Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This policy describes how FindLostPets.com (“FindLostPets,” “we,” or “us”) handles information when you start a private recovery search, create or respond to a public lost, found, or sighting report, receive local pet alerts, use an account, exchange messages, or send feedback.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

• Pet photos, names, descriptions, species, markings, last-seen or found details, and other recovery clues.
• Locations and dates associated with a private search or report. A public report may show an approximate area rather than your precise address.
• Your name, email address, phone number, account information, communication consents, messages, and match decisions.
• The general area you choose when requesting local pet alerts. An account is not required to receive these alerts.
• Feedback, support details, and any information you include in a submission to us.

Information collected automatically

• Browser and device details, IP address, request logs, timestamps, and security or diagnostic events.
• Basic product activity, such as pages and features used, report interactions, and notification delivery activity.
• Cookies and local storage used for sessions, private recovery access, preferences, security, and core functionality.

3. Private searches and public reports

Starting a recovery search does not by itself create a public pet report. The search details and original private photo remain non-public unless you choose to create a public report. Private recovery sessions normally expire after 30 days unless you continue through another supported recovery or report flow.

When you choose to publish and complete any required verification, public report information may include the pet photo, description, report type, approximate location, relevant dates, and recovery status. Your email address and phone number are not displayed on the public report.

Anything you intentionally place in a public description can be seen and reshared by others. Do not include a home address, access code, full microchip number, or other sensitive information in public text.

4. How we use information

• Provide, verify, publish, update, and manage pet reports and recovery searches.
• Compare photos and report details, rank possible matches, and help people review relevant leads.
• Enable protected messaging and contact-sharing choices between people connected to reports.
• Send verification, security, report, message, and match-related communications.
• Send local pet alerts you request when a missing pet is newly reported near your selected area.
• Prevent abuse, moderate content, troubleshoot problems, measure reliability, and improve the service.
• Comply with law and protect users, animals, the public, and the service.

5. Automated matching and photo processing

We use automated systems to extract pet-related attributes and technical signals from photos and compare them with report details such as species, appearance, location, and timing. These systems produce possible matches for people to review; they do not establish identity, ownership, or custody of a pet.

Photos and related data may be processed by service providers that host files or provide image analysis and infrastructure. Processing a private photo does not make it public.

6. When we share information

We do not sell personal information or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We may disclose information:

• To the public when you choose to publish a report.
• To another user when you send a message, mutually confirm a match, authorize contact sharing, or otherwise use a feature that clearly shares information.
• To vendors that provide hosting, storage, databases, authentication, maps, image processing, email, SMS, security, and operational support under their applicable agreements.
• When reasonably necessary to comply with law, respond to valid legal process, investigate abuse, or protect safety and rights.
• As part of a merger, financing, acquisition, reorganization, or transfer of the service, subject to appropriate notice and protections.

7. Retention and deletion

We retain information for as long as reasonably needed to provide and secure the service, maintain reports, deliver requested alerts, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and meet legal obligations. Retention varies by data type and report status. Unconfirmed local pet-alert requests are removed after a limited period.

You can delete an active private recovery search through the product where that control is available. You may also edit, archive, resolve, or request deletion of reports you control. Deletion may not immediately remove information from backups, security logs, audit records, messages retained by another participant, or records we must keep for legal or safety reasons.

8. Your choices

• Choose whether to create a public report from a private recovery search.
• Review and update report details, recovery-access permissions, contact-sharing choices, and available communication consents.
• Opt out of optional communications using the controls provided in the message or alert-management link.
• Pause, change the area for, or unsubscribe from local pet alerts using a secure link sent to your email.
• Request access, correction, or deletion of personal information. Depending on where you live, additional legal rights may apply.

We do not currently respond differently to browser “Do Not Track” signals. Because we do not sell personal information or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising, we do not offer an opt-out for those activities.

9. Security

We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information. No internet service can guarantee absolute security. Protect private recovery links and account credentials, and tell us if you believe someone has accessed your information without permission.

10. Children

FindLostPets is a general-audience service and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us so we can review and delete it as appropriate.

11. Changes and contact

We may update this policy as the service changes. We will revise the effective date and provide additional notice when appropriate. To ask a privacy question or submit a data request, use our feedback form and include an email address so we can respond and verify the request.