of the possibility of those damages.
9.2 Cap. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company's total liability arising out of or relating to this document shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amounts the Owner or the Veterinarian paid to the Company under this document in the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) one hundred dollars ($100).
9.3 Carve-outs. This Article does not limit (a) a party's indemnification obligations under this document; (b) liability for fraud or willful misconduct; (c) amounts owed for consultations, fees, or refunds under this document; or (d) liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
9.4 Essential purpose. The parties agree that this Article allocates risk between them, that it is an essential part of the basis of their bargain, and that it applies even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose.
Article 10: Indemnification
10.1 Duty. A Veterinarian shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Company and its members, managers, employees, and agents from and against every claim, demand, action, loss, liability, judgment, settlement, cost, and expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) the Veterinarian's breach of this document; (b) veterinary care provided by the Veterinarian, and the Veterinarian's acts and omissions after a Referral; (c) the Veterinarian's violation of any law, including the practice law of the state in which an animal is located, or of the rights of any person; and (d) taxes for which the Veterinarian is responsible under this document. An Owner shall give the same indemnity, proportionately, for claims arising out of Referral Information the Owner supplies that is inaccurate, and out of the Owner's breach of this document.
10.2 Procedure. The Company shall give prompt written notice of a claim under this Article. The indemnifying party shall control the defense with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company. The Company may participate in the defense at its own expense. The indemnifying party shall not settle a claim in a manner that imposes any obligation or restriction on the Company, or that does not release the Company fully, without the Company's prior written consent.
10.3 Survival. This Article survives the termination of this document.
Article 11: Enforcement and Appeals
11.1 Investigation. The Company may investigate any suspected violation of this document. The Owner and the Veterinarian shall cooperate with an investigation and shall produce the records this document requires that party to keep.
11.2 Notice. If the Company determines that a party has violated this document, the Company shall give written notice stating the provision violated and the facts relied on, except where notice would compromise an investigation of fraud, a safety risk, or a legal obligation.
11.3 Opportunity to cure. Where a violation is capable of cure, the party has ten (10) business days from notice to cure it and to confirm the cure in writing. No cure period applies to fraud, counterfeiting, a risk to the safety of a person or an animal, unlawful conduct, or a violation that by its nature cannot be cured.
11.4 Measures. If a violation is established and is not cured within the period allowed, the Company may, proportionate to the violation: (a) issue a written warning; (b) suspend or end Referrals to a Veterinarian; (c) remove a practice listing or content; (d) suspend the Account, in whole or in part; (e) terminate this document and the Account; and (f) exercise any other right or remedy available under this document or at law. The Company may suspend Referrals immediately, without a cure period, where a Veterinarian's licence lapses or cannot be verified, or where a safety risk arises, in accordance with clause 4.2.
11.5 Appeal. A party may appeal a measure under this Article by written notice to legal@aapawz.com within thirty (30) days of the measure, stating the grounds and attaching the records relied on. The appeal is decided by a person who did not make the original decision. The Company's decision on appeal is final. A measure remains in effect during an appeal unless the Company directs otherwise in writing.
11.6 No waiver by delay. The Company's delay in acting on a violation is not a waiver of the violation or of any later violation of the same kind.
Article 12: Term and Termination
12.1 Term. This document takes effect when an Owner receives a Referral or a Veterinarian is verified to receive Referrals, and continues until terminated under this Article.
12.2 Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate this document and a party's participation in Referrals on thirty (30) days' written notice for any reason, and immediately on written notice if a party materially breaches this document, engages in fraud, or becomes ineligible to participate, including loss or restriction of a Veterinarian's licence.
12.3 Termination by the Owner or the Veterinarian. A party may terminate this document on thirty (30) days' written notice to support@aapawz.com, provided the party has no Referral or investigation outstanding.
12.4 Effect of termination. On termination: (a) the rights granted under this document end, and no new Referrals are made to a Veterinarian whose participation has ended; (b) obligations that arose before termination: including record-keeping, compensation compliance, and indemnification obligations: survive until satisfied; and (c) the Company shall disburse amounts owed, less amounts the Company may set off under this document, within thirty (30) days, except amounts held in connection with an open investigation or dispute.
12.5 Survival. The Definitions, Liability, Indemnification, Enforcement and Appeals (for measures taken before termination), Dispute Resolution, and General Provisions Articles survive termination.
Article 13: Dispute Resolution
13.1 Any dispute arising out of or relating to this document, or to the relationship it governs, is governed by the Dispute Resolution Policy, which is incorporated into this document by reference.
Article 14: General Provisions
14.1 Amendments. The Company may amend this document by posting the amended document in the Document Center and giving notice to Owners and Veterinarians at the email address in the Account. An amendment that materially increases a party's fees or obligations takes effect thirty (30) days after notice; other amendments take effect on posting. Continued use of the Platform or continued receipt of Referrals after the effective date of an amendment is acceptance of it. If a party does not accept an amendment, that party's remedy is to terminate under Article 12 before the amendment takes effect.
14.2 Notices. (a) Legal notices under this document shall be sent to legal@aapawz.com. Operational notices and all other communications shall be sent to support@aapawz.com. A notice to the Company is effective when the Company acknowledges receipt or, for email, one business day after sending, whichever is earlier. (b) Notices to a party are effective when sent to the email address in the Account or posted to the Account's notice facility in the portal, whichever occurs first. Each party shall keep the email address in the Account current. (c) DMCA notices are given as provided in the DMCA and Copyright Policy, to the designated agent at legal@aapawz.com.
14.3 Governing law. This document is governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to the Dispute Resolution Policy, any proceeding arising out of this document shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Shelby County, Tennessee, and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction there. The practice of veterinary medicine under this document is governed by the law of the state in which the patient is located.
14.4 Severability. If any provision of this document is held unenforceable, the provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted, and the remaining provisions continue in full effect.
14.5 Entire agreement. This document, together with the documents it incorporates by reference, is the entire agreement between the Company and the Owner, and between the Company and the Veterinarian, for the subject it governs and supersedes every prior or contemporaneous statement, communication, or agreement on that subject, whether written or oral.
14.6 Assignment. An Owner or a Veterinarian shall not assign this document or any right or obligation under it without the Company's prior written consent, and an assignment without consent is void. The Company may assign this document to an affiliate or in connection with a sale of all or part of its business, on notice to the affected party.
14.7 Waiver. A waiver of any provision of this document is effective only in writing and only for the instance stated. No waiver is a waiver of any other provision or instance.
14.8 Interpretation. Headings are for convenience only. "Including" means "including without limitation." This document shall not be construed against a party as its drafter. The English-language text controls over any translation.
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