Terms of Service 🐾

1. Acceptance of These Terms

Welcome to Mentored by Mutts ("MbM," "Mentored by Mutts," "we," "our," or "us").

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Mentored by Mutts website, mobile applications, software, services, features, content, and related experiences (collectively, the "Service").

By creating an account or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these Terms and agree to be bound by them. You also acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information. The Privacy Policy is a notice of our privacy practices and is not itself a contract requiring your agreement unless applicable law provides otherwise.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you may not create an account or use the Service.

We may require you to affirmatively accept these Terms, acknowledge the Privacy Policy, and confirm that you meet the minimum age requirement by checking separate boxes during registration or before continuing to use the Service. Accounts created before these requirements were implemented may be required to complete this process at their next sign-in before access is restored.

2. Our Mission

Mentored by Mutts exists to celebrate the extraordinary lessons ordinary dogs teach us every day.

Our mission is to build a welcoming community where stories inspire, kindness matters, meaningful friendships grow, and the unconditional love we learn from our canine companions is passed forward to others.

Every feature of the Service is intended to support that mission.

3. Eligibility

To create an account or use the Service, you must:

• be at least thirteen (13) years of age and meet any higher minimum age required by the laws of your jurisdiction;
• provide truthful and accurate information;
• have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms or, where required by applicable law, have the permission of a parent or legal guardian.

The Service is not intended for children under thirteen (13), and children under thirteen may not create an account. If you are thirteen or older but under the age of majority where you live, you may use the Service only with the permission and supervision of a parent or legal guardian where required by applicable law. Your parent or legal guardian should review these Terms and the Privacy Policy with you.

By creating an account or confirming your eligibility, you represent that the age information you provide is truthful and that you satisfy these requirements. We may suspend or terminate an account if we reasonably believe the account holder does not meet them.

4. Your Account

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity occurring under your account.

You agree to:

• provide accurate registration information;
• maintain current account information;
• safeguard your password and login credentials;
• notify Mentored by Mutts promptly of any suspected unauthorized access or security breach;
• use only one personal account unless otherwise authorized by Mentored by Mutts.

You may not:

• create accounts using false identities;
• impersonate another individual or organization;
• transfer or sell your account without our written permission;
• allow another person to use your account in a manner that violates these Terms.

Mentored by Mutts reserves the right to suspend, restrict, or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or threaten the integrity, safety, or security of the Service.

5. Your Profile

Your profile represents you and your mutt within the Mentored by Mutts community.

Your profile may include information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• your name;
• your Team Name;
• information about your mutt(s);
• profile photographs;
• biography;
• general location, if you choose to share it;
• stories;
• comments;
• photographs;
• videos;
• Love Language results;
• participation in the Fetch It Forward League (FFL);
• participation in Fetch Around Me, including your personal My Fetch Around places and recommendations;
• participation in In Remembrance of Me;
• activity related to The Mutt N Me Shop;
• and other information you voluntarily choose to share through the Service.

Certain information you choose to post may be visible to other members or to the public depending upon your privacy settings and the nature of the content you share. Profile information and uploaded photographs will be handled as described in the Service and our Privacy Policy; uploading or changing profile information does not authorize Mentored by Mutts to publish a separate public activity story unless the Service clearly discloses that result and provides any choice required by applicable law or our published settings.

Your Team Name is your primary public identity within Mentored by Mutts. You may request changes to your Team Name subject to the naming standards, waiting periods, availability requirements, security confirmations, and other procedures then displayed in the Service. A Team Name change does not create a new account and does not, by itself, remove the Team’s existing content, relationships, points, badges, Division information, or participation history.

6. Your Content

You retain ownership of the stories, photographs, videos, artwork, comments, and other original content that you submit to Mentored by Mutts.

By submitting content through the Service, you grant Mentored by Mutts LLC a worldwide, non-exclusive, transferable, sublicensable, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, display, publish, distribute, promote, adapt, crop, resize, edit for formatting or technical purposes, translate, combine with other content, and otherwise prepare your content for display in connection with operating, improving, promoting, and growing the Service.

This license includes, but is not limited to, the right to feature your content within:

• the Mentored by Mutts website and mobile applications;
• Wag-Cam features;
• Fetch It Forward League content;
• community spotlights;
• educational materials;
• presentations;
• newsletters;
• social media channels;
• promotional campaigns;
• marketing materials;
• and other Mentored by Mutts services.

Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of your content to Mentored by Mutts LLC.

The rights granted under this section exist solely for the purpose of operating, improving, promoting, and growing the Service.

As part of our commitment to building a respectful community, Mentored by Mutts may, whenever practical, personally notify members before featuring their content in special recognitions such as homepage banners or similar community highlights. Such courtesy notifications are voluntary community practices and are not contractual obligations.

The license granted in this section generally ends when your content is permanently removed from our systems, except where:

• another user has shared your content;
• copies remain in backup systems for a reasonable period;
• retention is required by law;
• continued use is reasonably necessary to resolve disputes or protect legal rights.

