Trust & Transparency
Terms of Service
Last updated: May 19, 2026
These Terms of Service govern your use of the Paws & Purpose Platform. Please read them carefully. By using our site, creating an account, placing an order, or making a donation, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to these terms.
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Paws & Purpose website, mobile experience, or any related services (collectively, the "Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform. We may update these terms periodically, and continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
2. About the Platform
Paws & Purpose is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Platform connects animal lovers with rescue shelters through two primary mechanisms: custom pet products featuring QR codes that link to live shelter animal profiles, and direct donations that fund shelter visibility and animal care. Shelter partners are independently operated organizations. Paws & Purpose serves as a visibility and funding layer, not a replacement for shelter operations.
3. User Accounts
To place orders, make donations, or access certain features, you may create an account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account. If you are between 13 and 18, you should use the Platform under the supervision of a parent or guardian. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or engage in fraudulent activity.
4. Custom Products and Pet Photos
When you upload a photo of your pet for custom product creation, you retain all ownership rights to that photo. By uploading, you grant Paws & Purpose a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use the photo solely for the purpose of printing it on the products you order, generating the associated QR code tag, and displaying it in your private account dashboard. You represent that you own or have permission to use any photo you upload, and that the photo does not infringe any third-party rights. We reserve the right to reject images that are offensive, illegal, or violate the rights of others.
5. Orders, Shipping, and Returns
All orders are subject to availability and confirmation. We strive to ship custom products within 5-7 business days of order confirmation. Because custom products are printed specifically for you using your pet's photo, they are final sale and cannot be returned for reasons of preference or sizing unless the item is defective or materially different from what was ordered. If you receive a defective or incorrect item, contact us within 14 days of delivery for a replacement or refund. Standard non-custom products may be returned within 30 days in original condition.
6. Donations
All donations made through the Platform are processed by Paws & Purpose, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law, and tax receipts are provided via email. When you designate your donation for a specific shelter or featured animal campaign, we make commercially reasonable efforts to allocate your gift accordingly. However, in rare circumstances where a designated recipient is no longer a partner or the campaign has concluded, we may redirect the donation to a similar cause or our general visibility fund, and we will notify you of any such redirection.
7. Shelter Partnerships
Shelter partners listed on our Platform are independently verified organizations. While we conduct due diligence before onboarding partners, we do not operate or control shelters and cannot guarantee specific outcomes for individual animals. Shelter partners are responsible for the accuracy of their animal profiles, adoption processes, and direct communications with adopters. Paws & Purpose is not liable for the actions, omissions, or representations of shelter partners.
8. Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could damage, disable, or overburden our servers. Prohibited conduct includes: uploading content that is illegal, infringing, defamatory, or abusive; attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts; interfering with the proper functioning of the Platform; using automated means to scrape or harvest data without written permission; impersonating any person or misrepresenting your affiliation with any entity.
9. Intellectual Property
All content on the Platform not uploaded by users — including text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, and software — is the property of Paws & Purpose or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any Platform content without our prior written consent. The Paws & Purpose name, logo, and tagline are registered trademarks and may not be used without permission.
10. Disclaimers
The Platform and all products, services, and content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any defects will be corrected. We do not guarantee specific adoption outcomes for shelter animals featured on the Platform. No advice or information obtained from the Platform creates any warranty not expressly stated here.
11. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Paws & Purpose and its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or goodwill. Our total liability for any claim arising from these terms or your use of the Platform shall not exceed the greater of the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim or $100.
12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising from these terms or your use of the Platform shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, the dispute shall be resolved through binding arbitration in San Francisco, California, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You waive any right to a jury trial or to participate in a class action.
13. Changes to Terms
We may revise these Terms of Service at any time by posting an updated version on the Platform. Material changes will be announced via email to registered users and through a notice on our homepage. Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.
14. Contact
For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through our contact form or on Instagram. We aim to respond to all legal inquiries within two business days.
Paws & Purpose is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We built this Platform to create meaningful connections between people and rescue animals. These terms exist to protect everyone involved — our users, our shelter partners, and the animals we all serve.