Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

Pawcial exists to help dogs find friends and dog parents stay connected. That only works if everyone uses it in good faith. This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") sets out what behaviour is and isn't allowed on the Pawcial app and website (collectively, the "Service"). It applies to every person who uses the Service — dog parents, professional walkers, and anyone who browses pawcial.com.

This AUP is incorporated into our Terms of Use. Violating it may result in suspension or permanent removal of your account.

2. Be Honest

Everything you post on Pawcial should be accurate and genuine.

• Use your real name and a real photo of your dog. Fake or stock-photo profiles are not allowed.
• Do not misrepresent your dog's temperament, vaccination status, or history of aggression. Other people's safety — and their dogs' safety — depends on honest profiles.
• Do not create multiple accounts to evade a suspension, inflate ratings, or game compatibility scores.
• Professional walkers must accurately represent their experience, qualifications, and services. Do not claim certifications or insurance you do not hold.

3. Treat People (and Dogs) with Respect

Pawcial is a community built on positive interactions. You must not:

• Harass, threaten, bully, or abuse any user — in messages, reviews, or any other part of the Service.
• Post content that is discriminatory, hateful, or offensive based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic.
• Contact another user after they have asked you not to, or after they have blocked you.
• Use the messaging feature for solicitation, spam, or any commercial purpose unrelated to a genuine dog-care connection.

4. Use Location Data Responsibly

Check-in data shows where dogs are at a moment in time so owners can arrange meetups. That is the only purpose it is designed for. You must not:

• Use check-in data, home area information, or any other location features to track, monitor, or surveil another person or their routine.
• Record, screenshot, or aggregate other users' location information for any purpose outside of arranging a playdate.
• Use location features to facilitate harassment or to show up somewhere uninvited after being declined or ignored.

If you become aware of someone using Pawcial to track or stalk another person, report it immediately using the in-app report feature or by emailing safety@pawcial.com.

5. Walker–Client Standards

The walker feature is designed to support ongoing professional relationships between walkers and the families they work with. Walkers using Pawcial must not:

• Use client dogs' profiles, check-in history, or location data for any purpose other than providing care for that dog.
• Check in a client dog without the owner's knowledge or prior agreement.
• Solicit new clients through unsolicited messages to dog parents they have no existing relationship with.
• Post fake or incentivised reviews of their own services.
• Misrepresent a client relationship — for example, claiming a dog as a client to access that owner's network.

6. Keep Content Accurate and Appropriate

When submitting reviews, place listings, or any other content:

• Only review places you have actually visited with your dog.
• Do not post defamatory, false, or misleading reviews of businesses or other users.
• Do not post graphic, violent, sexual, or otherwise inappropriate content.
• Do not share another person's private information (address, phone number, etc.) without their consent.

7. Do Not Misuse the Platform

You must not use Pawcial to:

• Scrape, crawl, or systematically extract user data, profiles, or location information.
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or tamper with the app or its infrastructure.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to another user's account or to our systems.
• Transmit malware, viruses, or any code intended to harm the Service or its users.
• Circumvent any technical measures we use to enforce this AUP or our Terms of Use.

8. Enforcement

We take violations of this AUP seriously. Depending on the nature and severity, our response may include:

• A warning and request to correct the behaviour.
• Temporary suspension of your account.
• Permanent removal of your account and associated content.
• Referral to law enforcement where conduct may be illegal.

We reserve the right to act at our sole discretion and are not obligated to provide advance notice before taking action, particularly where safety is at risk.

9. Reporting a Violation

If you see something that violates this AUP, please report it. You can use the report button on any profile, check-in, or message within the app, or contact us directly:

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this AUP as the Service evolves. We will notify you of significant changes via the app or by email. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.