Introduction

Welcome to PetBuddyFit. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information, including information related to your pets. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and related services (collectively, the "Service").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you disagree with any part of this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Service.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when using our Service, including:

• Contact information (name, email address, phone number)
• Account credentials (username, password)
• Profile information:
  • For Pet Owners: Profile picture, address, emergency contact information, information about pets (species, breed, age, medical conditions, allergies, behavior traits), preferred pet caretaker qualifications, availability.
  • For Pet Caretakers: Profile picture, background check information, certifications (pet first aid, animal behavior), experience, availability, hourly rate, references, services offered (walking, boarding, grooming, training).
• Payment information (stored securely through our payment processor)
• Communications (messages exchanged between pet owners and caretakers through our platform)
• Media content (photos/videos of pets shared through the platform)

Automatically Collected Information

When you access or use our Service, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device information (device type, operating system, unique device identifiers)
• Log data (IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent)
• Location information (general location based on IP address; precise location may be collected with consent for pet walking route tracking, pet boarding check-in/check-out)
• Usage patterns (features used, interactions with the Service, search queries)

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for various purposes, including to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Service
• Process transactions and manage user accounts
• Connect pet owners with qualified pet caretakers
• Facilitate communication and scheduling between pet owners and caretakers
• Verify caretaker qualifications (background checks, certifications)
• Send notifications related to bookings, messages, and account activity
• Provide customer support and resolve disputes
• Personalize your experience and recommend caretakers or services
• Monitor and analyze usage patterns and trends
• Track pet care activities (walking routes, feeding schedules, medication reminders)
• Ensure the safety and security of pets and our platform
• Comply with legal obligations

Sharing Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors who provide services on our behalf, such as payment processing, background checks, data analysis, email delivery, hosting, and customer service. We use reputable vendors who are committed to protecting your data.
• Marketplace Participants: To facilitate bookings, we share relevant information between pet owners and potential caretakers (e.g., caretaker profiles with pet owners, pet details and service requirements with caretakers).
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., court order, subpoena).
• Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
• Consent: We may share your information with third parties when we have your explicit consent to do so.
• Emergency Situations: In the event of an emergency involving a pet, we may share necessary information with emergency veterinary services and relevant contacts provided by the pet owner.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of your personal information and information about your pets. These measures include encryption, firewalls, secure server infrastructure, and access controls. We regularly review and update our security practices to maintain the highest level of protection. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. We strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, but we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Your Choices

You have several choices regarding the information you provide to us:

• Account Information: You can review and update your account information in your profile settings.
• Pet Profiles: You can add, edit, or remove information about your pets at any time through your account settings.
• Location Services: You can control location sharing through your device settings. Note that precise location sharing may be required for certain features, such as pet walking route tracking, and requires your consent.
• Marketing Communications: You can opt out of receiving promotional emails by following the unsubscribe instructions in those emails.
• Push Notifications: You can manage push notifications through your device settings.
• Data Access and Deletion: You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by contacting us. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Pet Information Privacy

We understand that information about your pets is sensitive and important to you. We are committed to protecting this information and will only use it for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. When you provide information about your pets, we will:

• Only share relevant pet information with caretakers who need it to provide requested services
• Allow you to control what pet information is visible to other users
• Implement security measures to protect sensitive pet health information
• Delete pet information upon request (except where required to be retained for legal or business purposes)

Third-Party Services

Our Service may contain links to or integrate with third-party services, such as veterinary information resources, pet food subscription services, or pet insurance providers. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through our Service.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the country in which you reside. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country. We will take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. If the changes are significant, we will also provide a more prominent notice, such as an in-app notification or email. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.