7. Content You May Post

You represent and warrant that:

• you own the content you submit or have all necessary permissions to share it;
• your content does not infringe the copyrights, trademarks, publicity rights, privacy rights, or other legal rights of any person or organization;
• your content complies with applicable laws;
• any individuals appearing in your content have granted any permissions required for you to share that content.

You may share links to publicly available content from other platforms where permitted by those platforms' terms of use. However, uploading or reposting another person's content directly to Mentored by Mutts requires that you own the content or have appropriate permission to do so.

Mentored by Mutts reserves the right to remove content that reasonably appears to violate these Terms or applicable law.

8. Community Standards

Mentored by Mutts exists to celebrate the positive impact dogs have on people and communities. We ask every member to help us maintain a welcoming environment built on kindness, honesty, encouragement, and mutual respect.

By using the Service, you agree not to:

• harass, threaten, intimidate, or bully another person;
• post hateful, discriminatory, or abusive content;
• impersonate another individual, organization, or business;
• knowingly provide false or misleading information;
• upload viruses, malware, or other harmful software;
• interfere with the operation or security of the Service;
• exploit, encourage, or promote the abuse or neglect of animals;
• engage in unlawful activity through the Service;
• use automated systems or bots except where expressly authorized by Mentored by Mutts;
• use the Service in any manner that harms the community or undermines its intended purpose.

Mentored by Mutts reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action regarding conduct that violates these Community Standards, including the removal of content, suspension of features, or termination of accounts.

9. Fetch It Forward League (FFL)

The Fetch It Forward League ("FFL") is a community engagement program that encourages members to positively participate within the Mentored by Mutts community while supporting charitable initiatives.

Participation in the FFL is voluntary and subject to these Terms, any published FFL Rules, and any seasonal guidelines that may be issued from time to time.

To preserve fairness for every participant, you agree not to:

• create fake or duplicate accounts;
• artificially increase Paw Print Points;
• manipulate engagement activity;
• use bots, scripts, automated software, or other methods to generate interactions;
• submit fraudulent stories, comments, photographs, videos, or other activity;
• exploit software bugs, technical vulnerabilities, or scoring systems;
• encourage others to manipulate rankings or participation;
• otherwise attempt to gain an unfair advantage within the FFL.

If Mentored by Mutts determines that a participant has violated these Terms or the FFL Rules, we may, at our sole discretion:

• adjust or remove Paw Print Points;
• remove content;
• remove awards or recognitions;
• disqualify a participant from current or future seasons;
• suspend FFL participation;
• suspend or terminate the associated account.

Mentored by Mutts reserves the right to modify FFL divisions, Paw Print Point values, scoring methods, participation requirements, awards, nonprofit partners, seasonal formats, schedules, and related programs at any time.

Participation in the FFL does not create any contractual right to prizes, awards, sponsorships, nonprofit donations, rankings, future participation, or continued operation of the program.

10. Expert and Community Content

Mentored by Mutts provides educational, inspirational, and informational content through features including, but not limited to:

• member stories;
• comments;
• discussions;
• educational articles;
• videos;
• and other community contributions.

Content available through the Service is provided for general educational and informational purposes only.

Nothing available through Mentored by Mutts should be interpreted as veterinary, medical, legal, financial, behavioral, or other professional advice specific to your individual circumstances.

Every dog, every person, and every situation is unique. Before making decisions affecting your health, your pet's health, training, nutrition, safety, finances, or legal matters, you should consult an appropriately qualified professional.

Mentored by Mutts LLC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, effectiveness, or suitability of advice provided by individual contributors or community members and is not responsible for decisions made in reliance upon such content.

11. Charitable Giving and Nonprofit Partnerships

Supporting organizations that improve the lives of people and dogs is an important part of the Mentored by Mutts mission.

Through initiatives such as the Fetch It Forward League and other community programs, Mentored by Mutts may partner with nonprofit organizations, charitable causes, educational institutions, rescue organizations, or other community partners.

Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, participation in the Service, earning Paw Print Points, making purchases, engaging with content, or participating in community activities does not guarantee that any specific amount will be donated to any particular organization or cause.

Donation programs, nonprofit partners, campaign structures, eligibility requirements, distribution methods, timing, and giving initiatives may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at the discretion of Mentored by Mutts LLC.

Whenever charitable contributions are made through Mentored by Mutts programs, we strive to communicate those efforts with honesty, transparency, and accountability.

12. Advertising and Sponsorships

Mentored by Mutts may display advertising, sponsored content, nonprofit partner information, affiliate promotions, or other promotional materials throughout the Service.

The appearance of an advertisement, sponsor, nonprofit organization, product, or service does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by Mentored by Mutts LLC.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, any purchases, communications, or other interactions you have with advertisers, sponsors, or third-party organizations are solely between you and those third parties.

Mentored by Mutts LLC is not responsible for the products, services, content, representations, or business practices of third-party advertisers or sponsors.

13. The Mutt N Me Shop and Purchases

Mentored by Mutts may offer merchandise, digital products, educational materials, subscriptions, event registrations, and other products or services through The Mutt N Me Shop.

