Terms of Service

By creating an account or using the Service, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement. If you are using the Service on behalf of a business or organisation, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Service.

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website and, where appropriate, by email. Your continued use of the Service after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you should stop using the Service.

The Pet Sitter provides an online platform that allows pet owners to discover and connect with local pet sitters. We facilitate the introduction between pet owners and sitters through search, profiles, messaging, and reviews. We are a marketplace platform and not a party to any agreement between pet owners and sitters.

We do not employ pet sitters, nor do we supervise, direct, or control their services. Pet sitters are independent service providers who set their own rates, availability, and terms of service. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any pet care services offered through the platform. We are not responsible for the actions, omissions, or conduct of any user.

To use certain features of the Service, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, complete, and current information during registration and to keep your account information updated. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

You must not share your account credentials with others, create multiple accounts, or use another person's account without permission. You agree to notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect any unauthorised use of your account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

If you register as a pet sitter, you agree to provide accurate information in your profile, including your experience, qualifications, services, rates, and availability. You agree to provide pet care services with reasonable skill and care, to maintain a safe and appropriate environment for pets in your care, and to follow any specific instructions provided by pet owners.

You are responsible for ensuring that you comply with all applicable local laws and regulations, including any licensing, insurance, or registration requirements for pet care services in your jurisdiction. You agree to communicate honestly with pet owners, respond to enquiries in a timely manner, and honour confirmed bookings. You are solely responsible for your own tax obligations arising from your pet sitting income.

If you use the Service as a pet owner, you agree to provide accurate information about your pet, including breed, size, temperament, medical conditions, medications, and any behavioural issues. You agree to provide the sitter with your veterinarian's contact information and emergency authorisation for veterinary care.

You are responsible for ensuring your pet is up to date on vaccinations, is free from contagious diseases, and is safe to be around other people and animals. You agree to provide necessary supplies including food, medications, and comfort items. You agree to pay the sitter directly for their services as agreed between you, and to treat sitters with respect and communicate honestly.

The Pet Sitter is free for pet owners. We do not charge booking fees, service charges, or platform fees to pet owners. Pet owners pay sitters directly for their services at the rate agreed upon between them. Payments are processed securely through Stripe. Funds are held in escrow until the booking is completed, at which point they are released to the sitter's connected Stripe account.

Payout eligibility: Sitters on the Early Adopter programme are eligible to receive payouts during their trial period. Sitters on the standard 30-day free trial are not eligible for payouts until they activate a paid subscription. During the standard trial, booking payments from owners are held securely and released to the sitter once their subscription is active. This policy exists to ensure platform quality and prevent trial abuse.

Pet sitters pay an annual subscription to use the platform. Subscriptions are billed yearly via Stripe. A valid payment method (credit or debit card) is required at sign-up. All new sitters receive a free trial period: 30 days under the standard programme, or 365 days under the Early Adopter programme (available during the initial launch period only). Your card will not be charged until the trial period expires. You may cancel your subscription at any time before the trial ends to avoid being charged. After cancellation, your profile remains visible until the end of the current billing period, after which it is hidden from search results.

Early Adopter programme: Sitters who sign up during the launch period receive 365 days of free access with full payout eligibility — meaning you can accept bookings and receive payments throughout the trial. When the Early Adopter trial ends, your annual subscription begins automatically at the standard rate. Early Adopter status is permanent for pricing purposes: if our subscription prices increase in the future, your rate is locked at the price in effect when your first paid subscription begins (grandfathered pricing).

The Service, including its design, text, graphics, logos, icons, images, software, and code, is owned by The Pet Sitter BV and is protected by Belgian and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Service without our prior written consent.

By posting content on the Service (including profile text, photos, and reviews), you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, display, reproduce, and distribute that content in connection with operating and promoting the Service. You retain ownership of your content and may remove it at any time by deleting it from your profile or account.

To maintain a safe and trustworthy platform, we use a combination of automated systems and human review to moderate content on the Service. This includes messages between users, profile content, reviews, and uploaded photos. Our AI-powered moderation systems may flag content that appears to violate our community standards, share personal contact information prematurely, or pose safety concerns.

Sitter profiles and verification documents are reviewed during onboarding using AI-assisted vetting, with human oversight for final decisions. GPS location data may be collected during active pet care sessions (walk tracking) with the sitter's explicit consent, and shared with the pet owner via report cards. You agree that content you post on the Service may be subject to automated and human review for safety and quality purposes.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, The Pet Sitter BV shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or use, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Service, any pet care services arranged through the Service, or any interactions between users.

The Pet Sitter is a marketplace platform that facilitates connections between pet owners and sitters. We are not liable for any injury, illness, death, or damage to any pet, person, or property arising from pet care services. Our total liability for any claims arising under these Terms shall not exceed the amount you have paid to us in the twelve months preceding the claim. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law, including the Australian Consumer Law, or liability for fraud or wilful misconduct.

Each sitter sets their own cancellation policy, which is displayed on their profile. Available policies are: Flexible (full refund if cancelled more than 24 hours before the booking start), Moderate (full refund if cancelled more than 7 days before the booking start, 50% refund if cancelled 1-7 days before), and Strict (50% refund if cancelled more than 7 days before the booking start, no refund within 7 days). Refunds are processed automatically via Stripe.

Pet owners may cancel a booking at any time, including during an in-progress booking, subject to the sitter's cancellation policy. Sitters may not cancel in-progress bookings unilaterally; if a dispute arises during an active booking, sitters must use the dispute resolution process described below. This ensures proper documentation and fair outcomes for both parties.

If a dispute arises between a pet owner and a sitter regarding a booking, either party may open a dispute through the platform. Our support team, assisted by automated mediation tools, will review the dispute and work towards a fair resolution. We may request additional information or evidence from both parties during the dispute process.

While we endeavour to facilitate fair outcomes, we are a marketplace platform and the ultimate resolution of disputes may require direct communication between the parties. We reserve the right to issue partial or full refunds, adjust payouts, or take other actions as we deem appropriate to resolve disputes fairly. Our dispute resolution process does not limit your rights under applicable consumer protection laws.

You may terminate your account at any time by deleting your account through your account settings or by contacting us at [email protected]. Upon termination, your profile will be removed from the Service and your personal data will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for violation of these Terms, fraudulent or illegal activity, or any conduct that we determine is harmful to other users or the Service. If we terminate your account for cause, any active subscription will be cancelled and no refund will be issued for the remaining billing period. If we terminate your account without cause, you will receive a pro-rata refund of any prepaid subscription fees.

We may modify these Terms at any time by posting the revised Terms on our website. We will provide notice of material changes through the Service or by email at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Service and delete your account before the changes take effect. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically. The most current version is always available at thepetsitter.co/terms.

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Belgium. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Belgium, except where mandatory local consumer protection laws (such as the Australian Consumer Law) grant you the right to bring proceedings in your local jurisdiction.

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at [email protected]. The Pet Sitter BV is registered in Belgium. For formal legal correspondence, please write to us at our registered address. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and The Pet Sitter BV regarding your use of the Service.