CUDDLY is a for-good, for-profit organization with a mission to be the champion of animals in need. We do this by directly providing tools and resources to support animal welfare organizations worldwide. The CUDDLY platform empowers animal welfare organizations to create fundraisers and wishlists in order to raise funds and receive donated supplies for animals who desperately need help. In turn, donors from all over the world can make a difference by donating to a specific animal or organization. It is CUDDLY's mission is to help save as many animals through community, innovation, and creativity.
CUDDLY (cuddly.com) has 2,942 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Also known as
cuddly.com
Website
cuddly.com
Category
Professional Organizations
Location
Seal Beach, California
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 63% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
Edits
Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
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You'll always get a five star from me, you so deserve it. KUDOS for being such an honest, caring, effective ministry for and to GOD'S creation.
Response from CUDDLYMay 28, 2026
Thank you for your thoughtful generosity. Your support allows us to make a meaningful impact in the lives of animals, and we’re truly thankful for your trust in our mission
SA
Saving Animal L.
Cuddly Profit Margin Increased from 10% to 40%
Cuddly was once a valuable partner for our animal rescue, but recent changes have left us feeling disheartened and frustrated. Their profit margin has increased by 30%, going from 10% to an alarming 40%. While we can create our own campaigns and retain 90% of donations, opting out of giving them 40% means they won't promote our campaigns, severely limiting our visibility.
As a non-profit relying solely on donor generosity, we struggle to meet the costs of caring for the animals we rescue. Our average annual vet expenses reach about $30,000, and that’s on top of day-to-day expenses like parasite treatment, vaccinations, medicines, pet food, fuel for transports, insurance costs, and more. With no grants to support us, every dollar counts. The sudden increase in Cuddly's profit margin feels exploitative, especially considering the products they sell, which are already grossly inflated—some are even four times their retail value for those purchasing and shipping directly to rescues.
I previously praised Cuddly and recommended them to fellow rescues, but their recent actions suggest a shift away from their original mission. The monetary wishlist for ordering supplies has also become problematic; our orders often take months to arrive, and many items are still missing despite numerous inquiries.
We recently rescued a dog with heart problems who desperately needs to see a specialist, which costs $2,000, not including any lab tests or scans. If I were to raise $3,000 through Cuddly, they would pocket $1,200 of the funds that are desperately needed to save her life. This situation has put her potential adoption on hold indefinitely, and I find it sickening.
While some may argue that any amount of funding is better than none, it's really about principle. Supporting an organization that seems to prioritize profits over the welfare of suffering animals is not something I can do. Cuddly's recent decisions appear to lack compassion for the very animals they claim to help, leaving us worried about the future of those in our care.
Here’s a condensed version of your message, reduced to around 2,000 characters while retaining the key points:
**Update**
I’d like to clarify a few concerns. While many partners choose the higher tier for support, it’s puzzling that promoting campaigns incurs necessary costs. If we opt for the 10% self-service option and manage our campaigns, this should reduce your operational costs since we handle promotion. How does promoting our campaigns impact your bottom line when it seems it could save you expenses?
I’ve used the support email multiple times, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been very unhelpful. I am still waiting on several items from my order, which is concerning given the urgent needs of the animals in our care. Such delays are frustrating, especially for donors who sacrifice resources to help suffering animals. It’s disheartening to think their generosity may not lead to the immediate care these animals need.
Additionally, thousands in wishlist donations were used for items we didn’t select or even need because Cuddly representatives have cashed them out and sent us items of their choosing, I can only assume they needed them cashed out for commission purposes. Cuddly-branded items are often added to these wishlists, which is frustrating. I created wishlists for cost-effective items, as prices for dog food can be inflated—often 2 to 3 times higher than retail. This approach would allow donations to stretch further.
I’m not alone in my concerns; I’ve come across other rescues Facebook posts about exploring alternative fundraising platforms. I’ve considered sharing my review, knowing it could limit my future use of your platform. However, I believe it’s important to educate donors who may not realize you’re taking almost half of their donations. An online search still indicates your organization only takes 10% and transparency is crucial. If donors understood the current profit margin, I’m confident they wouldn’t be comfortable that such a large amount of their donations aren’t being used for their intended purpose.
The “tier down” option, while presented as a choice, seems more like a formality. If our campaigns aren’t promoted, it significantly diminishes their chances of success, raising questions about the true options available to partners like us.
Response from CUDDLYMay 28, 2026
Hi there,
Thank you so much for the review and for all you do for animals in need. We are grateful to have been a valuable resource and partner for you and to have helped so many animals in need. The work you do is truly incredible, and we were so honored to assist your amazing rescue efforts in the past.
We are so sorry to hear about the dog you have taken in with heart troubles. CUDDLY is grateful for compassionate people like you who step up for animals facing such serious challenges.
