Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 2, 2025

Your Privacy Matters: We are committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about how we use it.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, profile photo
Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address (processed securely by Stripe and PayPal)
Pet Information: Pet names, breeds, ages, medical conditions, behavioral notes, photos
Background Check Data: Social Security Number, date of birth, address history (for pet sitters)
Communications: Messages sent through our platform, customer support interactions
Reviews and Ratings: Feedback provided about services

1.2 Information We Collect Automatically

Location Data: IP address, approximate location for service matching (via Geoapify)
Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, click patterns (via Google Analytics)
Cookies: Session cookies, preference cookies, analytics cookies

1.3 Information from Third Parties

Background Check Results: Criminal history, identity verification (from Checkr)
Social Media: Profile information if you connect social media accounts
Payment Processors: Transaction status and fraud prevention data

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Service Provision

Match pet owners with suitable pet sitters
Process bookings and payments
Facilitate communication between users
Verify identity and conduct background checks
Provide customer support

2.2 Safety and Security

Verify user identities and prevent fraud
Investigate and resolve disputes
Enforce our Terms of Service
Protect against harmful or illegal activities

2.3 Communication

Send booking confirmations and reminders
Provide service updates and notifications
Send marketing communications (with consent)
Deliver emergency alerts when necessary

2.4 Improvement and Analytics

Analyze usage patterns to improve our service
Conduct research and development
Generate anonymized analytics and reports
Personalize user experience

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 Within Our Platform

Profile Information: Pet sitters' profiles (name, photo, bio, reviews, verification status) are visible to pet owners. Pet owners' basic information is shared with booked sitters.

3.2 Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers:

Checkr: Background check information for identity and criminal history verification
Stripe & PayPal: Payment information for transaction processing
Twilio: Phone numbers for SMS notifications and communications
Resend: Email addresses for transactional and marketing emails
Geoapify: Location data for address validation and service matching
Google Analytics: Anonymized usage data for analytics

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

Comply with legal process or government requests
Enforce our Terms of Service
Protect the safety of users or the public
Investigate fraud or security issues

3.4 Emergency Situations

Emergency Disclosure: In pet care emergencies, we may share relevant information (pet medical history, owner contacts) with veterinarians, emergency responders, or other parties necessary to ensure pet safety.

4. Data Security and Retention

4.1 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures:

SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
Encrypted storage of sensitive information
Regular security audits and monitoring
Access controls and authentication requirements
PCI DSS compliance for payment processing

4.2 Data Retention

Retention Periods:

Account Information: Retained while account is active plus 7 years for legal compliance
Background Check Data: Retained for 7 years after verification
Payment Information: Retained per payment processor requirements (typically 7 years)
Communications: Retained for 3 years for dispute resolution
Analytics Data: Anonymized data retained indefinitely

4.3 Data Breach Response

In the event of a data breach affecting personal information, we will notify affected users within 72 hours and take immediate steps to secure systems and investigate the incident.

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Control

You have the right to:

Access: Request a copy of your personal information
Update: Correct or update inaccurate information
Delete: Request deletion of your account and personal data
Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format
Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your information

5.2 Communication Preferences

You can control:

Email notifications and marketing communications
SMS/text message notifications
Push notifications and alerts
Newsletter subscriptions

Note: You cannot opt out of essential service communications (booking confirmations, safety alerts).

5.3 Cookie Preferences

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality.

6. State-Specific Privacy Rights

6.1 California Residents (CCPA Rights)

California residents have additional rights:

Know what personal information is collected and how it's used
Request deletion of personal information
Opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal data)
Non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

6.2 Texas Residents

As a Texas-based company, we comply with all applicable Texas privacy laws and regulations. Texas residents can exercise the same rights as described above.

7. Children's Privacy

Age Requirement: Our service is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we discover that a child under 18 has provided personal information, we will delete it immediately.

8. International Users

Our service is primarily intended for users in Texas and the United States. If you access our service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, which may have different privacy laws than your jurisdiction.

By using our service, you consent to the transfer and processing of your information in the United States.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify users of material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on our website
Sending email notifications to registered users
Displaying prominent notices on our platform

Continued use of our service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us

Questions about your privacy or this policy? We're here to help:

Privacy Officer: privacy@sitmypettexas.com
General Support: help@sitmypettexas.com
Data Requests: Include "Data Request" in subject line
Emergency Privacy Issues: Include "URGENT PRIVACY" in subject line

Response Time: We will respond to privacy inquiries within 48 hours.