Question 1

What is UnLostPaws?

Accepted Answer

UnLostPaws is an open-source website that helps lost pets get home. You can post a lost or found alert, browse alerts near you, and let our automated matching suggest pets that look alike.

Question 2

Who runs UnLostPaws?

Accepted Answer

Dot Squad Ltd, a private company registered in England and Wales (company number 15906946). We are not a charity. Our full company details are in our Privacy Policy.

Question 3

What is the story behind UnLostPaws?

Accepted Answer

It started when our lead developer's cat, Tedi, went missing. Searching for Tedi showed how scattered and slow the existing tools were, so we built something better for everyone going through the same thing.

Question 4

Is UnLostPaws free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Posting alerts, searching and matching are free, within fair-use limits. Premium is an optional paid yearly subscription. The current price is shown on the Premium page and at checkout.

Question 5

What does Premium include?

Accepted Answer

The Premium page always has the current list. Right now it includes phone verification with a verified badge, the Digital Collar (an emergency QR page for your pet) and higher daily limits. Your subscription also helps us pay for hosting and matching.

Question 6

How do I pay for Premium?

Accepted Answer

You pay Dot Squad Ltd through Stripe. Stripe handles your card details, and we never see or store your full card number.

Question 7

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You have a legal right to cancel within 14 days of buying. On top of that, if you ask within 30 days of any Premium payment, through the contact form or by email, we will normally refund that payment in full. The 30-day refund does not apply if we closed your Premium because of fraud, abuse, a chargeback, a failed payment or a serious breach of our Terms. Your statutory rights are not affected.

Question 8

How do I cancel Premium?

Accepted Answer

Go to your Premium page and choose Manage billing. This opens the Stripe billing portal, where you can cancel at any time. Once cancelled, your subscription won't renew, and the portal shows the date your Premium access ends.

Question 9

Where do Buy Me a Coffee donations go?

Accepted Answer

To our developer personally, not to Dot Squad Ltd. A donation is a voluntary gift. It doesn't buy Premium or any service from the company.

Question 10

How does matching work?

Accepted Answer

When you post an alert, our systems compare its photos and description with other alerts and suggest pets that may be the same animal. Matching is a helpful shortcut, not a guarantee.

Question 11

How accurate is matching?

Accepted Answer

It depends a lot on the photos. Clear, well-lit pictures from more than one angle work best. Always check a suggested match yourself before you contact anyone. We can't promise that every pet will be matched.

Question 12

Do I need an account?

Accepted Answer

You can browse alerts without one. To post an alert, report one, get match emails or buy Premium, you need an account. This helps us keep the site safe and lets us contact you about your alerts.

Question 13

What is the difference between a lost alert and a found alert?

Accepted Answer

A lost alert is posted by an owner whose pet is missing. A found alert is posted by someone who has found or spotted a pet. Clear photos and the place the pet was last seen help people respond.

Question 14

Will I be told about possible matches?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If our matching finds a likely match for one of your alerts, we email you. If you're expecting one, check your spam folder too.

Question 15

Is UnLostPaws open source?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The code is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPL-3.0). Using the website itself is covered by our Terms and Conditions.

Question 16

How can I help build or translate UnLostPaws?

Accepted Answer

Developers can contribute through our public code repository. If you'd like to improve a translation, get in touch through the contact page.

Question 17

How do I avoid scams?

Accepted Answer

Never pay anyone to "release" or return a pet. Meet in a busy public place, ask a vet to scan the microchip if you can, and report any alert that looks suspicious. We don't handle payments between users.

Question 18

How do I report an alert?

Accepted Answer

Sign in and use Report this alert on the alert page. You can also reach us through the contact form or by email. We use automated filters, with some human review, to remove illegal and harmful content, including adult (18+) sexual content. No filter is perfect, so your reports really help. If we remove your content and you think we got it wrong, contact us and we'll look again.

Question 19

Who can see the location on my alert?

Accepted Answer

Everyone. The pin you place is shown publicly on the map, exactly where you put it. Unless it matters for the search, pin a nearby street, park or landmark rather than your home.

Question 20

Is there a minimum age?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You must be at least 13 to use UnLostPaws.

Question 21

How do I delete my account and data?

Accepted Answer

Open your profile and choose Delete my account. This permanently removes your account, alerts, pets and photos. You can also ask us through the contact form or by email, and we'll respond within one month. Copies kept by search engines or other websites may take longer to disappear.

Question 22

Why can I still find my alert on Google after deleting it?

Accepted Answer

Search engines keep their own copies for a while. Once we remove an alert, it drops out of results when the search engine next checks the page. You can speed this up with Google's Remove Outdated Content tool. Digital Collar pages are set to stay out of search results.

Question 23

Which languages are available?

Accepted Answer

English and Farsi (Persian). We may add more over time.

Question 24

How do I contact you?

Accepted Answer

Use our contact form or email hi@dotsquad.net. Both work for support, privacy and refund requests, and complaints.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions