Privacy Policy — CanineConnect

      Short version: We collect only what we need to run the platform, we don't sell your data, and you can request deletion at any time. Read on for details.
    

1. Who We Are

CanineConnect ("we," "our," or "us") is a two-sided marketplace connecting dog owners with professional dog trainers. We are operated by Polsia Inc. Questions about this policy can be sent to privacy@canineconnect.polsia.app.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

Full name
Email address
Account type (dog owner or trainer)
Date and time of account creation
Whether you agreed to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (timestamp recorded)

2.2 Profile Information

Dog Owners: Location (city/state), dog profiles (name, breed, age, weight, behavioral notes).

Trainers: Display name, bio, location, specialties, certifications, service tiers, pricing, availability, YouTube video URLs, profile photo.

2.3 Payment Data

Payments are processed by Stripe. We do not store raw credit card numbers or full payment card data. Stripe transmits payment confirmations and session tokens to us. We store booking records including amounts charged and timestamps. Stripe's privacy policy applies to payment data: stripe.com/privacy.

2.4 Messaging Content

Messages sent between owners and trainers through the platform are stored in our database to deliver the messaging service, display message history, and handle disputes. We do not read messages unless required to investigate a violation report or legal obligation.

2.5 Booking Records

Session bookings, cancellations, confirmation statuses, and payment history are stored and associated with your account.

2.6 Usage Data & Analytics

We collect anonymized page view data including:

Hashed IP address (SHA-256, not reversible to raw IP)
Pages visited and referral source
Browser/device type (user agent)
UTM campaign parameters
Session timestamps

This data is used to improve the platform and measure feature adoption. It is not sold or shared with advertisers.

2.7 Cookies & Local Storage

We use browser local storage to maintain your login session and remember preferences. See our Cookie Policy for details.

3. How We Use Your Information

Provide and operate the platform (matching owners with trainers, facilitating bookings)
Process payments through Stripe
Send transactional emails (booking confirmations, session reminders)
Display your profile to other users as appropriate to your role
Investigate reported violations of our Terms of Service
Improve platform features and performance
Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We do not use your data for behavioral advertising.

4. Data Sharing

4.1 Between Users

Trainer profiles (name, bio, location, specialties, pricing) are visible to dog owners on the platform. Owner names and dog information are shared with trainers they book sessions with.

4.2 Service Providers

We share data with trusted service providers only to the extent necessary to operate the platform:

Stripe — payment processing
YouTube (Google LLC) — video hosting for training videos (Unlisted)
Neon / PostgreSQL — database hosting
Render — application hosting
Polsia — AI infrastructure provider

These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and may not use it for their own purposes.

4.3 Third-Party Video Hosting (YouTube)

Training videos submitted through the Platform are hosted via the YouTube API. YouTube is operated by Google LLC. By using video features on the Platform, video data (content and metadata) is processed by YouTube subject to Google's Privacy Policy and the YouTube Terms of Service.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government authority, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of CanineConnect, our users, or the public.

5. Video Data & Hosting

        Your privacy is our priority. All training videos are hosted as "Unlisted" via our secure YouTube API integration. They are not searchable by the public and are only viewable by you and your designated trainer. You retain 100% ownership of your content and can delete it from the platform at any time.
      

5.1 How Your Videos Are Stored

Videos uploaded to CanineConnect are set to Unlisted visibility on YouTube. This means:

They do not appear in YouTube search results
They are not listed on any public YouTube channel
They can only be accessed by someone with the direct video link
Only you and your assigned trainer receive access to those links

5.2 Content Ownership

You retain 100% ownership of all training videos you upload. CanineConnect does not claim ownership over your video content. You may delete your videos from the platform at any time, which will also remove them from YouTube hosting. Deletion requests are processed within 30 days.

5.3 Data Collected via Video

In connection with video uploads, we may collect:

Video file metadata (duration, format, upload timestamp)
YouTube video ID (for embedding and playback)
Trainer feedback and time-stamped annotations associated with the video

We do not analyze video content using AI or computer vision without your explicit consent.

6. Data Retention

We retain your account data as long as your account is active. If you request deletion, we will remove your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (e.g., financial records for 7 years).

Anonymized analytics data (hashed IPs, aggregate page views) may be retained indefinitely.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights including:

Access: Request a copy of your personal data
Correction: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data
Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
Objection: Object to certain processing activities
Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent for optional data uses

To exercise these rights, email privacy@canineconnect.polsia.app.

8. CCPA (California Residents)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
Right to delete personal information
Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal data)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights

To submit a CCPA request, email privacy@canineconnect.polsia.app with "CCPA Request" in the subject line.

9. GDPR (EEA/UK Residents)

If you are located in the European Economic Area or United Kingdom, our legal bases for processing your data include:

Contract performance: Processing necessary to provide our services to you
Legitimate interests: Analytics, fraud prevention, security
Legal obligation: Financial recordkeeping
Consent: Optional communications (you may withdraw at any time)

For GDPR requests, contact privacy@canineconnect.polsia.app.

10. Data Security

We use industry-standard safeguards including:

Encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) for all data in transit
Database access controls and authentication
Session tokens stored securely
Regular security reviews

No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but take reasonable measures to protect your data.

11. Children's Privacy

CanineConnect is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If we discover such data has been collected, we will delete it promptly. Contact us at privacy@canineconnect.polsia.app if you believe a child's data has been submitted.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last updated" date above and, where appropriate, sending an email to your registered address. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact

Questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy:

CanineConnect Privacy Team
Email: privacy@canineconnect.polsia.app