Terms of Service

1. INTRODUCTION

• These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern access to and use of Pet.ug, including its website, mobile applications, and related digital services ("Platform").
• By creating an account, listing, buying, selling, or otherwise using the Platform, you ("User", "you", "your") agree to be bound by these Terms.
• If you act on behalf of an organisation or breeder entity, you represent that you have full authority to bind that entity to these Terms.
• If you disagree with any provision, do not use the Platform.

2. DEFINITIONS

• Buyer — User who purchases or adopts an animal, product, or service.
• Seller — User who lists animals, products, or services for sale.
• Veterinarian — Licensed professional granted access by a Pet Owner to view health data.
• Pet Owner — User who owns and manages a pet profile.
• Pet Profile — Digital record containing pet information (breed, vaccination, health, documents).
• Service Provider — User offering services (e.g., grooming, boarding, training).
• Content — Any text, images, data, or materials uploaded by a User.
• Transaction — Any payment or contract formed via the Platform.
• Customer Data — All data submitted by Users, including Pet Profiles and personal details.

3. ELIGIBILITY

• You must be at least 18 years old and legally competent.
• By registering, you confirm that:
  • You own or have authority to represent the listed pet(s).
  • You comply with all Ugandan animal-welfare, anti-cruelty, and trade laws, as well as any CITES or international regulations governing animal sales.
  • You will use the Platform solely for lawful purposes.

4. PLATFORM ROLE

Pet.ug operates as an online intermediary under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2011. Pet.ug is not a licensed veterinary establishment, animal dealer, or breeding entity under the Animal Welfare and Veterinary Surgeons Acts. All transactions between users are private contracts. Pet.ug enforces compliance but does not itself perform regulated animal activities.

• Pet.ug acts only as a digital intermediary facilitating listings, discovery, and payments between independent Users.
• We are not a party to sales, adoption agreements, or service contracts.
• We do not guarantee the quality, legality, accuracy, or availability of listings or services.
• Users assume full responsibility for verifying authenticity, animal health, and regulatory compliance.
• Pet.ug may mediate disputes but is not legally obligated to enforce private agreements.

5. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION

• Registration requires accurate personal details and verification by email/phone.
• Users must maintain updated contact information.
• Each account is personal; sharing login credentials is prohibited.
• Pet.ug may suspend or terminate accounts for:
  • Misrepresentation or fraud;
  • Breach of these Terms;
  • Illegal or unethical activity.

6. USER CONDUCT

You agree not to:

• Post, sell, or adopt animals in violation of animal-welfare or import/export laws.
• Upload misleading or false information about pets or services.
• Engage in fraud, spam, harassment, or abusive communication.
• Circumvent Platform payments or conduct "off-platform" deals.
• Upload malware, scraping tools, or automated bots.
• Post obscene, defamatory, or infringing content.

Pet.ug may delete any content violating these rules without notice.

7. LISTINGS & SALES

• Sellers must ensure all listings include:
  • Clear, recent photos;
  • True age, sex, breed, vaccination, and health status;
  • Breeder licence or veterinary documentation where required.
• Sellers may not list:
  • Endangered or CITES-restricted species without permits;
  • Animals under 8 weeks old;
  • Unhealthy, injured, or sedated animals for immediate sale.
• Pet.ug reserves the right to remove listings deemed unethical, inaccurate, or illegal.
• Buyers must perform due diligence (verify breeder credentials, review medical records, request inspection).
• Both parties must comply with applicable transport and welfare regulations.

8. PAYMENTS & FEES

• Pet.ug uses approved third-party payment processors for transactions.
• Payment terms:
  • Buyers pre-pay through the Platform.
  • Funds may be held in escrow until delivery confirmation or dispute window expiry.
  • Sellers receive payouts net of Platform fees.
• Fees and commissions are shown before checkout and may vary by category.
• Off-platform transactions violate these Terms and may lead to permanent suspension.
• Refund eligibility follows the Refund & Escrow Policy (Document #5).

9. PET PROFILES & VETERINARY DATA

• Pet Owners may create private profiles to store pet details and health data.
• Visibility is restricted to:
  • The Pet Owner; and
  • Veterinarians or service providers explicitly authorised by the Owner.
• Pet.ug treats this data as sensitive under Uganda's DPPA 2019:
  • Encrypted storage and access logging;
  • Explicit consent for sharing;
  • Revocable access.
• Pet.ug may anonymise aggregate data for analytics.

10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• The Platform (software, logos, design) is owned by Pet.ug or its licensors.
• Users retain rights to their uploaded content but grant Pet.ug a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display and distribute it for operational and marketing purposes.
• Users must not reproduce or exploit Platform content without written permission.
• Infringement notifications should be sent to legal@pet.ug.

11. LIABILITY & DISCLAIMERS

• The Platform and its services are provided "as-is" without warranties.
• Pet.ug does not guarantee:
  • Accuracy of listings or veterinary advice;
  • Health or fitness of any animal sold;
  • Continuous uptime or error-free operation.
• To the maximum extent permitted by law:
  • Pet.ug's total liability to any User shall not exceed the total fees paid to Pet.ug in the 12 months preceding the claim.
  • Pet.ug is not liable for indirect, consequential, or incidental damages (e.g., pet injury, illness, loss of income).
  • Users transact at their own risk.

12. INDEMNITY

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Pet.ug, its officers, employees, and affiliates from any claims or damages arising from:

• Your breach of these Terms;
• Your listings, sales, or content;
• Injury or harm to animals resulting from your actions;
• Violations of any third-party rights or applicable law.

13. SUSPENSION & TERMINATION

• Pet.ug may suspend, restrict, or terminate accounts for:
  • Breach of these Terms;
  • Fraud or abuse;
  • Legal compliance requirements.
• Users may close accounts at any time by contacting support@pet.ug.
• Termination does not affect rights or obligations that arose before closure.
• Pet.ug may retain necessary data per its Privacy Policy.

14. DISPUTES & GOVERNING LAW

• Disputes should first be reported to support@pet.ug for mediation.
• If unresolved within 30 days, the dispute shall be governed by Ugandan law and resolved by the courts of Kampala, Uganda.
• Nothing limits either party's right to seek urgent injunctive relief.

15. CHANGES TO TERMS

• Pet.ug may revise these Terms from time to time.
• Updates take effect upon posting; material changes will be notified to Users.
• Continued use of the Platform means acceptance of the new Terms.