Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to OnlyPaws ("Company," "we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, services, and platform (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our Services.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Your continued use of the Services following any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Eligibility

To use our Services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• Not be prohibited from using the Services under applicable laws
• For shelter accounts, represent a legitimate animal shelter or rescue organization
• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration

3. Account Registration and Security

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Keep your account information up to date
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your login credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

3.2 Shelter Accounts

Shelter accounts are intended for legitimate animal shelters and rescue organizations. By creating a shelter account, you represent and warrant that:

• You are an authorized representative of the organization
• You have the authority to bind the organization to these Terms
• Your organization is properly licensed and operates in compliance with all applicable laws
• The information provided about your organization is accurate and truthful

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms or for any other reason at our sole discretion.

4. Use of Services

4.1 Permitted Use

You may use our Services to:

• Browse and search for animals available for adoption
• Contact shelters regarding adoption inquiries
• Create and manage shelter profiles (if authorized)
• Post and manage animal listings (for authorized shelter accounts)
• Access help resources and documentation

4.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the Services for commercial purposes not related to animal adoption
• Post content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or obscene
• Upload viruses, malware, or any harmful code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Services using automated means
• Interfere with or disrupt the Services or servers
• Use the Services to sell animals for profit or commercial breeding
• Post listings for animals that are not legitimately available for adoption
• Circumvent any security features or access controls
• Use multiple accounts to evade restrictions or bans

5. Animal Listings and Adoption Process

5.1 Listing Requirements

When posting animal listings, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information about each animal
• Include truthful descriptions of health, temperament, and behavioral characteristics
• Post only animals that are legally available for adoption
• Remove or update listings promptly when animals are adopted or no longer available
• Use appropriate, non-misleading photos of the actual animal
• Disclose any known medical conditions or behavioral issues

5.2 Platform Role

Important: OnlyPaws is a platform that facilitates connections between shelters and potential adopters. We:

• Do NOT directly facilitate adoptions or conduct home checks
• Do NOT guarantee the accuracy of animal information provided by shelters
• Do NOT participate in adoption screening or approval processes
• Do NOT handle adoption fees or payments
• Are NOT responsible for the adoption process or outcomes

5.3 Adoption Responsibility

The adoption process, requirements, screening, and final decisions are the sole responsibility of the individual shelters. Potential adopters should conduct their own due diligence and communicate directly with shelters regarding adoption procedures.

6. Content and Intellectual Property

6.1 User-Generated Content

By posting content on our Services (including photos, descriptions, and other materials), you grant OnlyPaws a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Display, reproduce, and distribute your content on our platform
• Use your content for promotional purposes related to our Services
• Modify or adapt your content for technical compatibility

You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights to all content you post, and that your content does not infringe on the intellectual property rights of any third party.

6.2 Our Intellectual Property

All content and materials on our Services, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, software, and code, are the property of OnlyPaws or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of our Services or included software without our express written permission.

7. API and Widget Usage

If you use our API or embed our widgets on your website, you agree to:

• Comply with our API documentation and usage guidelines
• Not exceed rate limits or abuse API access
• Maintain proper attribution to OnlyPaws
• Keep your API keys confidential and secure
• Use the API only for legitimate purposes related to animal adoption
• Not cache data for extended periods without permission

8. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of our Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.

By using our Services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in the Privacy Policy.

9. Disclaimers

We disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content
• Warranties that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
• Warranties regarding the outcomes of adoptions facilitated through our platform
• Warranties about the health, temperament, or behavior of listed animals

10. Limitation of Liability

This includes but is not limited to:

• Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
• Damages resulting from adoption processes or outcomes
• Issues with animals obtained through our platform
• Disputes between shelters and adopters
• Unauthorized access to your account or data
• Errors, bugs, or service interruptions

In jurisdictions that do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitations of liability, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law. In no event shall our total liability exceed $100 or the amount you paid to us in the past 12 months, whichever is greater.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless OnlyPaws and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your use of the Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Content you post or submit through the Services
• Your adoption activities or interactions with other users
• Any misrepresentation made by you

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution

Before pursuing formal legal action, you agree to first contact us and attempt to resolve any dispute informally. Please send a detailed description of the dispute to josh@onlypaws.network.

12.2 Arbitration

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, you agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, rather than in court.

12.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the State in which our principal office is located, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding related to your access to or use of the Services shall be instituted in a state or federal court in that jurisdiction.

14. Modifications to Services and Terms

14.1 Service Changes

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services at any time, with or without notice. We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services.

14.2 Terms Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through a notice on our website or via email. Your continued use of the Services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

15. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Requests by law enforcement or government agencies
• Unexpected technical issues or security concerns
• Extended periods of inactivity

Upon termination, your right to use the Services will immediately cease. All provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and OnlyPaws regarding the Services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

16.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

16.5 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, strikes, or shortages of transportation, facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

17. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or disputes regarding these Terms, please contact us: