Responsible Lobbying Policy

1. Purpose and Public Declaration

Ava's Pet Palace does not currently engage in direct lobbying. However, the company may participate in intermediary organizations that engage in advocacy or lobbying on behalf of their members. Ava's Pet Palace therefore maintains this Responsible Lobbying Policy to ensure that any direct or indirect political engagement is transparent, consistent with the company's purpose, and responsibly governed.

Ava's Pet Palace will not lobby against its purpose of contributing to a positive impact on society or the environment.

2. Responsible Lobbying Commitment

If Ava's Pet Palace engages in lobbying or advocacy in the future, it will do so only to contribute to a positive impact on society or the environment. The company's lobbying and advocacy approach will be consistent with its purpose and with recognized frameworks for responsible business conduct, including B Lab Standards V2, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or similar frameworks where relevant.

3. Evidence-Based Approach

Ava's Pet Palace bases any lobbying or advocacy position on reliable or scientific data, or both, as appropriate to the issue. The company will not knowingly take or support positions that contradict credible evidence on issues relevant to its business, its community, or the environment.

4. Political Contributions

Ava's Pet Palace makes no financial or in-kind political contributions. This prohibition applies to contributions to political candidates, political parties, campaigns, political action committees, or similar political vehicles.

5. Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery

Ava's Pet Palace maintains a strict prohibition on bribery and corruption in all business activities, including any lobbying or advocacy activity. No officer, representative, contractor, or other person acting on behalf of the company may offer, give, request, or accept a bribe, kickback, improper payment, or other improper benefit in connection with lobbying, advocacy, or any other business activity. The company will comply with applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws.

6. Intermediary Organizations

Ava's Pet Palace may belong to intermediary organizations, business associations, certification organizations, or similar groups that engage in lobbying or public-policy advocacy. The company's current memberships include NMSDC Chicago, which may engage in advocacy or policy-related activities on behalf of its members.

Ava's Pet Palace applies the following controls to intermediary organizations:

• The company supports only lobbying or advocacy positions that align with this policy and its purpose.
• The President reviews relevant lobbying and advocacy positions of intermediary organizations at least annually and when a material policy issue affecting Ava's Pet Palace becomes known.
• Where an intermediary organization's position conflicts with this policy, Ava's Pet Palace documents the conflict and determines whether to engage with the organization, publicly clarify the company's own position, or take another appropriate corrective action.
• If a material conflict persists and cannot be resolved, Ava's Pet Palace will evaluate whether continued membership remains appropriate.
• Any material conflict, response, and final decision will be documented in the company's Lobbying & Intermediary Compliance Log.

7. Governance, Controls and Risk Management

The President is accountable for enforcing this policy and for ensuring that lobbying and advocacy activities, if any, remain consistent with its requirements.

The policy is embedded in the company through the following practices:

• Including the policy in regular governance and Sustainability Management System reviews where relevant.
• Ensuring company leadership and any representative acting on behalf of Ava's Pet Palace are aware of the policy requirements before participating in lobbying or advocacy activity.
• Maintaining a record of direct lobbying activity, intermediary organization memberships, relevant advocacy positions, identified conflicts, corrective actions, and annual review results.
• Reviewing political contributions to confirm that the company's prohibition on financial and in-kind political contributions remains in effect.
• Reviewing any reported concern or policy exception and documenting the response and corrective action, if needed.

8. Identification, Monitoring and Management of Non-Compliance Risk

The President identifies and monitors potential non-compliance risk by reviewing whether any direct lobbying activity, public advocacy position, political contribution, intermediary organization position, or conduct by a company representative conflicts with this policy.

When a potential conflict or violation is identified, the President documents the issue, assesses its significance, determines corrective action, and records the resolution. Corrective action may include clarification of the company's position, engagement with an intermediary organization, stopping or changing an activity, strengthening internal controls, or reconsidering an intermediary relationship.

9. Evaluation of Compliance and Control Effectiveness

At least annually, the President evaluates compliance with this policy and the effectiveness of its governance and control framework. The review considers any lobbying or advocacy activity, intermediary organization memberships, identified conflicts, stakeholder concerns, political contribution records, exceptions, and corrective actions. The President documents whether the controls operated as intended and identifies any changes needed for the following year.

10. Stakeholder Concerns and Grievance Procedure

Stakeholders who have concerns about Ava's Pet Palace's business conduct, lobbying practices, advocacy positions, political engagement, or compliance with this policy may raise them through Ava's Pet Palace's Stakeholder Concern Form and Grievance Procedure.

The Stakeholder Concern Form is publicly available at avaspetpalace.com/pages/stakeholder-concern-form. Concerns submitted through this process are reviewed and managed in accordance with the company's PSG3 grievance procedure. The President is responsible for receiving, reviewing, documenting, and responding to concerns raised under this policy.

11. Review and Formal Approval

This policy is formally reviewed and approved at least once per year by Ina Jones, President, serving as Ava's Pet Palace's highest governing body for purposes of this policy. The annual review covers all commitments in this policy, including any direct lobbying activity, political contributions, intermediary organization memberships, relevant lobbying or advocacy positions, identified conflicts, stakeholder concerns, and corrective actions.

12. Public Availability

Ava's Pet Palace publishes this Responsible Lobbying Policy on its website in a location accessible to customers, suppliers, business partners, community stakeholders, and other interested parties. The current approved version will remain publicly available and will be updated when the policy changes.

13. Policy Approval

Approved by: Ina Jones, President

Approval date: September 25, 2026