Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SidePaws ("we", "our", or "us") is a dog socialization app that helps dog owners connect their dogs for walks, playdates, and friendship. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use the SidePaws mobile application and website.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect information through our authentication provider, Clerk. This includes your name and authentication credentials. We store a reference to your Clerk account in our database.

2.2 Dog Profile Information

When you create a dog profile, we collect:

• Dog's name and description
• Breed and date of birth
• Size category (small, medium, large)
• Energy level
• Up to 3 photos of your dog
• A selfie of you with your dog (for profile verification purposes)

2.3 Location Data

We collect your location (latitude, longitude, and optionally city) to show nearby dogs and enable distance-based filtering. Your location is associated with both your user account and each dog profile you create.

2.4 Usage & Activity Data

As you use the app, we collect:

• Swipe activity (which profiles you liked or passed on)
• Match records (when two dogs mutually like each other)
• Messages sent between matched users
• Search filter preferences (breed, size, age range, distance radius)
• Daily swipe usage counts

2.5 Subscription Data

If you subscribe to SidePaws Pro, we store subscription information received from RevenueCat, including your subscription status, product ID, expiration date, store of purchase, and whether you are on a trial. We do not directly process or store your payment card details.

2.6 Analytics

We use DataBuddy for privacy-friendly analytics. DataBuddy does not use cookies and does not track you across websites. We collect anonymous, aggregated usage data to understand how the app is used and improve the experience. No personally identifiable information is shared with DataBuddy.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account and dog profiles
• Generate a discovery feed of compatible dogs using vector-based similarity matching
• Enable distance-based filtering and nearby dog discovery
• Facilitate matching and real-time messaging between users
• Verify profiles through manual review (using your owner selfie)
• Process and manage Pro subscriptions
• Track admirer counts (dogs that liked your dog's profile)
• Improve the app through anonymous analytics

4. How We Store Your Data

Your data is stored on Convex, a cloud-based serverless backend platform. Photos and selfies are stored using Convex's file storage. Authentication data is managed by Clerk, a third-party authentication provider. All data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS).

5. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services:

• Clerk — Authentication and user identity management
• Convex — Database, serverless functions, and file storage
• RevenueCat — Subscription and in-app purchase management
• DataBuddy — Cookie-free, privacy-friendly analytics

Each of these services has their own privacy policy and data handling practices. We encourage you to review their policies.

6. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. Your dog profile information (name, photos, breed, age, size, energy level, and general location) is visible to other SidePaws users as part of the discovery feed. Messages are only visible to the matched parties. Your owner selfie is used solely for verification and is not displayed publicly.

7. Cookies

SidePaws does not use tracking cookies. Our analytics provider, DataBuddy, is cookie-free. Authentication session tokens managed by Clerk are stored locally on your device to keep you signed in.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your account and associated data
• Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

9. Children's Privacy

SidePaws is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy in the app and updating the "Last updated" date above.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us at support@sidepaws.app.