Community Guidelines – Pawscout

Overview

Community Guidelines

Pawscout is a community dedicated to the happiness, health, and safety of pets everywhere.

Our mission is to be the go-to hub for pet parents. Social media can be overwhelming, so we’ve created a community for the best part of the internet: adorable pets. Share photos and stories, ask questions, discover pet-friendly spots in your neighborhood, participate in search-and-rescue for lost pets, and much, much more.

To help you get the most out of Pawscout, and to make it easier for all members of our community to get along, we’ve created a few guidelines. At bottom, they’re simple, and boil down to:

Be yourself.
Be kind.
Keep the focus on pets.

We encourage all Pawscout users to familiarize themselves with our guidelines and let other Pawscouters know about them! If you see someone violating Pawscout’s guidelines, we hope that you will feel empowered to let them know. If you cannot resolve your issues with another Pawscout user, please contact support@pawscout.com.

Honesty

Be yourself.

Whether they have a dalmatian or a betta fish, we want every Pawscouter to feel free to be themselves. But with great being-yourself power comes great being-yourself responsibility.

Use real names. We count your “real name” as a first name you’d feel comfortable and honest telling a stranger. For your privacy, you may use middle names or last initials instead of a surname.
One Pawscouter, one account. We understand that duplicate accounts may occur accidentally (forgetting your email or password, for instance). However, we expect all our users to make a good faith effort to create only one account.
No impersonating. Accounts or posts that imitate another person (or a pet that is not yours or guarded by you) are not allowed.

Judgment

Use good judgment.

It’s nerve-wracking and emotional to lose a pet. As a result, we know that sometimes our users will need to discuss serious topics, and we want to be a space that is receptive and supportive.

If you have lost a pet or are grieving a pet, your Pawscout community is here for you. We encourage you to reach out for the support you need.
Pets poop! Pets have tummy troubles. These things are part of pet ownership, for better or worse. Pawscouters are encouraged to use their judgment about when to share these moments and when it’s … maybe a little too much.
Remember that when it comes to medical concerns, your fellow Pawscouters may be able to share their experiences and what’s worked for them—but only a veterinarian who’s examined your pet can prescribe medical treatment.

Be Kind

Be kind.

Remember that the person on the other end of the app has feelings just like you!

If a pet parent asks for advice, that’s your cue to offer up your best and most constructive nuggets of hard-won wisdom. If they haven’t asked, refrain from judgment.
Malice, harassment, threats, stalking, and bullying have no place in the Pawscout community. If you witness this type of behavior, please report it immediately to support@pawscout.com.
Post thoughtfully. Pawscout’s ability to protect pets is only as strong as the sense of trust and safety we create. It’s important to listen to your fellow Pawscouters, as well as being mindful of your own behavior.
Ranting, spam or overly repetitive posting, derailing conversations, and regularly hijacking others’ posts are all ways of saying, “Hey, I don’t think your opinion or your time is important,” and they’re not consistent with Pawscout’s values.

Pet Focus

Stay pet-focused.

Social media for people is all over the place! This is one of the only spots we know of that’s just for pets, so please keep your posts on topic.

Pictures of people with pets? We love it! Pets are part of the family. People without pets? You’ll want to avoid those.
Are you a pet-related business? At this time, our primary tool for helping potential customers find your business is the neighborhood map. Let us know if you have a pet business you’d like to advertise to Pawscout users.

Privacy & Copyright

We’ve got your back.

We want every Pawscouter to feel safe and valued. If you don’t feel safe, your pet can’t feel safe. So when it comes to your privacy and personal security, we want to make it clear where we stand.

Your privacy matters. At Pawscout, we cherish our global community and the ability to connect with pet parents around the world. However, if a Pawscouter has posted your personal information without your consent, Pawscout considers it harassment. Examples of the type of personal information whose posting may constitute harassment includes:

A person’s image
Full name
Financial information
Place of work or education
Contact information
Other personally identifiable information

Don’t forget about copyright! Copyright laws apply on Pawscout’s social platform the same way they apply anywhere else. Make sure you’re posting and sharing content that you’re authorized to use.

Report violations of Pawscout’s community guidelines. Our team will review your report and take action, which may include removing posts, suspending accounts, and banning users. If you witness a violation of Pawscout’s community guidelines, or if you aren’t sure whether another user’s behavior violates them, contact support@pawscout.com.