Paw Alert

Paw Alert ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Paw Alert mobile application (the "App"). This page explains our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service.

Information We Collect

Account information you provide

• Name, email address, and password
• Phone number, optional and only if you choose to add it to listings

Content you create

• Lost and found pet listings, including pet name, species, breed, color, size, and description
• Location details, including city, neighborhood, and last-seen location text
• Pet photos you upload, stored as base64 in our database
• Direct messages you send to other users as a Premium feature
• Reward amounts as a Premium feature

Payment information

• Subscription tier and renewal date
• Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Inc.
• We do not store credit card numbers, CVVs, or full bank details on our servers
• Stripe privacy policy: https://stripe.com/privacy

Automatically collected

• Device type and OS version for basic diagnostics
• Authentication tokens stored locally on your device

How We Use Your Information

• Display lost and found pet listings to nearby users
• Enable contact between pet finders and owners by call, email, or in-app message
• Process subscription payments through Stripe
• Send email match alerts for Basic tier and above when enabled
• Improve the Service and respond to support requests

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

Information Sharing

• Other users can see information you choose to make public on listings.
• Stripe processes payments. Information shared with Stripe is governed by Stripe's privacy policy.
• We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or to protect users and the Service.

Data Retention

• Active listings are retained as long as your account is active.
• You can delete any of your listings at any time from the Profile screen.
• For full account deletion, contact projects@thecandyman.llc. We will remove your personal data within 30 days.

Children's Privacy

Paw Alert is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information to us, please contact us so we can delete it.

Security

• Passwords are hashed with bcrypt before storage.
• Authentication uses signed JWT tokens.
• Communication between the app and our servers uses HTTPS.
• No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data, or withdraw consent. To exercise these rights, contact projects@thecandyman.llc.

Third-Party Services

• Stripe payment processing: https://stripe.com/privacy
• MongoDB Atlas or self-hosted MongoDB for database storage

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated by updating the Last Updated date above and, where required, by an in-app notice.

Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Email projects@thecandyman.llc. For postal correspondence, contact us by email.