Dog Date

At DogDate™, we understand that your dog's wellbeing and your privacy are equally important. As a platform dedicated to facilitating responsible dog breeding and safe playdate connections, we are committed to protecting both your personal information and your pet's sensitive data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application to connect with other responsible dog owners.

Our platform serves two distinct purposes: facilitating ethical breeding matches and organizing safe playdates for dogs. Each service requires different levels of information sharing, and we've designed our privacy practices to respect these unique needs while maintaining the highest standards of data protection.

Last Updated: January 15, 2025

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

Owner contact information (email address, phone number for verification)
Dog profile information including name, breed, age, temperament, and behavioral characteristics
Medical documentation including vaccination records, health certificates, and veterinary history
Breeding documentation such as pedigree certificates, genetic testing results, and inbreeding coefficient records
Location data (neighborhood level) to facilitate nearby matches while protecting your exact address
Payment information for premium features and match confirmations (processed securely through Stripe)
Profile photos and videos of your dog(s) for matching purposes

1.2 Platform Usage Information

Match preferences and compatibility settings
Playdate history and breeding interaction logs
Messaging activity within our secure chat system
Document verification status and submission timestamps
App feature usage patterns and preferences
Device information for security and optimization purposes

2. How We Use Your Information

To create and maintain detailed dog profiles for responsible breeding and playdate matching
To facilitate secure connections between compatible dog owners based on breed, temperament, and location
To verify and validate medical documentation and breeding certificates for platform integrity
To process payments for premium features, match confirmations, and subscription services
To provide secure messaging capabilities between matched users
To send important updates about matches, verification status, and platform features
To ensure animal welfare and prevent irresponsible breeding practices
To maintain platform safety and prevent fraudulent or misleading profiles
To improve our matching algorithms and user experience

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 With Other DogDate Users

We share limited profile information with other users only after mutual match confirmation and payment completion, including:

Your dog's basic information (name, breed, age, temperament, photos)
General location (neighborhood level, never your exact address)
Verified medical documentation (only after match confirmation)
Breeding preferences and availability for breeding matches
Playdate preferences and scheduling availability

3.2 With Trusted Service Providers

We may share information with carefully selected third-party service providers who assist us in:

Payment processing through Stripe for secure transactions
Document verification and fraud prevention services
Cloud storage and data security infrastructure
Customer support and platform maintenance
Analytics to improve our matching algorithms

3.3 Legal and Safety Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

Comply with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
Protect animal welfare and prevent irresponsible breeding practices
Ensure user safety and prevent harm to pets or owners
Respond to valid legal requests from authorities
Investigate and prevent fraudulent or illegal activities

4. Data Security

We implement comprehensive technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information and your dog's sensitive data, including:

End-to-end encryption for all data transmission and storage
Multi-factor authentication for account access
Regular security audits and penetration testing
Secure document verification processes with AI-assisted fraud detection
Access controls limiting staff access to only necessary information
Secure cloud infrastructure with SOC 2 compliance
Regular employee training on data protection and animal welfare
Automated monitoring for suspicious activities and unauthorized access

Given the sensitive nature of breeding documentation and medical records, we employ additional security measures specifically designed to protect your dog's health information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have comprehensive rights regarding your personal information and your dog's data:

Access: Request a complete copy of your personal data and your dog's profile information
Correction: Update or correct any inaccurate information about you or your dog
Deletion: Request complete deletion of your account and all associated dog profiles
Portability: Export your data and your dog's information in a portable format
Restriction: Limit how we process your information for specific purposes
Objection: Object to certain types of processing, including marketing communications
Withdrawal: Withdraw consent for document sharing with other users at any time
Match Control: Control which matches can access your dog's detailed information

To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@dogdate.co.uk. We will respond to your request within 30 days and may require verification of your identity to protect your privacy.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information and your dog's data for as long as necessary to:

Provide our breeding matching and playdate services to you
Maintain accurate breeding records and lineage documentation
Comply with legal obligations related to animal welfare and breeding regulations
Resolve disputes and enforce agreements between users
Improve our matching algorithms and platform safety
Prevent fraud and maintain platform integrity

When you delete your account, we will remove your personal information and dog profiles within 30 days, except where we are required to retain certain information for legal, regulatory, or safety purposes. Breeding documentation may be retained longer to comply with animal welfare regulations and to prevent fraudulent breeding practices.

7. Children's Privacy

DogDate™ is designed for responsible adult dog owners and is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take immediate steps to delete such information and terminate the associated account.

Parents and guardians should be aware that our platform involves adult decisions about dog breeding and responsible pet ownership, which require mature judgment and legal responsibility. We encourage parents to supervise their children's internet usage and to educate them about online privacy and safety.

8. International Data Transfers

DogDate™ operates primarily from the United Kingdom but serves users globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, European Union member states, and other jurisdictions where our service providers operate.

We ensure that such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, including GDPR for EU users and other regional privacy regulations. We implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and other approved transfer mechanisms to protect your information during international transfers.

By using our platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or platform features. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy in the app, sending an email notification, or displaying a prominent notice when you next access the platform.

Your continued use of DogDate™ after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information and your dog's data.

If you do not agree with the changes, you may delete your account and stop using the platform. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting unless otherwise specified.