Acceptance of Terms
By creating an account or using PawConnect ("the Service"), you agree to these Terms & Conditions ("Terms"), our Privacy Policy, and any additional guidelines we publish. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use the Service.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and PawConnect. We may update these Terms from time to time, and your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
Eligibility
- You must be at least 13 years old to use PawConnect. Users under 18 must have parental or guardian consent.
- You must provide accurate and complete information when creating an account.
- You may only maintain one personal account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions is prohibited.
- Your account is personal and non-transferable. You are responsible for all activity under your account.
User Accounts
3.1 Account Creation
When you create an account, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. You must keep your account credentials secure and notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.
3.2 Account Termination
- You may delete your account at any time through your account settings.
- We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, without prior notice.
- Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. Some data may be retained as described in our Privacy Policy.
User Content
4.1 Your Content
You retain ownership of content you post on PawConnect (photos, videos, reels, text, comments). By posting content, you grant PawConnect a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content in connection with operating the Service.
4.2 Content Standards
You agree that your content will not:
- Contain hateful, abusive, threatening, or harassing material.
- Depict animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect in any form.
- Include sexually explicit, violent, or graphic content.
- Infringe upon any third party's intellectual property, privacy, or other rights.
- Contain spam, malware, phishing links, or deceptive content.
- Promote illegal activities, including unlicensed breeding or animal trafficking.
- Impersonate another person, organization, or entity.
- Contain false or misleading information about pet health or veterinary advice.
4.3 Content Removal
We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or that we deem inappropriate, without prior notice. Repeated violations may result in account suspension or termination.
Pet Profiles and Information
- You are responsible for the accuracy of pet profiles you create. Misrepresenting a pet's breed, health status, or ownership is prohibited.
- Pet health information shared on PawConnect is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice.
- If you list a pet as available for breeding, you must comply with all local laws and regulations regarding animal breeding.
- Lost & Found listings must be truthful. Filing false reports is grounds for immediate account termination.
Veterinary Services
- Veterinary professionals on PawConnect must hold valid, current licenses in their jurisdiction.
- PawConnect does not verify veterinary credentials. Users should independently verify any vet's qualifications before seeking services.
- Online consultations through PawConnect do not replace in-person veterinary care. In emergencies, always contact a local veterinary clinic.
- PawConnect is not liable for any advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by veterinary professionals on the platform.
- Health records and medical information stored on PawConnect are provided by users and vets for convenience. PawConnect does not guarantee their accuracy.
Playdates and Meetups
- Playdates organized through PawConnect are arranged between users. PawConnect is not a party to these arrangements.
- You attend playdates and meetups at your own risk. Ensure your pet is properly vaccinated, healthy, and socialized.
- Hosts are responsible for ensuring their playdate locations are safe and appropriate.
- PawConnect is not liable for any injuries, damages, or disputes arising from playdates or meetups.
- If your pet has any behavioral issues or health conditions, you must disclose this before attending a playdate.
Location Services
- Location features are optional. You can enable or disable location access at any time.
- When enabled, your approximate location is used for nearby discovery, local playdates, and lost & found features.
- Your exact coordinates are never shared with other users. Only approximate distances are displayed.
- PawConnect is not responsible for the accuracy of location-based information or distance calculations.
Intellectual Property
- The PawConnect name, logo, and all related branding are trademarks of PawConnect. You may not use them without our written permission.
- The Service's design, features, and underlying technology are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.
- You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any part of the Service.
- User-generated content remains the property of its creators, subject to the license granted in Section 4.1.
Prohibited Activities
In addition to the content standards in Section 4, you agree not to:
- Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other accounts, systems, or networks connected to the Service.
- Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to access or interact with the Service without our permission.
- Harvest or collect user information without consent.
- Interfere with or disrupt the Service, servers, or networks connected to the Service.
- Use the platform to buy, sell, or trade animals in violation of applicable laws.
- Create fake accounts, fake reviews, or artificially inflate engagement metrics.
- Circumvent any rate limits, security measures, or access controls.
Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
PawConnect does not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or other harmful components. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content or information on the platform.
Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PAWCONNECT AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.
This includes, without limitation, damages for loss of data, loss of profits, personal injury, or property damage resulting from interactions with other users, pets, or veterinary professionals through the platform.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless PawConnect and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from:
- Your use of the Service or violation of these Terms.
- Content you post or share on the platform.
- Your interactions with other users, including playdates and meetups.
- Any injury or damage caused by your pet during activities facilitated through the Service.
Dispute Resolution
- Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall first be attempted to be resolved through informal negotiation.
- If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the applicable arbitration association.
- You agree to waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.
- These Terms are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which PawConnect is incorporated.
Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated through the platform or via email. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.
We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed about our rules and guidelines.
Contact
For questions about these Terms & Conditions, please contact us:
PawConnect Legal Team
Email: legal@pawconnect.social
Response time: Within 30 days of receiving your inquiry.