Privacy Policy

Introduction

BarkShare ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website at https://www.barkshare.dog and the BarkShare mobile app. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. If you have questions, contact us at privacy@barkshare.dog.

Information We Collect

On the website

• Contact form: name, email address, and message content when you reach out to us.
• Newsletter: email address when you subscribe for updates on the website.
• Analytics: if you accept cookies, we use PostHog to collect page views and basic usage data (such as pages visited and browser/device type). We do not use PostHog before you accept cookies.
• Technical data: standard server logs and rate-limiting metadata (such as IP address) to protect forms from abuse.

In the mobile app

• Account details: name, email, phone number, age, gender, profile photos, and information about your dogs.
• Content and activity: posts, comments, messages, events, packs, matches, and feedback you submit.
• Location: city/state and coordinates used for discovery (exact coordinates are not shown to other users).
• Sign-in providers: if you use Google or Apple sign-in, we receive basic account information from that provider.
• Technical and usage data: device type, app version, crash/error reports, and product analytics events.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to operate BarkShare, respond to inquiries, send updates you request, improve our website and app, keep the community safe, moderate content, prevent abuse, and comply with legal obligations.

In the app, we also use your information to match you with nearby users, power chat and notifications, and organize events and packs.

How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information.

• Other app users: your profile (display name, photos, bio, dogs) is visible according to your privacy settings. Your email and phone number are not shown to other users.
• Service providers: we use trusted vendors to run BarkShare, including Firebase/Google Cloud (hosting, auth, storage, messaging), Resend (website email and mailing lists), PostHog (website analytics, with consent), Google Cloud Vision (photo moderation), Sentry and Firebase Crashlytics (error reporting), and Google Sign-In / Sign in with Apple when you choose those options.
• Legal requirements: we may disclose information if required by law or to protect users and our services.

Cookies and Analytics

Our website uses a cookie consent banner. If you accept, PostHog may store cookies or similar technologies to understand how visitors use the site. If you decline, analytics cookies are not loaded. You can change your choice by clearing site data in your browser and revisiting the site. The mobile app does not use the website cookie banner; it uses first-party analytics stored in our Firebase infrastructure.

Data Storage and Security

App data is stored on Google Firebase and Google Cloud infrastructure, which encrypts data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest by default. Direct and group chat messages are protected the same way: encrypted between your device and our servers, stored in access-controlled Firebase databases, and delivered only to conversation participants under our security rules. We do not use end-to-end encryption, which means BarkShare (and our infrastructure providers) can technically access message content for delivery, abuse prevention, and legal compliance — but we do not sell chat data or use it for advertising.

Additional safeguards include email and phone verification, rate limiting, automated photo and text screening, user reporting, and manual review of flagged content. Error reports may include diagnostic data and, in some cases, screenshots to help us fix issues.

Your Rights and Choices

• App account: you can access and update profile information in Settings. You can delete your account from Settings → Delete Account.
• App privacy controls: location, discovery visibility, distance display, and name display can be managed in Settings → Privacy.
• Push notifications: manage these in Settings → Notifications or your device settings.
• Marketing email: unsubscribe using the link in any email we send, or contact privacy@barkshare.dog.
• Data requests: email privacy@barkshare.dog to request access, correction, or deletion help.

Depending on where you live, you may have additional privacy rights under applicable law (such as rights to know, delete, or opt out of certain processing). Contact us to exercise those rights.

Account Deletion

When you delete your app account, we remove your profile, dogs, posts, matches, uploaded photos, and messages you sent. Some limited records may remain briefly in backups, analytics logs, or third-party error-reporting systems. Content you shared in group conversations may no longer be attributed to you after deletion.

Children's Privacy

BarkShare is not intended for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. During app onboarding, users must confirm they are at least 18.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page and, for material app changes, notify you in the app or by email.

Contact Us

Questions about this policy? Email privacy@barkshare.dog or use our contact form.