Privacy Policy

Last Updated: December 22, 2025

1. Introduction

PetSitter.ai ("we," "our," or "us") operates petsitter.ai (the "Site"), a platform connecting pet owners with professional pet sitters for in-home care and boarding services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Site and services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you create an account or book a sitting service, we collect:

Name and contact information (email, phone number, address)
Pet information (name, breed, age, weight, temperament, medical conditions, special needs, dietary requirements)
Home access instructions (gate codes, key locations, alarm codes, parking information)
Payment information (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
Emergency contact information and veterinarian details
Profile photos of you and your pet(s)
Preferences for pet care (feeding schedules, medication, exercise routines)

2.2 Information for Service Providers (Sitters)

If you register as a sitter, we additionally collect:

Government-issued ID for identity verification
Background check consent and results
Professional certifications and experience
Bank account information for payment processing
Insurance information (if applicable)
Availability and service areas
Home environment details (for hosting services)
References and prior experience

2.3 Location Data

We collect location data to:

Match owners with nearby sitters
Verify check-in/check-out times
Provide location-based updates (if enabled)

Location tracking is optional but recommended for safety and verification purposes.

2.4 Photos and Media

Sitters may upload photos and videos of your pet during care visits. These are:

Associated with your pet's profile and specific booking
Visible to pet owners in real-time or post-visit
Stored securely for the duration of your account

2.5 Home Security Cameras and Monitoring

If you have home security cameras:

You must disclose this to sitters before booking confirmation
Cameras must not be placed in private areas (bathrooms, bedrooms)
We are not responsible for camera footage or recordings

2.6 Automatically Collected Information

Device information (type, operating system, unique identifiers)
IP address and approximate location
Browser type and version
Pages visited, time spent, and interaction data
Referring website addresses

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Connect pet owners with qualified sitters
Process bookings and payments
Provide check-in/check-out verification
Send notifications, updates, and reminders
Verify sitter credentials and conduct background checks
Ensure pet safety and provide emergency support
Facilitate communication between owners and sitters
Improve our platform and user experience
Prevent fraud and ensure platform security
Comply with legal obligations
Generate aggregated analytics (anonymized data)

4. Information Sharing

4.1 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third parties who help us operate our platform:

Background check providers: For sitter verification
Payment processors (Stripe): To process transactions
Cloud hosting (Cloudflare): For infrastructure and security
Communication services: For notifications and customer support
Insurance providers: For coverage verification and claims

4.2 Between Users

Pet owners can see sitter profiles, ratings, reviews, verification status, and home environment (for hosting)
Sitters can see pet information, owner contact details, home access instructions, and care requirements for confirmed bookings
Neither party sees payment information about the other

4.3 We Do NOT Sell Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law, to protect our rights, or in connection with legal proceedings.

5. Home Access and Security

When you provide home access information:

It is encrypted and only visible to confirmed sitters
Sitters agree to use it solely for providing services
Access codes should be changed after each booking for security
We recommend using temporary or single-use codes when possible

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including:

HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
Encrypted storage of sensitive information (access codes, payment data)
Secure payment processing (PCI DSS compliant)
Regular security audits
Access controls and authentication
Background checks for all sitters

However, no internet transmission is 100% secure. You use our service at your own risk.

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

Access your personal data
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your account and data
Opt-out of marketing communications
Disable location tracking (limits service features)
Download your data
Object to certain data processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@petsitter.ai

8. Data Retention

Active accounts: Data retained as long as account is active
Booking history: Retained for 3 years
Photos and updates: Retained until account deletion
Payment records: 7 years (tax and legal requirements)
Background checks: Duration of sitter's active status
Deleted accounts: Most data deleted within 30 days (some records retained for legal compliance)

9. Children's Privacy

Our service is not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

Remembering your login and preferences
Analyzing site traffic and usage patterns
Improving user experience
Detecting and preventing fraud

You can control cookies through your browser settings.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review their privacy policies before providing any information.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be posted with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights including:

Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
Right to delete personal information
Right to opt-out of sale of personal information (we don't sell data)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

14. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under GDPR including:

Right to access, rectification, and erasure
Right to restrict or object to processing
Right to data portability
Right to withdraw consent
Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

15. Contact Information

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us:

Email: privacy@petsitter.ai
Website: petsitter.ai