1. Who We Are

Furrgency ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Furrgency pet emergency companion application. We are a consumer-facing pet health and emergency guidance service. We are not a HIPAA-covered entity, a healthcare provider, or a veterinary practice. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information.

For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, contact us at: [email protected]

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: Name, email address, and password when you register.
• Pet Profiles: Pet names, species, breeds, ages, weights, sex, color, microchip IDs, photos, medical conditions, allergies, current medications, and special notes.
• Health Records: Vaccination records, medication schedules, weight history, symptom logs, appointment records, and documents uploaded via the AI Document Scanner.
• Veterinary Contacts: Names, clinic names, phone numbers, and addresses of your veterinarians.
• Emergency Contacts: Names, relationships, and phone numbers of people you designate as emergency contacts.
• Payment Information: Billing details for subscription purchases (processed by Stripe; we do not store full card numbers).

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and IP address.
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent in the app, and interactions with emergency guides.
• Location Data: Approximate location when you use the "Find Nearby Vets" feature. We request your precise location only when you initiate a search and do not store it persistently.
• Log Data: Server logs including timestamps, error reports, and diagnostic information.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

• Scanned Documents: When you use the AI Document Scanner, documents you upload are processed by our AI service to extract pet health data. Uploaded files are stored securely and associated with your account.
• OAuth Sign-In: If you sign in via a third-party identity provider, we receive your name and email address from that provider.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To provide, operate, and maintain the Furrgency service.
• To sync your pet profiles and health records across your devices when you are signed in.
• To power the AI Document Scanner feature, which extracts health data from uploaded documents using a large language model (LLM). Your uploaded documents are processed by an AI service; see Section 5 for details.
• To send medication reminders and appointment notifications (only if you enable these features).
• To deliver evidence-based emergency guidance and symptom-checking content. This content is curated from established veterinary protocols and cited sources. It is informational only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. AI is used only for the Document Scanner and AI Symptom Analysis features, not for the core emergency guides.
• To process subscription payments through Stripe.
• To analyze aggregate, de-identified usage patterns to improve the app.
• To respond to your support requests and communications.
• To detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent or unauthorized activity.
• To comply with applicable legal obligations.

We do not use your pet health data for advertising, marketing profiling, or sale to third parties.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your information on the following legal bases: (a) your consent, provided when you create an account and accept these terms; (b) performance of a contract, to deliver the services you have requested; (c) our legitimate interests in operating and improving the service, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights; and (d) compliance with legal obligations.

5. Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in the following limited circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

• Cloud Hosting and Database: Our infrastructure provider stores your account and pet profile data in encrypted databases.
• AI / LLM Processing: When you use the Document Scanner or AI-powered features, your uploaded documents and relevant pet data are sent to an AI processing service. This service processes data solely to provide the feature and does not use your data to train its models.
• Payment Processing: Stripe, Inc. processes all subscription payments. Stripe is PCI-DSS compliant. We share only the information necessary to complete your transaction.
• Maps: The "Find Nearby Vets" feature uses a maps API to display nearby veterinary clinics based on your location.
• Analytics: We use privacy-respecting analytics to understand aggregate app usage. Analytics data is de-identified and does not include your pet health information.
• Cloud Storage: Uploaded documents and pet photos are stored in a secure cloud storage service.

5.2 With Your Explicit Consent

When you use the "Share Profile" feature, you generate a unique shareable link. Anyone with that link can view the information you choose to share. You control exactly which fields are visible via privacy toggles, and you can revoke the link at any time.

5.3 Legal Requirements and Business Transfers

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental authority. If Furrgency is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, and we will notify you before your information is subject to a different privacy policy.

6. Data Storage and Security

• Encryption in Transit: All data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using TLS (HTTPS).
• Encryption at Rest: Sensitive data stored in our databases is encrypted at rest.
• Access Controls: Access to production data is restricted to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis.
• Authentication: We use secure session tokens and support strong password requirements.
• Local Storage Option: If you use Furrgency without creating an account, your data is stored only on your device and is never transmitted to our servers.

No security system is impenetrable. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a security breach affecting your health information, we will notify you as required by law (see Section 10).

7. Data Retention

• Account and Pet Profile Data: Retained until you delete your account or request deletion.
• Uploaded Documents: Retained until you delete them or delete your account.
• Usage Logs and Analytics: Retained for up to 24 months in identifiable form, then aggregated or deleted.
• Payment Records: Retained for 7 years as required by financial regulations.
• Deleted Account Data: When you delete your account, we delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

8. Your Privacy Rights

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request permanent deletion of your account and associated data.
• Portability: Export your data in a machine-readable format (JSON).
• Opt-Out of Analytics: Disable optional analytics data collection in Settings → Data & Privacy.
• Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time.

To exercise these rights, visit Settings → Data & Privacy in the app, or email us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.

8.1 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

• Right to Know: You may request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months.
• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Correct: You may request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: We do not sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.
• Sensitive Personal Information: Pet health data may constitute sensitive personal information under CPRA. We use it only to provide the service.

To submit a California privacy request, email [email protected] with the subject line "California Privacy Request."

9. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

Furrgency is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are under 13, please do not use this app or provide any information to us. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us at [email protected].

10. FTC Health Breach Notification Rule

Furrgency collects pet health records that may be drawn from multiple sources. As a result, we may qualify as a "vendor of personal health records" under the FTC's Health Breach Notification Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 318, as amended in 2024). In the event of an unauthorized acquisition of unsecured personal health record information, we will:

• Notify each affected user without unreasonable delay and within 60 calendar days of discovering the breach.
• Notify the Federal Trade Commission as required by the Rule.
• Notify prominent media outlets in affected states if 500 or more residents of a state are affected.

Breach notifications will be sent to the email address associated with your account. We strongly encourage you to keep your email address current in Settings.

11. AI and Automated Processing Disclosure

Furrgency uses artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM) technology in two specific features: (1) the AI Document Scanner, which extracts pet health data from documents you upload, and (2) the AI Symptom Analysis feature (available on Premium and above), which generates a personalised response based on symptoms you describe.

The core emergency guides, symptom checker decision tree, CPR tutorial, and first aid content are not AI-generated. They are curated, evidence-based content sourced from established veterinary protocols, AVMA guidelines, and the RECOVER Initiative.

All informational content — whether AI-assisted or evidence-based — is informational only and does not constitute veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for medical decisions. You may choose not to use the AI-powered features; all core app functionality remains available without them.

12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Session cookies required for authentication and core app functionality. These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: Used to understand how users interact with the app in aggregate. You can opt out in Settings → Data & Privacy.

We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or cross-site tracking technologies.

13. International Data Transfers

Furrgency is operated from the United States. If you access the app from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country. By using Furrgency, you consent to this transfer.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy in the app and, where required by law, by sending you an email notification at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of Furrgency after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

15. Contact Us

For privacy questions, data requests, or to report a concern:

• Privacy Email: [email protected]
• General Support: [email protected]