Snorfel Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 18, 2026

Snorfel (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the Snorfel mobile application (the “App”) and the website located at snorfel.com (the “Website”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our App and Website (collectively, the “Service”).

By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account, we collect:

• Email address (stored in lowercase)
• First name and last name
• Username
• Phone number (stored as 10 digits without formatting)
• Authentication credentials managed through Firebase Authentication (Email/Password or Google Sign-In)
• Profile photo (optional)

1.2 Dog Profile Information

To provide personalized care insights, we collect information about your dogs:

• Dog name
• Breed
• Weight
• Age and/or birth date
• Sex
• Temperament and behavioral traits
• Personality profile
• Health concerns

1.3 Photos and Media

We collect photos you upload to the Service, including:

• Dog photos used for breed identification and dog profiles
• User profile photos
• Community post images (up to 4 images per post)

All photos are stored in Firebase Storage under user-specific file paths.

1.4 Location Information

We collect approximate location data based on your IP address using the ipapi.co service. This does not require any device permissions and provides only city-level location. This information is optional and is used to provide localized activity and veterinary recommendations.

We do not access your device's GPS, and we do not collect precise geolocation data.

1.5 AI Chat and Interaction Data

When you use our AI care assistant, we collect:

• Chat messages and conversation history
• AI-generated responses and recommendations
• Custom AI instructions you configure

1.6 Social and Community Data

If you participate in community features, we collect:

• Community memberships
• Posts (text and images)
• Comments on posts
• Reactions (likes and dislikes)
• Friend connections
• Direct messages
• Blocked users list

1.7 User Preferences and Settings

We collect your in-app preferences, including:

• Social settings (such as whether your social profile or dog profiles are public)
• City selection for localized content
• Custom AI assistant instructions

1.8 Feedback

If you submit feedback through the App, we collect the text of your feedback.

1.9 Information We Do Not Collect

• We do not collect precise GPS location data.
• We do not collect contacts, calendars, or other device data.
• We do not use cookies or web tracking technologies within the App.
• We do not collect financial or payment information.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 Providing and Improving the Service

• Creating and managing your account
• Displaying your dog profiles with relevant care information
• Generating personalized AI-powered care advice, health insights, activity recommendations, and personality profiles
• Enabling community features such as posts, comments, reactions, friend connections, and direct messaging
• Delivering localized recommendations based on your approximate location

2.2 AI-Powered Features

• Breed Identification: Dog photos are sent to OpenAI's GPT-4o model for image-based breed prediction.
• Chat Assistant: Your chat messages are sent to OpenAI's GPT-4o Mini model to generate personalized care responses.
• Content Generation: We use OpenAI models to generate personality traits, health information, activity recommendations, and fun features such as celebrity comparisons.

2.3 Communication

• Responding to your feedback and support requests
• Sending service-related notifications

2.4 Safety and Security

• Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, or unauthorized access
• Enforcing our terms of service and community guidelines

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

3.1 Third-Party Service Providers

We use the following third-party services to operate the App:

These service providers process your data solely to provide their respective services and are bound by their own privacy policies.

3.2 Community and Social Features

If you choose to participate in community features:

• Your posts, comments, and reactions may be visible to other users depending on community settings.
• Your username and profile photo may be visible to other community members.
• Your dog profiles may be visible to friends or community members based on your privacy settings.
• Direct messages are visible only to you and the recipient(s).

3.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to:

• Comply with a legal obligation or valid legal process
• Protect and defend our rights or property
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service
• Protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public

4. Data Storage and Transfer

4.1 Storage Location

Your data is stored on Firebase (Google Cloud) servers located in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer and storage of your data in the United States.

4.2 Data Organization

• Account and profile data is stored in Cloud Firestore.
• Photos and media are stored in Firebase Cloud Storage under user-specific paths.
• Authentication data is managed by Firebase Authentication.
• Direct messages are transmitted and stored using real-time Firestore listeners.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you with the Service.

• Account data: Retained until you delete your account.
• Dog profiles: Retained until you remove them or delete your account.
• Photos: Retained in Firebase Storage until you remove them or delete your account.
• Chat history: Retained until you delete your account.
• Community posts and comments: Retained until you delete them individually or delete your account.
• Direct messages: Retained until you delete your account.

When you delete your account, we delete all associated data, including your profile, dog profiles, photos, chat history, social data, and preferences. Some data may be retained in encrypted backups for a limited period as part of standard infrastructure operations, after which it is permanently deleted.

6. Your Rights and Choices

6.1 Account Deletion

You can delete your account and all associated data at any time through the Settings screen within the App. This action is permanent and removes all of your data from our systems, including:

• Account information
• Dog profiles
• Photos and media
• Chat history
• Community posts, comments, and reactions
• Friend connections and direct messages
• Preferences and settings

6.2 Profile and Privacy Settings

You can control the visibility of your information through in-app settings:

• Social features: Enable or disable community participation.
• Dog profile visibility: Choose whether your dog profiles are publicly visible to other users.

6.3 Data Access and Portability

You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you by contacting us at support@snorfel.com.

6.4 Correction

You can update your account information, dog profiles, and preferences at any time through the App.

6.5 California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

We do not sell personal information. To exercise your rights, contact us at support@snorfel.com.

6.6 European Economic Area (EEA) Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the EEA, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation, including the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing of your personal data. To exercise these rights, contact us at support@snorfel.com.

7. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Authentication managed through Firebase Authentication with secure credential handling
• Data stored in Google Cloud (Firebase) infrastructure with encryption at rest and in transit
• User-specific storage paths for photos and media
• Client-side rate limiting on community posts to prevent abuse
• Blocked users functionality to protect users from unwanted interactions

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@snorfel.com so we can take appropriate action.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not operated by us (for example, Wikipedia content displayed within the App). We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you interact with.

10. Advertising and Tracking

We do not display third-party advertisements within the App. We do not use third-party tracking or analytics services to track your activity across other apps or websites. We do not create advertising profiles based on your data.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you through the App or via email.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Snorfel
Email: support@snorfel.com
Website: snorfel.com

This Privacy Policy was last updated on February 18, 2026.