Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 10, 2026

Found Rescue, LLC ("Found Rescue", "we", "our", or "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, submit a pet report, apply to foster/adopt, make a donation, or use our services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the terms of this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the site.

Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about users of our website, which falls into two main categories: information you directly provide to us, and information we automatically collect.

Information You Provide to Us

Account Registration: When you create an account, we collect your Name, Username, Password, and Email Address.
Third-Party Account Logins: If you choose to register or log in to our website using a third-party social media account (e.g., Facebook, Google), we may collect your name, email address, and profile picture associated with that account, depending on your privacy settings with that platform.
Pet Reporting Data: When you report a found or lost pet, we collect the Pet’s Name, Type, Color, Gender, Size, Date Found, Status, City, State, Description, and up to 10 uploaded images. We also collect your Full Name, Contact Number, and Email Address.
Location Data: If you submit a pet report, we capture and record your exact location via GPS coordinates and your IP address to pinpoint the pet's location.
EXIF Data (Image Metadata): Please note that if you upload images of pets, modern smartphones and cameras often embed hidden location data (EXIF data) into the image files. This data may be accessible to others who view or download the image.
Applications (Foster, Adopt, Volunteer, Community): When you submit an application, we collect extensive personal information equivalent to an employment application. This includes your Full Name, Phone Number, Email, Home Address, Driver’s License ID, household details (number of pets), personal and pet history, and personal references.
Financial Information: If you make a donation, we (or our third-party payment processors like Stripe or Zelle) collect billing information, such as your credit/debit card number, billing address, and name.
Communications: When you use the "Message the Finder" feature or contact us directly, we collect your name, contact information, and the contents of your message.

Information We Automatically Collect

Website Activity & Tracking: Found Rescue actively tracks the website activity of registered members and visitors to improve our services, monitor platform safety, and prevent fraud.
Device and Usage Data: We automatically collect certain information when you visit, use, or navigate the site. This may include your IP address, browser and device characteristics, operating system, language preferences, referring URLs, country, location, and information about how and when you use our website.

How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect for various business, operational, and marketing purposes, including:

To Provide Our Services: Operating the Found & Lost Pets Database, generating printable flyers, and facilitating the safe return of lost pets.
To Vet Applicants: Reviewing your Driver's License, references, and personal history to determine your eligibility to foster, adopt, or volunteer with Found Rescue.
For Marketing and Outreach: Using your Name, Email Address, Phone Number, Photos, GPS location, IP address, City, and State for ongoing marketing, newsletters, and promotional purposes.
To Process Donations: Managing financial transactions, recurring monthly donations, and issuing receipts.
To Communicate with You: Sending you updates regarding your pet reports, applications, account status, and responding to your inquiries.
To Protect Our Platform: Monitoring for fraudulent activity, pet theft, enforcing our Terms of Service, and protecting the safety of our users and animals.

How We Share Your Information

Because of the nature of reuniting lost pets, certain information must be shared publicly.

Information Shared Publicly
When you submit a pet report, your Name, Phone Number, exact GPS coordinates, and location pinpoint will be publicly available to everyone on our website and will be printed on automatically generated flyers. (Note: To protect your privacy, your Email Address is NOT displayed publicly. Instead, users contact you through our secure "Message the Finder" form).
Information Shared with Third Parties
We do not and will not sell your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information with:
- Service Providers: Third-party vendors that perform services for us or on our behalf, such as payment processing (Stripe, Zelle), email delivery, hosting services, and marketing assistance.
- Mapping API Services: We may use Google Maps APIs (or similar location-based services) to capture and display GPS coordinates. By using our location features, you agree to be bound by the respective mapping provider's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
- Law Enforcement or Legal Directives: We may disclose your information if legally required to do so in order to comply with applicable law, governmental requests, a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal process (including reporting suspected pet theft or fraud to local law enforcement).

Handling of Sensitive Information

We recognize that certain information provided during the application process (such as your driver’s license) is highly sensitive. This specific identification data is collected strictly for the purposes of identity verification, background vetting, and ensuring the safety of the animals in our care. We restrict access to this sensitive data to authorized Found Rescue personnel only, and we do not use your driver's license id for marketing purposes.

Cookies, Tracking Technologies, and "Do Not Track"

Cookies: We may use cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies on our website to help customize the site and improve your experience. Most browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can remove or reject cookies through your browser settings, but be aware that such action could affect the availability and functionality of the website.
Do Not Track (DNT) Signals: Some web browsers transmit "Do Not Track" signals to websites. Because there is currently no universal industry standard for recognizing or responding to DNT signals, we currently do not alter our data collection and use practices in response to DNT signals.

Data Retention and Purging

Pet Reports: To maintain an active and useful database, we reserve the right to periodically purge pet reports that were submitted over 5 to 6 months prior. Once purged, the report data and associated images are permanently removed from the active public directory.
General Data: We will retain your personal information (such as application data, donation records, and account details) only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, for our operational requirements, or as required by law.

Security of Your Information & Data Breaches

We use administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your personal information. While we have taken reasonable steps to secure the personal information you provide to us, please be aware that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. No method of data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed against interception or misuse. In the event of a security breach that compromises your personal data, we will notify you electronically or in writing as required by applicable state and federal laws.

Your Privacy Choices & State Privacy Rights

Depending on your state of residence, you may have specific rights regarding your personal data.

Access and Deletion: You may request access to the personal data we hold about you, or request that we delete your account, remove an active pet listing, or delete your personal data from our systems.
Updating Account Information: You may review or change the information in your account by logging into your account settings.
Opting Out of Marketing & SMS: You can unsubscribe from our marketing email list at any time by clicking on the "unsubscribe" link in the emails that we send. You may opt-out of receiving promotional text messages at any time by replying "STOP" to any message you receive from us. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the address provided below. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, online services, or mobile applications (such as wishlist retailers or social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of any third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not intended for children. You must be at least 18 years of age to register an account, submit a report, apply to foster/adopt, or make a donation. We do not knowingly solicit information from or market to children under the age of 13. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under age 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information as quickly as possible.

United States Audience Only

Our website is hosted in the United States and is intended solely for users located within the United States. If you are accessing the website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located. By using our services, you consent to this transfer and processing.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the "Effective Date" of this Privacy Policy. You are encouraged to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed of updates. Your continued use of the website after a revised Privacy Policy is posted will constitute your awareness and acceptance of the changes.

Contact Us

If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, or if you need to update or delete your information, please get in touch with us by mail at:

Found Rescue, LLC
Attn: Legal / Privacy Department
P.O. Box 11143
Tucson, AZ 85734