Community Guidelines

Effective Date: 07/07/2026

Rate My Paw is a global community built on trust — trust that pet profiles are genuine, that product and service reviews are honest, and that everyone treats other members (and their pets) with respect. These Guidelines apply to everyone using the App, everywhere in the world, and work alongside our Terms of Service.

1. Be Honest

Rate from real experience. Only rate a pet product or service you have actually purchased, used, or interacted with.
No fake or incentivized reviews. Don’t post reviews in exchange for payment, discounts, or favors, and don’t ask friends or family to post reviews on your behalf.
No self-rating. Business owners and service providers may not rate or review their own listings.
Disclose conflicts of interest. If you have a personal or financial relationship with a business you’re reviewing, say so.

2. Be Respectful

Disagreements about a product, service, or pet profile are fine — personal attacks are not.
No harassment, bullying, threats, hate speech, or discriminatory content based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
No sexual content involving minors under any circumstance, and no content that endangers or exploits children.
Respect cultural and regional differences — this is a global community.

3. Protect Animals

Do not post content depicting animal abuse, neglect, cruelty, fighting, or illegal wildlife trade.
Do not use the App to facilitate illegal breeding operations or the sale of endangered or protected species.
Report any pet profile or content that raises animal welfare concerns.

4. Keep Content Authentic and Legal

Only upload photos, videos, and descriptions you own or have permission to use.
Do not post spam, chain messages, or unrelated promotional content.
Do not impersonate another person, pet, business, or organization.
Do not post personal information about others (addresses, phone numbers, financial details) without their consent.
Comply with all applicable laws in your country and the country where content is viewed.

5. Keep Profiles Accurate

Pet profiles: provide truthful information about breed, age, health status, and temperament where claimed.
Product profiles: don’t misrepresent ingredients, safety certifications, or claims about a product’s effects.
Service profiles: don’t misrepresent qualifications, licensing, insurance, or credentials of a pet service provider.

6. No Manipulation of the Rating System

Do not create multiple accounts to inflate or deflate ratings.
Do not use bots, scripts, or paid review farms.
Do not coordinate with others to “review-bomb” a profile.
Do not offer to remove or change a negative review in exchange for payment.

7. Reporting and Enforcement

If you see content or behavior that violates these Guidelines:

Use the in-app “Report” option on the profile, rating, or user.
Provide as much detail as possible.
Our team reviews reports and may remove content, issue warnings, suspend, or permanently ban accounts depending on severity and repetition.

Severe violations (e.g., animal abuse content, threats of violence, child safety issues) may be reported to law enforcement or relevant authorities in addition to enforcement action on the App.

8. Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, you may appeal by contacting info@ratemypaw.com with your username and relevant details. We will review appeals in good faith, though not all decisions can be reversed.

These Guidelines may be updated periodically to reflect the evolving needs of our global community. Continued use of the App means you agree to follow the current version.