BackHomePets at flealess.org is a practical, empathy-driven resource that helps people bring missing animals home. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a legally binding agreement between you and BackHomePets regarding your use of our website, content, and any tools we make available (collectively, the “Services”). By accessing or using the Services, you agree to these Terms.
If anything here is unclear, please write to [email protected].
1) Who we are and what these Terms cover
These Terms apply to the website available at flealess.org and to any articles, guides, checklists, and submission forms we publish under the BackHomePets name, including the themed sections Emotional Support, Lost, Safety, Shelters, and Technology.
These Terms do not apply to third-party platforms we link to (shelters, social networks, maps, alert services). Their terms and privacy notices govern your use of their services.
2) No emergency, veterinary, or legal advice
Our content is for information and education. We are not an emergency response service; we do not provide veterinary, legal, or professional behavioral advice. Guidance on this site cannot account for every situation. For urgent circumstances, contact local authorities, animal control, shelters, or qualified professionals. Decisions you make are your responsibility.
3) Eligibility and accounts
Most of our content is available without registration. If we later offer optional accounts or submission portals, you must provide accurate information and keep your credentials secure. You are responsible for all activity under your account. We may suspend or terminate access if we believe your use violates these Terms or applicable law.
4) Submitting content and granting us a license
We welcome community contributions such as lost/found notices, reunion stories, corrections, and photos (“User Content”). By submitting User Content, you:
- represent and warrant that you own or have the rights to submit it, and that it does not infringe others’ rights;
- confirm that anyone recognizable in photos has consented to publication (or that you have authority to grant consent on their behalf);
- grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, reproduce, modify for formatting, translate, publish, publicly display, and distribute your User Content for the purpose of operating and improving the Services;
- understand that published items may be cached, copied, or shared by others once public.
You can request updates or removal of your published item by emailing [email protected] with a link and clear instructions. We may keep minimal records (e.g., timestamps, consent notes) as permitted by law.
Safety note for submissions
For your privacy and safety, avoid posting precise home addresses, microchip numbers, or sensitive IDs. Prefer a dedicated email or phone number you can change later. Remove GPS/EXIF data from photos where possible.
5) Community standards (be kind, be accurate, be safe)
BackHomePets exists to help animals and the people who love them. You agree not to use the Services to:
- harass, threaten, or demean others;
- spread misleading or dangerous instructions (e.g., urging people to chase an animal into traffic);
- impersonate individuals or misrepresent your affiliation;
- solicit money for false claims or run scams;
- post unlawful, infringing, or defamatory material;
- upload malware, attempt to hack, or disrupt servers;
- collect other users’ information without consent.
We may moderate, edit, or remove content that appears to breach these standards or applicable law. We do not promise to monitor everything.
6) Intellectual property
Our content
Unless stated otherwise, the guides, text, designs, and graphics we publish are protected by intellectual-property laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to access and use the content for personal, educational, and community volunteer purposes. For commercial use or large-scale redistribution, please request permission.
Your content
You retain ownership of your User Content, subject to the license you grant us in Section 4.
Trademarks and attribution
“BackHomePets,” our logos, and visual elements may be trademarks or distinctive assets. Do not use them in a way that suggests endorsement without our written permission. When you share our checklists or adapt a template, please credit flealess.org as the source.
7) Third-party links, tools, and services
Our articles (especially in Shelters and Technology) link to external resources like shelter portals, mapping tools, lost-pet platforms, and GPS providers. We don’t control or endorse these third parties and are not responsible for their content, terms, or privacy practices. Use them at your own discretion and review their policies.
8) Privacy and cookies
Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which explain what data we process, for what purposes, and how you can control cookies and browser storage. We aim for privacy by default and avoid invasive tracking.
9) Changes to the Services
We may improve, add, or remove features; correct errors; or limit access when necessary for security, maintenance, or legal compliance. We try to minimize disruption and keep essential information available.
10) Disclaimers of warranties
The Services are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of accuracy, reliability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not guarantee that searches will succeed, that any animal will be recovered, or that the site will be uninterrupted or error-free.
11) Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, BackHomePets and its contributors, volunteers, and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, lost data, or reputational harm, arising out of or related to your use of the Services or reliance on content.
To the extent any liability cannot be excluded, our aggregate liability shall not exceed the greater of (a) €50 or (b) the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the event (most users pay us nothing).
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain disclaimers or limits; in those places, we limit our liability to the maximum extent allowed by law.
12) Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless BackHomePets and our contributors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your User Content; (b) your breach of these Terms; or (c) your violation of law or third-party rights.
13) Reporting issues: safety, abuse, or infringement
- Urgent safety concerns: if a post could put people or animals at risk (e.g., instructions to pursue into traffic), email us immediately with “SAFETY” in the subject.
- Abuse or scams: include links, screenshots, and details so we can investigate.
- Copyright complaints: if you believe material on our site infringes your copyright, send a notice to [email protected] including: (i) identification of the copyrighted work, (ii) link to the allegedly infringing material, (iii) your contact information, (iv) a good-faith statement, and (v) a statement under penalty of perjury that you are the rights holder or authorized to act.
14) Local laws; high-risk contexts
Laws and procedures for shelters, animal control, and property access vary by location. Our guides include general practices; always check local rules. Do not trespass or put yourself, volunteers, or animals in danger. Use reflective gear at night, avoid busy roads, and follow officials’ instructions where applicable.
15) International use
We operate a global website. You are responsible for compliance with the laws where you live and where you use the Services. We may restrict access in places where local law would make providing the Services unlawful.
16) Termination
You may stop using the Services at any time. We may suspend or terminate access (including removal of User Content) if we reasonably believe you’ve breached these Terms or applicable law, or if continued operation is unsafe or unlawful. Sections that by nature should survive termination will survive (e.g., licenses you granted, disclaimers, limitations of liability).
17) Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms periodically (for example, to reflect new features or legal requirements). When we do, we will revise the Effective date at the top, and where appropriate, provide in-page notices or summaries of material changes. Changes apply prospectively.
18) Miscellaneous
- Entire agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy and Cookie Policies, are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Services.
- Severability. If a provision is unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary or severed, and the rest remains in effect.
- No waiver. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
- Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or transfer of the Services.
- Headings. Headings are for convenience and have no legal effect.
- Language. We may offer translations for convenience; the English version controls in case of conflicts.
19) Contact us
Questions about these Terms? Requests regarding your content? Email [email protected].
Please include a link to the relevant page and a clear summary of your request.