Privacy Policy

Welcome to PupPals ("the App"). Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

1. Who We Are

PupPals is an independent mobile application designed to help dog owners find dog-friendly places nearby, alert fellow dog owners when they're heading to the park, and connect their dogs with other local dogs — all without requiring users to share personal information with one another.

2. Information We Collect

A. Account information (optional)

You can use PupPals as a guest without providing any personal information. If you choose to create a registered account, we collect your email address for authentication purposes only.

B. Dog profile information

PupPals accounts belong to your dog, not you. Information entered into a dog profile — such as the dog's name, breed, weight, age, and an optional photo — is stored on our servers. This information is associated with your dog's anonymous account, not with your personal identity.

C. Location data

The App requests access to your device's location to show you nearby dog-friendly places and parks. Location data is used only while the App is active and is not stored on our servers or shared with third parties.

D. Push notification tokens

If you allow push notifications, we store a device token to deliver alerts (such as "Bark" notifications from connected dogs). This token is associated with your anonymous account and is used solely to send notifications.

E. Connection codes

When two dog owners connect using a 4-digit code, a link is created between the two dog accounts. No personal information is shared between users during this process.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To provide and improve the App's features
• To authenticate your account (registered users only)
• To deliver push notifications you have requested
• To display nearby dog-friendly places based on your current location

4. Information We Do NOT Collect

• We do not collect your real name
• We do not collect your phone number
• We do not track your location in the background or store location history
• We do not sell your information to advertisers or third parties
• We do not share personal information between users — connections are made via anonymous codes only

5. Data Storage and Security

Data is stored using Google Firebase, a secure cloud platform. We use industry-standard security practices to protect your information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Children's Privacy

PupPals is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

7. Your Choices

• Guest use: Use the App without providing any personal information at any time.
• Delete your data: Within the App's settings, you can erase all of your dog's data and disconnect your account permanently.
• Notifications: You can disable push notifications at any time through your device's settings.
• Location: You can revoke location permissions at any time through your device's settings, though this will limit location-based features.

8. Third-Party Services

The App uses the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

• Google Firebase — authentication, database, and push notifications (Firebase Privacy Policy)
• Google Maps — for displaying nearby dog-friendly places

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post any changes on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can reach us through the information on our app store listings.