Privacy Policy
Spot a Paw is a rescue map for stray animals. To do that job it needs a few pieces of information about you and your phone. This page says what we collect, why, who sees it, and how to get rid of it. Plain language, no tricks.
What we collect and why
| Information | Why we need it | Who can see it |
|---|---|---|
| Email address and password (or your Google / Apple sign-in) | To create your account and sign you in. | Only you and us. Never shown to other users. |
| Your name, nickname, role (rescuer, feeder, vet, shelter, driver), a short bio and an optional photo | So other rescuers know who reported or is helping a paw. | Other signed-in users of the app. |
| Your approximate location while you use the app | To show paws and feeding spots near you and to place a pin when you report one. | Only the pin you drop is shared. Your live position is not stored or shown to anyone. |
| Photos and short videos you attach to a report | To show helpers what the animal looks like and where it is. | Other signed-in users, on that report. |
| Reports, comments, check-ins and rescue actions you make | That is the app: a shared record of who spotted, helped, fed, sterilised or microchipped a paw. | Other signed-in users. |
| A push-notification token for your device | To tell you when someone joins a rescue you reported or when a paw you helped is marked safe. | Only us and our notification provider. |
We do not collect contacts, calendars, health data, or anything from other apps. We do not show ads and we do not sell or rent your data to anyone.
Feeding spots and sensitive locations
Exact coordinates of a feeding colony can put animals at risk. Spots marked sensitive are shown to general users only as an approximate area; the exact location is visible to verified feeders and caretakers of that spot.
Who we share it with
- Supabase — hosts our database, sign-in and file storage (reports, photos, videos).
- Google Maps Platform — draws the maps and turns coordinates into street addresses.
- OneSignal — delivers push notifications.
- Resend — sends account emails such as sign-up confirmation and password resets.
- Anthropic — processes the photos and text you choose to use with the app's AI features (report suggestions, search, translation and story drafts).
- Apple and Google — only if you choose to sign in with them.
Each of these processes data on our behalf under their own privacy terms. Nobody else gets your data unless the law requires it.
How long we keep it
Your account and everything you posted stay until you delete your account.
Deleting your account
In the app: Profile → Activity & Settings → Delete Account. This removes your profile, your routes, your check-ins, your comments and your reports, and signs you out. It cannot be undone. You can also email us and we will do it for you.
Your choices
- Location, camera and photo access are controlled by your phone's settings. The app still works without location — you place pins by hand.
- Push notifications can be switched off in your phone's notification settings.
- You can edit or remove your name, bio and photo at any time from Edit Profile.
Children
Spot a Paw is for adults and older teens who rescue and feed animals. It is not directed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect their information.
Security
Data travels encrypted (HTTPS). Access to the database is controlled row by row, so users can only change what belongs to them. No system is perfect; if we ever learn of a breach that affects you, we will tell you.
Changes
If this policy changes in a way that matters, we will say so in the app and update the date at the top of this page.
Contact
THE PET WELLBEING COMPANY PTY LTD (ABN 13 673 319 652) · support@spot-a-paw.com · spot-a-paw.com