Privacy Policy

Last updated October 22, 2026

iLostPet helps neighbors find lost pets and reunite found ones. This policy explains what we collect, why, who can see it, and the choices you have. iLostPet is run by Lindsay and Associates in Nebraska, USA ("we").

What we collect

Your account: email address, name, password (stored only as a secure hash, never readable), and optionally a phone number.
Location: the home location you set, used to show nearby pets and send nearby alerts. If you allow it, the app also uses your device's current location to center searches; we don't keep a history of it.
What you post: pets, lost and found reports, sightings, photos, the place and time an animal was lost or seen, microchip numbers, and any contact phone number you add to a report.
Alerts: your notification settings (types, distance, quiet hours, time zone) and a push token so Apple or Google can deliver alerts to your phone.
Email alerts without an account: if you sign up on the website for emails about lost and found pets, your email address, the area you chose (a ZIP code, a city or where you are) and how far to look. Nothing is sent until you open the confirm link we email you.
Messages and reports to moderators: the private messages you send and receive, who you've blocked, and, if you report a post or message, who reported it, the reason and any details.
Technical data: your IP address and basic request details, kept briefly in server logs and used to block password guessing and abuse.

We don't use advertising trackers or analytics, and we don't sell or rent your information to anyone.

Who can see what

Anyone, including people without an account and search engines, can see open lost and found reports and sightings on the public map, city pages and share links: the animal's details and photos, and when and where it was lost or seen. Found pets and sightings are shown at an approximate spot.
Other iLostPet users can see your reports and sightings: the animal's details and photos, where and when it was lost or seen. Your display name and any contact phone you put on a report are only shown to you and iLostPet's moderators; others see you as "the owner" or "the finder". Only post what you're comfortable sharing; a nearby landmark is often better than an exact address.
Owners of matching pets: if a found animal's microchip number matches a lost report, both people are alerted so they can connect.
Moderators can see reported posts and the reasons given, and can hide or remove posts.
Private messages are seen only by the two people in the conversation. If someone reports a message, moderators see that message and the few before it, so they can act on scams and harassment.
Your name, email address, home location and account phone number are not shown to other users.

Services we use

Amazon Web Services hosts our server, database and backups in the United States.
Cloudflare carries traffic between your device and our server.
Apple Push Notification service delivers alerts to iPhones, and Google Firebase Cloud Messaging delivers them to Android phones.
An email delivery service sends sign-up codes, password-reset codes, account notices and email alerts.
Maps: the website loads map images from OpenStreetMap, the iPhone app uses Apple Maps, and the Android app uses Google Maps. These services see the area of the map being viewed. To list nearby vets, shelters and dog parks in Pet Life, we search Apple Maps around your approximate location; your name and account aren't sent.
Shop links: some links to pet retailers are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission. Once you follow one, that retailer's own privacy policy applies.

We may also share information if the law requires it, or to protect people or animals from harm, such as fraud involving a lost-pet post.

How long we keep it

We keep your account and posts until you delete them or your account. Backups are kept for up to 60 days, so deleted information disappears from them within 60 days. Server logs are kept for a short time and then removed. Email alert sign-ups are kept until you stop them; ones never confirmed are deleted after 7 days.See how to delete your account.

Your choices

Edit or delete any report, pet or photo you posted, at any time.
Change your alert settings, or turn notifications off in your device's settings.
Stop email alerts with the link at the bottom of any alert email. This deletes your email address and area.
Delete your account from your Profile (website or app). This permanently removes your account, pets, reports, photos, messages, and sightings others added to your reports.
Email [email protected] to ask for a copy of your information or for help with anything in this policy.

Children

iLostPet is not meant for children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect information from them.

Security

Connections are encrypted (HTTPS), passwords are hashed, and access to the server is restricted. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a password you don't use anywhere else.

Changes

If we make important changes to this policy, we'll update the date above and let you know in the app.

Questions? Email [email protected]. Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Delete your account