Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using the Pawcial mobile application or visiting pawcial.com (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Service. These Terms form a binding agreement between you and Pawcial ("we", "our", or "us").

2. Description of Service

Pawcial is a location-aware social app that connects dog parents for playdates, helps users discover dog-friendly places, and facilitates connections between dog parents and professional dog walkers. Features include dog profiles, availability check-ins, a live map, compatibility matching, and walker management.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use the Service. By using the Service you represent that you are 18 or older and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. The Service is not directed to children under 13.

4. Your Account

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep it up to date.
• You may not create an account on behalf of another person without their permission, or create multiple accounts to evade a ban or restriction.
• Notify us immediately at hello@pawcial.com if you suspect unauthorised use of your account.

5. User Content

You may submit photos, bios, dog profiles, messages, and reviews ("User Content"). By submitting User Content you:

• Represent that you own or have the rights to share the content.
• Grant Pawcial a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to store, display, and distribute your content solely to operate and improve the Service.
• Acknowledge that other users of the Service may view content you mark as public.

We do not claim ownership of your User Content. You may delete your content or your account at any time.

6. Prohibited Conduct

When using the Service, you agree not to:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information about yourself, your dog, or your professional services.
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users or their dogs.
• Impersonate any person, dog, or entity.
• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law.
• Scrape, crawl, or systematically extract data from the Service.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Service or its infrastructure.
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or any software intended to disrupt the Service.
• Use the Service to send unsolicited commercial messages (spam).

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these rules, at our sole discretion.

7. Professional Dog Walkers

Pawcial provides tools for professional dog walkers to manage client relationships and dog care within the app. Walkers who use these features acknowledge that:

• They are independent service providers, not employees or agents of Pawcial.
• Pawcial does not vet, endorse, or guarantee the quality or safety of any walker's services.
• Any service agreement, payment, and liability for dog care is solely between the walker and the dog parent.
• Pawcial is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage arising from a walker-client relationship facilitated through the app.

8. Location Data

Certain features require access to your device's location. Location is used only at the moment of a check-in and is not tracked continuously. You can disable location access in your device settings, though this will limit map and check-in functionality. See our Privacy Policy for full details on how location data is handled.

9. Intellectual Property

The Pawcial name, logo, app design, and all content we create are owned by Pawcial and protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from our content without our prior written permission.

10. Disclaimers

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure. Dog compatibility scores are suggestions only — they are not a guarantee of animal behaviour and should not replace your own judgement when introducing dogs to each other.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PAWCIAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR (B) USD $100.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Pawcial and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, your User Content, or your violation of these Terms.

13. Changes to the Service and Terms

We may modify or discontinue any part of the Service at any time. We may also update these Terms — we will notify you of material changes via the app or email. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in California.

15. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at: