Terms of service

1. Platform-as-conduit

WellKept Pet operates a marketplace that connects pet owners ("Owners") with independent pet care providers ("Providers"). Providers include sitters, walkers, trainers, and any additional categories of pet care service offered through the Platform from time to time, each as defined in the Provider Policies. WellKept Pet is not a party to any agreement between Owners and Providers. Providers are independent contractors who provide pet care services directly to Owners; they are not employees, agents, or representatives of WellKept Pet. WellKept Pet does not provide pet care services, does not control how Providers perform services, and does not guarantee the availability, quality, safety, or legality of services offered through the Platform.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent that you are 18 or older, legally capable of entering into binding contracts, and not barred from using the Platform under applicable law. Providers must additionally pass a background check conducted by our third-party provider (Checkr) and comply with all eligibility requirements in our Provider Policies.

3. Accounts

You are responsible for all activity under your account and for maintaining the confidentiality of your credentials. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update it as needed. You may not create multiple accounts, impersonate others, or allow anyone else to use your account. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

5. Bookings and payments

Bookings are made directly between Owners and Providers through the Platform. WellKept Pet processes payments on behalf of Providers using Stripe Connect. WellKept Pet charges a service fee disclosed at the time of booking. Refunds and cancellations are governed by our Cancellation Policy. Payment processing is subject to Stripe's terms.

6. Insurance

WellKept Pet does not directly provide insurance for services booked through the Platform. Every active Provider is required to carry their own professional pet-care insurance — at minimum $1,000,000 general liability and $25,000 animal bailee (care, custody & control) coverage — before accepting bookings, and to keep that coverage current. Some service categories carry additional insurance recommendations or requirements (for example, Trainers are strongly encouraged to carry Professional Liability coverage); the full coverage requirements for each service category are set forth in our Provider Policies. Providers must also name WellKept Pet LLC as an Additional Insured on those policies, carry blanket Additional Insured language, or obtain that status within thirty (30) days of joining; Providers indemnify WellKept Pet LLC for any claim arising from their services regardless of Additional Insured status. Full insurance terms — including the Certificate-of-Insurance verification statuses and the booking access each grants — are in the Provider Policies. Owners may request a Provider's Certificate of Insurance from the Platform. Any incident occurring during a service is handled by the Provider's policy, not by the Platform.

7. Identity verification and background checks (Providers)

Identity verification. Before offering services, Providers must verify their identity through our verification provider, Stripe, Inc. ("Stripe Identity"). This involves photographing a government-issued ID and taking a selfie; Stripe analyzes a scan of your facial geometry — a biometric identifier — and compares it to your ID to confirm you are a real, unique person and to detect fraudulent or synthetic identities. This runs alongside the Checkr background check below; the two are separate processes. We obtain your written consent in-app before any biometric collection, and we receive only the verification result, not your raw biometric data. How this information is collected, used, retained, and your rights are described in the Biometric Data section of our Privacy Policy.

Background checks. Providers authorize WellKept Pet and Checkr to conduct a consumer report and, where applicable, an investigative consumer report for purposes of evaluating Provider eligibility. This authorization is provided separately during Provider onboarding in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"). Providers receive a Summary of Rights under the FCRA, and adverse-action procedures are followed before any denial or termination based on background check results.

8. User conduct

You agree NOT to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or to violate any applicable law or regulation
• Harass, threaten, or harm any other user, pet, or WellKept Pet employee
• Provide false, misleading, or inaccurate information
• Circumvent Platform fees by arranging bookings off-platform with users first met through the Platform
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform, including introducing viruses, scraping, or unauthorized automated access
• Post content that is defamatory, obscene, infringing, or otherwise objectionable
• Impersonate any person or misrepresent your affiliation with any entity
• Discriminate against users based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or other protected characteristics

Content you submit to the Platform (including messages and reviews) may be screened, reviewed, and moderated using automated and AI-assisted tools, and we may remove content or take action on accounts that violate these Terms. This screening is part of operating the Platform safely and is not an optional feature.

9. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, for conduct we reasonably believe is harmful to other users or the Platform, or for any other reason at our discretion. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (including Sections 10–16) will survive.

10. Intellectual property

The Platform, including all content, features, and functionality, is owned by WellKept Pet and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our prior written consent. You retain ownership of content you submit (reviews, photos, messages) but grant WellKept Pet a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute such content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

11. Disclaimers

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WELLKEPT PET DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT PROVIDERS WILL PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUR SATISFACTION. YOU USE THE PLATFORM AT YOUR OWN RISK.

12. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WELLKEPT PET'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM IS LIMITED TO THE GREATER OF (A) $100 OR (B) THE TOTAL FEES YOU PAID TO WELLKEPT PET IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. WELLKEPT PET IS NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. THESE LIMITATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO CLAIMS THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WellKept Pet, its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Platform, your violation of these Terms, your violation of any third-party right, or (for Providers) your provision of services to Owners.

14. Dispute resolution and arbitration

Informal resolution first. Before filing a claim, you agree to contact us at support@wellkept.pet and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

Binding arbitration. If informal resolution fails, all disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration will take place in Cowlitz County, Washington, or by telephone/videoconference at your option.

Class action waiver. You and WellKept Pet agree that claims may only be brought in an individual capacity and not as a class, collective, or representative action. If this waiver is found unenforceable, the entire arbitration provision is void.

Exceptions. Either party may bring claims in small-claims court if eligible, and either party may seek injunctive relief in court for intellectual property or unauthorized access claims.

15. Governing law and venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. For any claims not subject to arbitration, exclusive jurisdiction and venue lie in the state and federal courts located in Cowlitz County, Washington.

16. Changes to these Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time by posting an updated version on the Platform and notifying you via email or in-app notice. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree to changes, you must stop using the Platform.

17. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at support@wellkept.pet or WellKept Pet LLC, 522 W Riverside Ave Ste N, Spokane, WA 99201.