Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the International Pet Registry ("IPR") website at internationalpetregistry.net and any associated services, mobile applications, or APIs (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to all of these Terms, you may not access or use the Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and International Pet Registry ("we," "us," or "our"). By creating an account, registering a pet, making a payment, or otherwise using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

You represent that you are at least 18 years of age (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction) and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Description of Services

IPR provides an international microchip-based pet registry platform that offers the following services:

• Pet Microchip Registration: Registration of pet microchip numbers in our international database, linking microchips to owner contact information to facilitate reunification of lost pets.
• Microchip Search: A publicly accessible search tool that allows anyone to look up a microchip number and view contact information for the registered owner (subject to the owner's privacy settings).
• Pet Transfers: Tools to transfer pet registration between owners, including owner-to-owner transfers, rescue-to-rescue transfers, and surrender-to-rescue transfers.
• NAAR (National Animal Abuse Registry): An append-only registry that records verified reports of animal abuse, accessible only to authorized professional accounts.
• The Ark: Our lost and found pet matching and notification system.
• Medical Passport: A digital veterinary medical record system allowing authorized veterinary professionals to attach vaccination records, health certificates, and medical history to a pet's registry profile.
• Professional Directory: A searchable directory of registered shelters, veterinary practices, breeders, and other professional entities.
• Professional Dashboards: Subscription-based management dashboards for shelters/rescues, veterinary clinics, breeders, and government agencies.

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or aspect of the Service at any time, with or without notice. We will make commercially reasonable efforts to notify users of material changes to the Service.

3. User Accounts & Registration

To access certain features of the Service, you must create an account. IPR supports the following account types:

• Pet Owner: Individual pet owners who register pets and manage their profiles.
• Shelter / Rescue: Licensed animal shelters and rescue organizations with access to bulk registration, transfer tools, and the professional dashboard.
• Veterinarian: Licensed veterinary professionals and clinics authorized to manage medical records and health documentation.
• Breeder: Registered breeders with access to litter management and registration tools.
• Government Agency: Authorized government animal control and regulatory bodies with access to compliance and lookup tools.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials, including your password. You agree to immediately notify IPR of any unauthorized use of your account. You are liable for all activities that occur under your account.

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that contain inaccurate, fraudulent, or misleading information.

Professional accounts (Shelter, Veterinarian, Breeder, Government) may be subject to additional verification requirements, including proof of licensing or accreditation. IPR reserves the right to request documentation and to deny or revoke professional account status at its sole discretion.

4. Microchip Registration & Accuracy

When you register a pet microchip through IPR, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the legal owner of the pet or are authorized by the legal owner to register the microchip.
• The microchip number you provide is accurate and corresponds to a microchip implanted in the pet being registered.
• All information provided, including pet species, breed, name, and contact details, is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
• You will promptly update your registration information if any details change, including changes of address, phone number, or pet ownership status.

IPR is a registration and lookup service. We do not implant microchips, verify microchip implantation, or guarantee the accuracy of information provided by users. The effectiveness of our service depends on the accuracy and currency of user-provided data.

Registering a pet microchip on IPR does not constitute proof of ownership. Disputes regarding pet ownership are matters to be resolved between the relevant parties, and IPR is not liable for any such disputes.

5. Payment Terms

Certain features of the Service require payment. By making a purchase, you agree to the following:

• Pet Registration Fee: A one-time fee of $25.00 USD per pet for microchip registration. This fee covers lifetime registration in the IPR database.
• Professional Subscriptions: Professional dashboard access is available through monthly subscription plans ranging from $29.00 to $39.00 USD per month, depending on the account type and features selected.
• NAAR Subscription: Access to the National Animal Abuse Registry is available for $1.99 USD per month.
• Transfer Fees: Owner-to-owner pet transfers incur a fee of $25.00 USD. Rescue-to-rescue and surrender-to-rescue transfers are free of charge.

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. We accept major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Payments may be made in USD, CAD, or GBP. Currency conversion is handled by your payment provider or Stripe and any exchange rate fees are the responsibility of the User.

IPR does not store credit card numbers, CVV codes, or complete payment card data on our servers. All sensitive payment data is handled directly by Stripe in compliance with PCI DSS Level 1 standards.

Subscription fees are billed on a recurring monthly basis. You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period, and you will retain access to the subscription features until that date.

We reserve the right to change pricing with 30 days' advance notice to affected users. Price changes will not apply retroactively to existing registrations.

6. Transfer Policies

IPR facilitates the transfer of pet registrations between accounts under the following conditions:

• Owner-to-Owner Transfer ($25.00 USD): The current registered owner initiates a transfer to a new owner. The new owner must have or create a IPR account and accept the transfer. The fee is charged to the initiating party.
• Rescue-to-Rescue Transfer (Free): Registered shelter and rescue organizations may transfer pet registrations between each other at no charge to facilitate animal welfare coordination.
• Surrender-to-Rescue Transfer (Free): Pet owners may surrender their pet's registration to a registered shelter or rescue organization at no charge.

