Privacy Policy

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy explains what information NEIGHBARK ("we", "us") collects when you use the NEIGHBARK app and NeighBark.com (the "Service"), how we use and share it, and the choices you have. We collect only what the Service needs to work: we do not sell your personal information and we do not use it for third-party advertising.

2. Information We Collect

Account information: your name, profile photo, role (owner or walker), ZIP code and state, and — for walkers — your per-session rate, requirements, and availability. Sign-in is handled by our authentication provider (Clerk), which processes the credentials you sign in with (such as your email address).

Pet profiles (owners): pet name, photo, breed, size, behavioral and medical notes, emergency care instructions, and your veterinarian's name and phone number.

Location data: see Section 4.

Payment information: processed by Stripe. We never store full card numbers; we keep only non-sensitive references such as the card brand and last four digits, and — for walkers — the status of your Stripe payout account.

Transaction and session records: bookings, handoff confirmations, session status and timing, charges, fees, credits, and payouts, kept in the app ledger.

Device and app settings: language, currency and unit display preferences, and basic technical information needed to run the app.

3. Phone Numbers

The only phone number the app asks for is your veterinarian's phone number, collected as part of a pet profile. It is used for exactly one purpose: allowing the walker caring for your dog to reach your vet in an emergency during a walk. It is visible only to you and to walkers you have confirmed a connection with. We never use phone numbers for marketing, and we never share or sell them to third parties.

If you sign in using a method that involves a phone number, that number is processed by our authentication provider to verify your identity and is subject to its safeguards.

4. Location Data

Owners and walkers share an approximate area (ZIP code and state) so nearby matches can be found. Precise GPS is used around walk sessions only.

During an active walk session, the walker's device location is collected continuously — including while the screen is locked or the app is in the background — and sent to our servers. It is used in real time to confirm proximity at handoff and to show the dog's owner the walk status and location freshness. Tracking stops when the session ends or is cancelled.

We keep only the most recent reported position and its timestamp — not a full route history. Session records (start, handoff, completion times, and status) are retained so that disputes (for example, about whether a walk happened) can be resolved fairly.

5. How We Use Information

We use the information above to run the marketplace: matching owners and walkers nearby, managing bookings and handoffs, processing payments, fees, and payouts, keeping the ledger accurate, keeping the Service safe (including preventing fraud and enforcing our Terms), providing support, and meeting legal obligations. Display preferences (language, currency, units) are used only to present the app the way you chose.

6. How We Share Information

With other users, as the Service requires: walkers you connect with see your profile and, once confirmed, your pet's profile including emergency details and vet contact; owners see their walker's profile, rate, and — during an active session — location status.

With service providers that operate parts of the Service for us: Stripe (payments and payouts), Clerk (sign-in), and our hosting provider. They receive only what they need and are bound to protect it with safeguards at least as protective as this policy.

For legal reasons: if required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of users, animals, the public, or NEIGHBARK.

We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own advertising.

7. Data Retention

We keep your information while your account is active. Session, transaction, and ledger records are kept as long as needed for accounting, dispute resolution, and legal compliance, even after the related session ends. When information is no longer needed, it is deleted or anonymized.

8. Your Choices and Rights

You can edit your profile and pet details in the app, change language and display settings at any time, and control location permissions in your device settings (note that refusing location will disable session tracking and proximity handoff).

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise any of these rights, email support@neighbark.com; we will verify your request and respond within the time required by applicable law.

9. Account Deletion

You can delete your account and personal information at any time, directly in the app: open the Profile tab and choose "Delete account". This permanently removes your profile, your pets and their details, your saved settings, and your sign-in account, and you will be signed out. You can also request deletion by emailing support@neighbark.com from the address associated with your account.

For your protection, deletion is paused while you have a walk in progress or unsettled money — an outstanding balance you owe, or earnings you have not yet cashed out. Resolve those first (finish or cancel the walk, settle the balance, or withdraw your earnings) and you can then delete your account.

When you delete, we remove or anonymize your information, except records we are legally required to keep (such as financial transaction records), which are retained only as long as the law requires and are no longer tied to your identity.

10. Children

The Service is for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has created an account, contact support@neighbark.com and we will remove it.

11. Security

Information is encrypted in transit, access to production data is restricted, and sensitive operations (payments, sign-in) are delegated to specialized providers. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a strong sign-in method and contact us immediately at support@neighbark.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

12. International Users

The Service is operated from the United States and your information is processed and stored there. If you use the Service from elsewhere, you understand your information will be transferred to the United States. The app's interface is available in multiple languages, but this policy and the Terms are provided in English, and the English version governs.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as the Service evolves. If a change is material, we will give notice in the app or by other reasonable means before it takes effect. The "Last updated" date at the top always shows the current version.

14. Contact

Privacy questions or requests: support@neighbark.com.