Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This Policy applies to OpenAnimal websites, mobile applications, account experiences, communications, and related consumer services that link to it (collectively, the "Service"). It does not govern a veterinarian, clinic, insurer, pharmacy, laboratory, social network, app store, or other third party that handles information under its own privacy policy.

Pet health information is not human protected health information under HIPAA. Even so, we treat identifiable pet health records as sensitive and apply the safeguards and controls described here.

2. Information we collect

Please avoid including unnecessary personal information about people in a pet record. If you provide information about another person, you represent that you are permitted to do so.

3. Sources of information

We collect information:

• Directly from you, including when you create an account, add a pet, upload records, ask questions, share information, or contact us.
• From people and organizations you authorize, such as household members, caregivers, veterinarians, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, and insurers.
• From sign-in and platform providers, such as Google, Apple, or an app store, based on the permissions and settings you choose.
• Automatically, through cookies, logs, software development kits, and similar technologies when you use the Service.

4. How we use information

We use information to:

• create and secure accounts, authenticate users, and provide customer support;
• build, organize, search, summarize, and display your pet's longitudinal record;
• personalize features and generate record-grounded AI responses, reminders, questionnaires, trends, and educational insights;
• carry out sharing and connection choices you request;
• send transactional messages, service notices, and marketing communications where permitted;
• operate, troubleshoot, analyze, secure, and improve the Service;
• detect fraud, abuse, unsafe activity, and violations of our Terms;
• comply with law, enforce agreements, establish or defend legal claims, and protect users, animals, OpenAnimal, and others; and
• create aggregated or de-identified information that does not reasonably identify you.

Where privacy law requires a legal basis, we rely on performance of our contract with you, our legitimate interests in operating and improving the Service, your consent, and compliance with legal obligations, as applicable.

5. AI processing

OpenAnimal uses automated systems and third-party AI model providers to extract information from records, organize data, answer questions, generate summaries, and support other features. Information relevant to your request may be sent to those providers for processing on our behalf.

• AI outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or based on an incorrect extraction. Original records remain the authoritative source.
• We may review limited interactions for safety, quality, support, and abuse prevention using access controls designed to limit unnecessary exposure.
• We may use aggregated or de-identified information to evaluate and improve the Service.
• We do not permit identifiable pet records or private AI conversations to be used to train a provider's general-purpose models unless we first give additional notice and obtain consent where required.

AI features are informational tools and are not veterinary care. Please see our Veterinary and AI Disclaimer.

6. How we share information

We may disclose information in the following circumstances:

• At your direction. With people or organizations you invite, connect, or choose to send records to, including caregivers, household members, veterinarians, and clinics.
• Service providers. With companies that provide authentication, cloud hosting, databases, storage, communications, analytics, customer support, security, payment processing, and AI processing under contractual or other appropriate safeguards.
• Professional and integration partners. With veterinary practices and other services you intentionally connect, subject to the permissions presented to you.
• Legal and safety reasons. When reasonably necessary to comply with law or legal process; enforce our agreements; investigate fraud, security incidents, or abuse; or protect the rights, safety, and property of users, animals, OpenAnimal, or others.
• Business transactions. In connection with financing, due diligence, a merger, acquisition, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of assets, subject to appropriate confidentiality and notice obligations.
• With your consent. For another purpose disclosed to you when you give permission.

We may disclose aggregated or de-identified information that does not reasonably identify you, subject to legal restrictions against re-identification.

7. Advertising, sale, and cookies

We use necessary cookies and similar technologies for authentication, security, preferences, attribution, and core functionality. We may use limited analytics to understand whether pages and features work. You can control cookies through your browser and device settings, but disabling necessary technologies may prevent parts of the Service from working.

Where required, we honor legally recognized opt-out preference signals, such as Global Privacy Control, for processing to which the signal applies.

8. Sharing controls and recipient copies

You can choose whether to connect or share with household members, caregivers, veterinarians, and clinics. Review recipients carefully. A recipient may view, download, copy, or retain information you share. Removing access stops future access through OpenAnimal but cannot retrieve copies already exported or require an independent veterinarian or clinic to delete records it must retain under law or professional rules.

9. Data retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the Service, maintain your account, fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, comply with law, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect the Service. Retention periods depend on the type and sensitivity of the information, why it was collected, account status, user choices, and legal or operational requirements.

When information is no longer needed, we delete, de-identify, or securely isolate it. Deletion may take additional time in backups and disaster recovery systems. Information another person, clinic, or service received at your direction is governed by that recipient's retention practices.

10. Security

We use administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information, including encryption in transit, access controls, monitoring, and security procedures appropriate to the nature of the data. No system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee that unauthorized access, loss, or misuse will never occur. Protect your credentials and tell us promptly if you believe your account has been compromised.

11. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live and subject to legal exceptions, you may have rights to request access, correction, deletion, or portability of personal information; obtain information about collection and disclosure; withdraw consent; restrict or object to certain processing; opt out of marketing; appeal a denied request; or use an authorized agent.

We will not discriminate against you for exercising a privacy right. We may need to verify your identity and authority before acting. To submit a request, email hello@openanimal.ai with the subject "Privacy Request." You may also lodge a complaint with your local privacy regulator.

California notice at collection

The categories we collect are described in Section 2, our business purposes in Sections 4 and 5, recipients in Section 6, and retention criteria in Section 9. We do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. California residents may request to know, access, correct, or delete covered personal information and may appeal or use an authorized agent as provided by applicable law.

12. Children's privacy

The Service is for adults and is not directed to children under 13. You must be at least 18 to create an account. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from a child under 13. If you believe a child provided information to us, contact us so we can investigate and take appropriate action.

13. International data transfers

OpenAnimal is based in the United States, and we and our service providers may process information in the United States and other countries whose laws may differ from those where you live. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for international transfers.

14. Third-party services

The Service may link to or integrate with third-party services. Their terms and privacy policies govern their handling of information. OpenAnimal is not responsible for third-party privacy or security practices, and a link does not imply endorsement.

15. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy as the Service and law evolve. We will post the revised version and update the date above. If a change is material, we will provide additional notice as required, such as an in-app message or email. We will request new consent when the law requires it.

16. Contact us

Questions, complaints, and privacy requests can be sent to:

OpenVet, Inc.
Email: hello@openanimal.ai
Website: https://www.openanimal.ai/