PawMatch — Legal

Last updated: March 28, 2026 Alpha

      PawMatch is currently in early alpha. By using the app you acknowledge it is a work in progress and agree to these terms.
    

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using PawMatch ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service. These terms apply to all users of PawMatch, including beta testers and invited members.

2. Description of Service

PawMatch is a mobile web application that helps dog owners find compatible playmates for their dogs. The Service includes dog profile creation, compatibility matching, messaging between owners, playdate coordination, and vaccine record verification (PawPass).

PawMatch is currently in early alpha and is invite-only. Features may change, be added, or be removed at any time without notice.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use PawMatch.
You must be a dog owner or primary caregiver of a dog to create a profile.
You must have received an invitation or been approved by PawMatch to access the Service during the alpha period.
You must provide accurate and truthful information about yourself and your dog.

4. User Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and password. PawMatch cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage from your failure to comply with this security obligation.

You may not use another person's account without permission. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

5. User Content

You retain ownership of any content you submit to PawMatch, including dog photos, profile information, and messages. By submitting content, you grant PawMatch a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content within the Service.

You are solely responsible for the content you post. You agree not to post content that:

Is false, misleading, or fraudulent
Infringes on any third party's intellectual property rights
Is abusive, harassing, threatening, or discriminatory
Violates any applicable law or regulation
Misrepresents your dog's temperament, vaccination status, or behavioral history

6. Safety and Conduct

PawMatch facilitates connections between dog owners but is not responsible for in-person interactions. You are solely responsible for:

Verifying the suitability of any playdate before meeting
Ensuring your dog is safe to interact with other dogs
Any injuries, damages, or incidents that occur during a playdate
Your own safety when meeting other users

We strongly encourage meeting in public spaces for first playdates and using common sense precautions.

7. PawPass Vaccine Verification

PawPass verification is provided as a convenience feature. PawMatch reviews submitted records in good faith but cannot guarantee the authenticity of any vaccine documentation. A PawPass badge does not constitute a professional veterinary endorsement. Always verify your dog's health independently.

8. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

Use the Service for any commercial purpose without written permission
Attempt to reverse engineer, scrape, or copy the Service
Create fake profiles or misrepresent your identity
Harass, stalk, or threaten other users
Use the Service to solicit money or goods from other users
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other accounts or systems

9. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, for any reason, including violation of these Terms. You may delete your account at any time through the Account tab in the app.

10. Disclaimers

PawMatch is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components. As an alpha product, downtime and data loss are possible.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, PawMatch shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service, including but not limited to damages arising from in-person meetings arranged through the Service.

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms. We will make reasonable efforts to notify users of significant changes.

13. Contact

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at hello@thepawmatch.com.

Last updated: March 28, 2026 Alpha

      We built PawMatch to connect dogs, not to monetize your data. This policy explains clearly what we collect, why, and how it's used.
    

1. Information We Collect

Information you provide directly:

Account information — email address, username, password
Profile information — your name, gender, location (ZIP code), and profile photo
Dog profile — your dog's name, breed, age, size, sex, photo, and biography
Quiz answers — your responses to the compatibility quiz
Vaccine records — documents you upload for PawPass verification
Messages — communications with other users through the in-app chat
Bug reports — descriptions and screenshots you submit via the Report a Bug feature

Information collected automatically:

Device information — browser type, operating system, device type
Usage data — features you use, screens you visit, actions you take
Location data — approximate location if you use the GPS feature to set your ZIP code. We do not track your location continuously.

2. How We Use Your Information

To operate and improve the Service
To match your dog with compatible dogs nearby
To facilitate messaging between matched owners
To verify vaccine records for PawPass
To send service-related communications (no marketing without consent)
To respond to bug reports and support requests
To detect and prevent fraud or abuse

3. What We Don't Do With Your Data

      We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not use your data for advertising. We do not share your information with anyone except as described in this policy.
    

4. Information Shared With Other Users

When you use PawMatch, other users may see:

Your dog's profile — name, breed, age, size, photo, bio, and traits
Your first name and username
Your approximate location (city/neighborhood, not exact address)
Your profile photo (if you choose to upload one)
Your PawPass verification status

Your email address, full location, and account details are never visible to other users.

5. Data Storage and Security

PawMatch uses Supabase (supabase.com) for data storage, authentication, and file storage. Your data is stored on servers located in the United States. Supabase employs industry-standard security practices including encryption at rest and in transit.

Uploaded photos and vaccine records are stored in secure cloud storage with access controls. We retain vaccine records only as long as necessary for verification purposes.

As an alpha product, we cannot guarantee perfect security. Please do not share sensitive information beyond what is necessary to use the Service.

6. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. You can delete your account at any time through the Account tab in the app, which permanently removes your profile, dog data, photos, and messages from our systems. Some data may remain in backups for up to 30 days after deletion.

7. Children's Privacy

PawMatch is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it promptly.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Correct inaccurate information
Request deletion of your data
Export your data
Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@thepawmatch.com or use the Delete Account feature in the app.

9. Cookies and Local Storage

PawMatch uses browser local storage to save your session and app preferences locally on your device. We do not use third-party tracking cookies or advertising cookies.

10. Third-Party Services

PawMatch uses the following third-party services:

Supabase — database, authentication, and file storage (Privacy Policy)
Netlify — web hosting (Privacy Policy)
OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — map data and reverse geocoding for the Dog Parks feature and GPS location detection

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes by updating the date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at hello@thepawmatch.com.