Products and services may be offered directly by Mentored by Mutts LLC or by approved nonprofit organizations, third-party manufacturers, suppliers, fulfillment partners, licensors, service providers, or other authorized partners.

Product descriptions, pricing, availability, shipping, warranties, returns, exchanges, refunds, and fulfillment methods may vary depending upon the product, supplier, or service provider.

Where applicable, product warranties are provided by the manufacturer, supplier, or Mentored by Mutts LLC only as expressly stated for the specific product.

Mentored by Mutts LLC reserves the right to refuse, limit, cancel, or decline any order, in whole or in part, for reasons including, but not limited to, suspected fraud, pricing or typographical errors, inventory inaccuracies, product unavailability, payment issues, violations of these Terms, or other circumstances that, in our reasonable judgment, warrant such action. If your order is canceled after payment has been received, we will issue an appropriate refund in accordance with our applicable payment and refund policies.

Purchases made through The Mutt N Me Shop may also be subject to additional Shipping, Returns, Refund, Warranty, Subscription, or other purchasing policies, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Mentored by Mutts reserves the right to modify or discontinue products, services, pricing, promotions, purchasing programs, or product offerings at any time without prior notice.

14. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, layout, software, text, graphics, logos, icons, images, videos, audio, artwork, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, features, functionality, and other content made available by Mentored by Mutts LLC, is owned by or licensed to Mentored by Mutts LLC and is protected by United States and international intellectual property laws.

Except as expressly permitted by these Terms, no portion of the Service may be copied, reproduced, modified, distributed, sold, licensed, reverse engineered, or otherwise used without the prior written permission of Mentored by Mutts LLC.

15. Trademarks

"Mentored by Mutts," the Mentored by Mutts name, logos, branding, slogans, graphics, and other identifying marks are trademarks or service marks of Mentored by Mutts LLC or are used under license.

Nothing contained within the Service grants any license or right to use our trademarks without our prior written permission.

All other trademarks, logos, and brand names appearing on the Service remain the property of their respective owners.

16. Copyright

Mentored by Mutts respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects our members to do the same.

If you believe that content appearing on the Service infringes your copyright or other intellectual property rights, please notify us with sufficient information to investigate the matter. We reserve the right to remove allegedly infringing content while claims are reviewed and to terminate accounts of repeat infringers where appropriate.

17. Third-Party Services and Links

The Service may contain links to third-party websites, applications, products, services, advertisements, or nonprofit organizations.

These third-party services operate independently of Mentored by Mutts LLC. We are not responsible for their content, privacy practices, terms of use, availability, or business practices.

Your interactions with third-party organizations are governed by their own policies and agreements.

18. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Mentored by Mutts LLC disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, uninterrupted availability, accuracy, reliability, and freedom from harmful components.

We do not guarantee that the Service will always be available, error-free, secure, or free from interruptions.

19. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Mentored by Mutts LLC, its officers, managers, members, employees, volunteers, contractors, licensors, nonprofit partners, and service providers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or relating to your use of, or inability to use, the Service.

Our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Service shall not exceed the greater of one hundred U.S. dollars (US $100) or the amount you paid directly to Mentored by Mutts LLC during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability. In those jurisdictions, portions of this section may not apply to you.

20. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Mentored by Mutts LLC, its officers, managers, members, employees, contractors, volunteers, licensors, nonprofit partners, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• your use of the Service;
• your content;
• your violation of these Terms;
• your violation of applicable law; or
• your infringement of the rights of another person or organization.

21. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

22. Dispute Resolution

Before filing legal action, we encourage you to contact Mentored by Mutts LLC so we may attempt to resolve the matter informally and in good faith.

Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any legal action relating to these Terms or the Service shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Florida, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

23. Changes to These Terms

Mentored by Mutts LLC may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our business, the Service, technology, legal requirements, or community needs.

When material changes are made, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the beginning of these Terms and may provide additional notice where appropriate.

When changes materially affect your rights or obligations, we may require you to affirmatively accept the revised Terms before continuing to use the Service. If you do not accept revised Terms when acceptance is required, you may no longer be able to access some or all of the Service.

24. Reservation of Rights

Mentored by Mutts LLC reserves all rights not expressly granted under these Terms.

25. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

26. Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent.

Mentored by Mutts LLC may assign or transfer these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, corporate restructuring, sale of assets, or other business transaction.

27. Survival

Any provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination of your account or your use of the Service shall remain in effect, including, but not limited to, ownership provisions, licenses, disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification obligations, dispute resolution provisions, and other applicable sections.

28. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy and any additional policies or guidelines expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and Mentored by Mutts LLC regarding your use of the Service and supersede all prior understandings relating to the Service.

29. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms or our Privacy Policy?

Give us a Paw Scratch.

Mentored by Mutts LLC 600 Cleveland Street, Suite 377, Clearwater, Florida 33755

Phone: (813) 834-2210 Email: pawscratch@mentoredbymutts.com Website: www.mentoredbymutts.com