All transfers are subject to verification. IPR reserves the right to delay or refuse a transfer if there is reason to believe the transfer is fraudulent, involves a stolen pet, or violates applicable law. Once a transfer is completed and accepted by the receiving party, it cannot be automatically reversed. Disputes must be resolved through our support team.

7. Refund Policy

Refunds are governed by our separate Refund Policy, available at /legal/refund. By using the Service and making payments, you agree to the terms of the Refund Policy. In summary:

• Pet registration fees are generally non-refundable once the microchip has been activated in the registry.
• Subscription fees may be eligible for pro-rated refunds within the first 14 days.
• Transfer fees are non-refundable once the transfer has been completed.

8. NAAR (National Animal Abuse Registry)

The National Animal Abuse Registry ("NAAR") is a restricted-access, append-only database maintained by IPR for the purpose of recording verified reports of animal abuse and neglect.

• Append-Only: Records submitted to NAAR cannot be edited or deleted by the submitting party. This ensures the integrity and reliability of the registry. Corrections or disputed entries must be submitted through IPR's formal dispute process.
• Access Restrictions: NAAR data is accessible only to verified professional accounts (Shelter/Rescue, Veterinarian, Government) with an active NAAR subscription. Pet owner accounts do not have access to NAAR records.
• Reporting Standards: Users authorized to submit NAAR reports must do so in good faith and based on credible evidence. Submitting false, malicious, or fabricated reports is a violation of these Terms and may result in immediate account termination and legal action.
• No Guarantee of Accuracy: IPR does not independently verify NAAR reports. The information contained in NAAR is provided by reporting parties, and IPR makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any NAAR record.

9. User-Generated Content

You may submit content to the Service, including but not limited to pet photos, descriptions, medical records, profile information, and NAAR reports ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you:

• Retain ownership of your User Content.
• Grant IPR a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your User Content solely for the purpose of operating and providing the Service.
• Represent and warrant that you have the right to submit such content and that it does not violate any third party's rights or applicable law.
• Acknowledge that pet photos and certain profile information may be visible to the public through the microchip search feature, subject to your privacy settings.

We reserve the right to remove or disable User Content that violates these Terms, our Acceptable Use Policy, or applicable law, without prior notice.

10. Professional Responsibilities

Users with professional accounts (Shelter/Rescue, Veterinarian, Breeder, Government) agree to the following additional obligations:

• Veterinarians: Must maintain a valid veterinary license in their jurisdiction. Medical records entered into the system must be accurate and made in accordance with professional standards of care. Veterinarians are solely responsible for the clinical accuracy of medical records they create or upload.
• Shelters and Rescues: Must operate in compliance with applicable local, state, and national animal welfare laws. Must maintain accurate records of animals in their care and update registration information promptly upon intake, adoption, or transfer.
• Breeders: Must comply with all applicable breeding regulations and licensing requirements. Must provide accurate information regarding litters, parentage, and health testing.
• Government Agencies: Must use the Service in accordance with applicable government regulations and only for authorized official purposes.

IPR reserves the right to audit professional accounts for compliance and to suspend or terminate accounts that fail to meet professional standards.

11. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, features, functionality, source code, content, logos, trademarks, and documentation, is the exclusive property of International Pet Registry and is protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works based on the Service without our prior written consent.

The IPR name, logo, and all related marks are trademarks of International Pet Registry. You may not use our trademarks without our prior written authorization.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INTERNATIONAL PET REGISTRY AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE.

OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO IPR IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00 USD).

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. IPR DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability is limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

13. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. For users located in the European Union, nothing in these Terms affects your rights under mandatory consumer protection laws of your country of residence.

14. Dispute Resolution

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall first be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within 30 days of written notice, either party may submit the dispute to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, to be conducted in California, USA.

You agree that any arbitration shall be conducted on an individual basis and not as a class action or other representative proceeding. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm. EU consumers retain the right to bring proceedings in the courts of their country of residence.

15. Termination

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us at support@internationalpetregistry.net. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will cease immediately.

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice, including but not limited to cases of suspected fraud, violation of these Terms, or illegal activity. In the event of termination, we may retain certain data as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, as described in our Privacy Policy.

Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution provisions.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, providing additional notice via email or an in-app notification.

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of the revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must stop using the Service and contact us to close your account.

17. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

• Email: support@internationalpetregistry.net
• Website: internationalpetregistry.net
• Privacy Inquiries: privacy@internationalpetregistry.net
• Security Inquiries: security@internationalpetregistry.net