Privacy Policy for BostonPaws
Last Updated: April 5, 2026
Introduction
Woof woof! Welcome to BostonPaws. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our iOS application. BostonPaws is a hyper-local community app designed to connect dog owners at dog parks in the Boston area.
By using BostonPaws, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
When you create an account with BostonPaws, we collect:
- Email address - Used for account creation, authentication, and essential communications
- Password - Securely stored and encrypted by Firebase Authentication (we never see or store your plaintext password)
You may choose to provide:
- User bio - A text description about yourself
- Profile photo - An image you upload to represent yourself
- Dog profiles including:
- Dog name, bio, photo, breed, and age
- Each dog is associated with your user account
3. Location Data
BostonPaws uses location services to provide core functionality:
- Precise location data - Used to:
- Determine when you enter or exit dog parks (geofencing)
- Create automatic check-ins when you visit monitored dog parks
- Display your current location on maps for check-in purposes
Location Permission Options:
- “Always” permission is required for automatic check-ins to work in the background
- “While Using” permission allows manual check-ins only
- You can enable or disable automatic check-ins in your profile settings
- Location data is processed locally on your device for geofencing; your precise coordinates are not continuously transmitted to our servers
Location Data Retention:
- We store the park locations where you check in (park name and general area, not your precise GPS coordinates)
- Check-in timestamps and duration are stored
- Location event logs (park entry/exit times) may be stored for app functionality
4. User-Generated Content
When you use BostonPaws features, we collect:
- Check-in data - Park location, timestamp, notes, check-in type (manual or automatic), and exit times
- Photo posts - Images you upload, descriptions, tagged dogs, and timestamps
- Social connections - List of dogs you follow
We automatically collect:
- Device tokens - For push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
- App usage data - To improve app performance and user experience
- Crash reports and diagnostics - To identify and fix bugs (if you’ve enabled sharing with app developers in iOS settings)
6. Notification Preferences
- Notification settings - Your preferences for check-in and photo tag notifications
- Push notification tokens - Required to send you notifications about followed dogs
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
Core Functionality
- Authentication - To create and manage your account
- Profile management - To display your profile and dog profiles
- Location services - To enable manual and automatic park check-ins
- Social features - To show you check-ins from dogs you follow
- Notifications - To alert you when followed dogs check in or when your dog is tagged in photos
- Photo sharing - To allow you to share and view photos from the dog park community
Service Improvement
- Analytics - To understand how users interact with the app
- Bug fixes - To identify and resolve technical issues
- Feature development - To build new features based on usage patterns
Communication
- Essential communications - Account-related notifications and important updates
- Push notifications - Alerts based on your notification preferences
The following information is visible to other BostonPaws users:
- Your email address (as your profile identifier)
- Your bio and profile photo
- Your dog profiles (name, bio, photo, breed, age)
- Your check-ins (dog name, park location, time, notes)
- Your photo posts (images, descriptions, tagged dogs)
Third-Party Service Providers
We use the following third-party services:
- Firebase (Google) - For authentication, cloud database, file storage, and push notifications
- Firebase Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy
- Data is stored on Google Cloud Platform servers
- Apple Push Notification Service (APNs) - For delivering notifications to your device
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities.
Data Storage and Security
Where Your Data is Stored
- Firebase Cloud Firestore - User profiles, dog profiles, check-ins, and photo metadata
- Firebase Cloud Storage - Profile photos and photo posts
- Your device - Cached data for offline access and performance
- Server location - Google Cloud Platform (Firebase) data centers
Security Measures
We implement appropriate security measures including:
- Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS)
- Firebase Authentication security rules
- Secure password storage (hashed and salted by Firebase)
- Database security rules to protect user data
- Regular security updates and patches
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Data Retention
- Account data - Retained while your account is active
- Check-ins - Stored indefinitely unless you delete them
- Photo posts - Stored indefinitely unless you delete them
- Location events - May be retained for debugging and analytics
- Deleted content - Permanently removed from our servers within 30 days
Your Rights and Choices
Access and Control
You can:
- View and edit your profile and dog profiles within the app
- Delete your check-ins and photo posts
- Change notification preferences in your profile settings
- Toggle automatic check-ins on or off
- Manage followed dogs to control what notifications you receive
Location Services
You can control location access:
- Go to iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > BostonPaws
- Choose “Never,” “Ask Next Time,” “While Using the App,” or “Always”
- Note: Automatic check-ins require “Always” permission
Notifications
You can control notifications:
- Within the app: Go to Profile > Settings to toggle check-in and photo tag notifications
- iOS system level: Settings > Notifications > BostonPaws
Account Deletion
To delete your account:
- Go to Profile > Settings
- Tap “Delete Account”
- Confirm deletion
What happens when you delete your account:
- Your user profile and authentication credentials are permanently deleted
- Your dog profiles are deleted
- Your check-ins and photo posts are removed
- You will no longer receive notifications
- This action cannot be undone
Note: Due to backup and caching systems, complete deletion may take up to 30 days.
Children’s Privacy
BostonPaws is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information from our systems.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by:
- Posting the new privacy policy in the app
- Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
- Sending a notification through the app (for material changes)
You are advised to review this privacy policy periodically for any changes. Changes are effective when posted.
California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
- Right to delete personal information held by us
- Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell your personal information)
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.
International Users
BostonPaws is designed for users in the Boston, Massachusetts area. If you access the app from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where our servers and Firebase infrastructure are located.
By using BostonPaws, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and agree that such transfer is subject to U.S. laws and regulations.
TestFlight Beta Testing
If you are participating in beta testing through TestFlight:
- Crash reports and analytics may be automatically collected by Apple and shared with us
- Feedback you provide through TestFlight is sent directly to the developers
- Beta builds are pre-release versions and may have additional logging for debugging purposes
- All data collected during beta testing is subject to this privacy policy
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Email: [Insert your contact email here]
Developer: Ben Shirley
App Name: BostonPaws
Last Updated: April 5, 2026
Consent
By using BostonPaws, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this privacy policy and consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described herein.
For TestFlight reviewers: This privacy policy describes all data collection and usage practices in BostonPaws. The app collects location data for core functionality (park check-ins), stores user-generated content (profiles, photos, check-ins), and uses Firebase services for backend infrastructure. Users have full control over their data through in-app settings and account deletion features.