CUDDLY's mission is to support animal welfare organizations and help them run successful campaigns in order to save more animals. To accomplish this mission, we have, and continue to, develop a valuable system of tools, services, and fundraising expertise that our partners use at absolutely no upfront cost to them.
Unfortunately, it does cost us to develop, maintain, and execute all of these services. We face a myriad of costs as we support our partners, some of which may not be obvious at a casual glance. All of these costs have increased for us across the board recently. For CUDDLY to exist and provide the services, we have to cover these costs.
The completely optional 40% tier comes with dedicated services that help increase impact, reach, and donations. Partners benefit from increased levels of direct support and consultation, campaign management, and donor acquisition.
Many of our partners choose this tier because it allows them to focus on their mission while we take a more active role in driving campaign performance. Others prefer our 10% self-service option, which still provides access to the platform and tools that have made their fundraising successful.
Regarding the wishlist items in our catalog, our objective is to serve animal welfare organizations by providing what they need to support the animals in their care. CUDDLY works hard to maintain competitive pricing and keeps costs as low as possible. One reason our products may seem more costly is that we include shipping and handling fees in the item's price. It is important to note that we keep our platform free of upfront costs for animal welfare partners. We hear your concern that some items may still feel out of reach, and we are always working to improve our catalog pricing.
If any items are delayed, please feel free to reach out to [email protected], and our friendly customer service team can assist with any concerns.
Thank you again for your review and the work that you do. Your devotion and care for the animals in your stead and the cases you choose to take show your dedication and love for animals in need. At our core, CUDDLY's mission has not changed, we remain as committed as ever to the welfare of animals and the incredible organizations that fight for them every day. This feedback has been passed on to our management team, and we will use it to continually improve. Partner trust is incredibly important to us, which is why we strive to be transparent about our policies, fees, and how our program works.
Update:
Thank you for updating your review. Thank you for the incredible work you do.
Promoted campaigns are carefully designed to help partners expand their reach beyond their existing audience thru additional visibility across key channels, including social media and other venues. These efforts require significant planning, coordination, and resources to execute effectively. Because of the level of support needed, promoted campaigns are available exclusively to partners in our managed tier.
The goal of this tier is to increase reach and donation volume and allow partners to do what they do best, saving animals.
To provide these services, CUDDLY retains a portion of funds raised. The majority of that goes directly back into the cost of running your campaign — advertising spend, platform support, and dedicated campaign management. After expenses, CUDDLY retains approximately 10–12%, which is what allows us to continue investing in our partners’ growth.
JC
Johanna C.
As pictured
As pictured. Quick delivery.
Response from CUDDLYMay 28, 2026
We’re so grateful for your support and kind words. It’s because of caring people like you that we can continue to support rescuing and treating animals who need help the most.
JU
Judy
Directions were easy to follow
Directions were easy to follow. Please give to these animals in need. This is a worthwhile organization to contribute to.
Response from CUDDLYMay 28, 2026
We appreciate your heartfelt support. Every donation allows us to help more animals in need, and knowing you’re part of our mission means the world to us.
AI
Aitana I.
I appreciate their work
I appreciate their work, but the tip prompt at checkout (similar to a restaurant screen) which adds extra to your donation that you might not notice caught me off guard smh
Response from CUDDLYMay 19, 2026
Hi,
Thanks so much for the review, we take your feedback very seriously.
Concerning the tipping feature, we implemented this option to help keep our platform completely free for shelters and rescues to use. That being said, the tip feature is also 100% optional. If a tip was inadvertently added to your donation, our friendly customer service team can get that refunded for you.
You can reach out to us at [email protected].
Thank you for joining us in the mission to save more animals!
LS
Lesley S.
I feel good knowing that the money that…
I feel good knowing that the money that I donate towards animals, it seems to go to the right place.
Response from CUDDLYMay 6, 2026
Your generosity and encouragement mean the world to us. Thank you for standing with us in giving sick, injured, and vulnerable animals the care they deserve.
CL
Clair
A great company helping animals
I heard of Cuddly in TV commercial, but I only started contributing last year.
This is a great company, helping animals domestically and abroad. The online system is user friendly, well designed.
I encourage people to see it and contribute. Small contributions added up can help and make a difference.
Response from CUDDLYMay 6, 2026
We truly appreciate your kindness and generosity. Knowing that you value and support the care of animals inspires us to keep doing everything we can for those in desperate need.
GM
Gabrielle M.
Great prices and quick delivery.
Great prices and quick delivery.
Response from CUDDLYMay 6, 2026
Thank you so much for your generosity and kind words. Your compassion for animals makes a real difference, and we’re grateful to have your support in helping those who need it most.