Giving pets the second chance they deserve.
At Waggel, we believe every cat and dog deserves to be loved regardless of their start in life. That belief goes beyond pet insurance. The Second Chance Grant is part of our wider charity commitment to support the rescue organisations and rehoming centres working tirelessly to care for pets in need across the UK.
Note: Applications for funding from the Second Chance Grant 2026 are currently closed.
Why the Second Chance Grant exists.
Animal shelters are under increasing pressure - from rising veterinary costs to growing demand for rescue and rehabilitation. We created the Second Chance Grant to help remove some of those barriers, providing financial support where it can make a real, measurable difference.
Our charity work reflects a simple belief: a community that cares for its pets is a stronger, kinder community.
The Second Chance Grant has been set up to donate £25,000 per year to support small rescue shelters and re-homers. We hope that our financial support can go a long way in finding new homes for cats and dogs.
Rescue shelters and rehomers can apply for funding ranging from £1,000 to £12,500 to support their work.
We hope that we can continue to grow this fund over the coming years.
The Second Chance Grant aims to...
Raise awareness
Create awareness of the great work that shelters and rescue centres do to tackle issues surrounding displaced, stray and homeless cats and dogs.
Educate
Educate potential pet owners on the benefits of rehoming a cat or dog in need so they can make empowered and informed decisions.
Protect
Ensure pets are protected and set up for healthy and happy lives by working closely with trusted and ethical shelters and rehoming programmes.
Support
Provide support to small rescue shelters and rehoming programmes who may be facing financial limitations in their ability to help displaced cats and dogs.
Eligibility.
Who's eligible
Please note: Applications for funding from the Second Chance Grant for 2025 are now closed.
When applications open again in 2026, we’ll be looking for shelters and rehomers who want to secure additional funding to support their work. To be eligible for the Second Chance Grant, you must be a small shelter or rescue centre and meet the following criteria:
- Must be registered with the Charity Commission
- Are working directly with cats and dogs
- Based in the UK (excluding the Channel Islands and Jersey)
- Facilitate the welfare, rescue and rehoming process for cats and dogs
The criteria for this selection process are as follows
Purpose: What is the goal and objective behind the work your organisation is doing? How does this align with Waggel in terms of supporting the rehoming of cats and/or dogs?
Effectiveness: How are you working towards delivering information, support and/or services relating to the adoption and rehoming of pets in your community in a viable and sustainable way?
Impact: How can you demonstrate that your organisation will deliver against the objectives you have laid out and work towards facilitating the rehoming process and supporting pets and adopters in the process?
How to apply.
Applications are now closed
The Second Chance Grant application process is currently closed and will reopen in 2026.
Decision criteria
We make our decisions based on the information you provide in your application along with the programme criteria and expected outcomes.
We’ll shortlist the applications which present the most persuasive case for support, and an internal team will then decide which organisations are funded.
If you are experiencing problems with our form or have any questions, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line ‘Second Chance Grant’.
Additional income opportunity
Our ambassador programme is another way we help charities in need. For each successful adopted pet you refer to Waggel from your rescue centre, you'll get £25 from us, and the adoptee will receive a free month of insurance. It's a win-win all round.
If you’d be interested in securing additional income by joining our ambassador programme, we’d love to hear from you! Interested parties should send an email to [email protected] for more information.
How the Second Chance Grant works.
Launched in 2024, the Second Chance Grant is open to UK-based, registered animal shelters and rescue organisations. Successful applicants receive funding to support vital work, including:
- Veterinary treatment and emergency care
- Neutering, vaccination and preventative care programmes
- Behavioural rehabilitation and training
- Transport, equipment and resources that enable rescues to reach more animals
- Campaigns that help raise awareness and improve rehoming outcomes
Each grant is awarded with the goal of helping pets recover, thrive and find safe, permanent homes.
Who we’ve helped.
Since launching the Second Chance Grant, we’ve proudly supported rescue organisations across the UK. Every funded project represents real animals receiving care, support and the opportunity for a better future.
Some of our recipients include...
Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter, who received £3,150 towards vet care and rehabilitation, supporting 170 animals and over 40 behavioural sessions
Many Tears Rescue, who were granted £10,000 to purchase a rescue vehicle, enabling the rescue of 60 dogs
Mayhew Animal Home, which secured £3,500 to fund the neutering of six cats for vulnerable pet owners
North Clwyd Animal Rescue, who were given £5,000 to invest in social media and PR to increase their adoption reach
Since launching the Second Chance Grant, we're proud to have supported over 13 UK-based animal rescue charities and hundreds of cats and dogs.
Looking ahead to the future.
We’re committed to growing the Second Chance Grant year after year. Our future aims include:
- Increasing the total funding available
- Expanding eligibility to support more animal welfare programmes
- Partnering with charities that improve overall pet wellbeing, from outreach care to education
- Creating more opportunities for Waggel customers and employees to get involved
Our long-term vision remains unchanged: to help more pets across the UK get the second chance they deserve.
Volunteering and community involvement.
Charity is about people as much as pets. That’s why all Waggel employees receive two volunteer days each year to support an animal charity of their choice. Whether through hands-on help at a rescue centre or behind-the-scenes support, we encourage meaningful, practical involvement.
And while fostering and adoption are incredible ways to help, they’re not the only ones. Sharing rescue stories, raising awareness online, or supporting local campaigns can make a powerful difference.
A word from Nana, our Charity and Partnerships Manager.
“There is an increasing demand for shelters across the UK to rescue and support cats and dogs in need. We hope funding from our Second Chance Grant helps relieve some of the pressures they face.
So far, we’ve supported 14 shelters with funding ranging from veterinary care to behavioural rehabilitation - all with the aim of preparing pets for their forever homes.
As Waggel continues to grow, we hope to expand this support and provide long-term, meaningful help to even more organisations.”
Getting involved and making a difference.
Whether you’re a Waggel customer, a pet lover, or someone passionate about animal welfare, you can be part of the change. Learn how to apply for the Second Chance Grant, explore our charity initiatives, or find ways to volunteer and advocate for pets in need.
Because when we come together, every pet gets a second chance.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Waggel's Second Chance Grant offers individually tailored grants ranging from £1,000 to £12,500 for small rescue shelters that focus their work on facilitating the rescue and rehoming of cats and dogs in the UK.
We fund projects and activities to help small organisations carry out their support work, as well as those who seek to educate potential pet owners on the benefits of adopting a pet.
We only accept applications from professionals working for a registered charity who:
- Are working directly with cats and/or dogs
- Are based in the UK (excluding the Channel Islands)
- Facilitate the adoption and rehoming process for cats and dogs in the UK
-Are registered with the Charity Commission
If successful, the applicant will need to start the project within 4 weeks of receiving the funds, as well as provide an impact report 12 months after funds are received.
For more information visit our Terms & Conditions page.
At the moment, we are only able to support charities that are registered and based in the UK. This also includes UK-based organisations that may facilitate the adoption and rehoming of cats and dogs that have been brought in from other countries.
Pet ownership saw a huge rise during the COVID-19 pandemic though life after lockdown has seen many pets being placed in shelters. Rescue shelters are now under increasing pressure to meet demand, and in many cases, don’t have the available resources and capacity to meet this need.
A large proportion of the pets we currently insure are made up of puppies and kittens that are usually purchased from breeders. We want to use this grant fund as a means to support rescue shelters to meet the demand in cases where pets are unfortunately being given up for adoption. We also want to help educate potential adopters on the benefits of exploring this alternative route. As we continue to grow as a business, we hope that we can also expand our capacity to support other areas of work.
Charities are invited to re-apply for a grant following a successful or unsuccessful submission, but should not anticipate that this second application will be successful.
Charities are invited to apply for a grant ranging from £1,000 to £12,500. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, and charities requesting a larger grant will need to ensure that they have sufficient information and evidence to support their application.
No. Successful grant awards do not need to be paid back.
The only requirement is that applicants use the grant for legitimate purposes, as outlined in their application. The primary goal is to ensure that these grants go towards supporting the work to facilitate the rehoming of cats and dogs in the UK.
Applications for the Second Chance Grant are now closed and will re-open in 2026!
Yes. Unfortunately, applications for the Second Chance Grant are now closed and will re-open in 2026!
If you missed the deadline this year, be sure to keep an eye out on our socials as we count down to the closing date.