Acceptable Use Policy


Acceptable Use Policy — All Paws Directory
Last Updated: 19 November 2025

This Acceptable Use Policy sets out the rules for using www.allpawsdirectory.co.uk (“the site”). By using the site, you agree to follow these standards.

  1. General Conduct
    You must:
    • Use the site lawfully
    • Treat other users respectfully
    • Provide accurate information
    • Follow UK laws, including advertising, animal welfare, and consumer protection regulations

You must not:
• Misuse any part of the site
• Engage in unlawful or fraudulent activity
• Attempt to bypass security controls
• Harm, threaten, or harass any user or business
• Upload harmful files or code

  1. Prohibited Content
    You must not upload, post, or share:
    • Illegal, harmful, or abusive content
    • Discriminatory, hateful, or offensive material
    • Defamatory comments about individuals or businesses
    • Pornographic or violent material
    • Inaccurate, misleading, or fraudulent claims
    • Copyrighted material without permission
    • Fake reviews or endorsements
    • Misleading pricing or service descriptions
    • Content encouraging unsafe animal care practices
  2. Business Listing Requirements
    Businesses must:
    • Provide accurate and honest information
    • Display their Animal Activity Licence number (where legally required)
    • Keep all listing information updated
    • Only list services they legally provide
    • Ensure all uploaded images and documents belong to them
    • Respond professionally to user enquiries

You must not:
• Misrepresent qualifications
• Claim to be licensed or insured if you are not
• Create multiple duplicate listings
• Hide required legal information
• Promote unrelated or prohibited services

  1. Verification Documentation
    When submitting documents for the Verified Listing badge, you must ensure:
    • Documents are genuine and unaltered
    • All information is correct at the time submitted
    • Insurance is valid and covers your service type
    • Your council licence is current, if applicable
    • You update us if documents expire or change
    • You do not submit any forged, altered, or misleading documents

Breaches may result in the removal of your verification badge, suspension, or permanent banning.

  1. Reviews and User Contributions
    Users may submit reviews provided they:
    • Are truthful and based on genuine experiences
    • Do not contain personal attacks
    • Do not disclose private personal data
    • Are not incentivised, purchased, or fabricated
    • Are not abusive, defamatory, threatening, or inappropriate

We reserve the right to remove any review that violates these rules.

  1. Security and System Misuse
    You must not:
    • Upload viruses, malware, worms, or malicious code
    • Attempt to hack, disrupt, or overload the site
    • Reverse-engineer or probe security systems
    • Attempt to gain access to restricted areas
    • Use bots, scraping tools, crawlers, or automated scripts to collect data

Any attempt to harvest directory listings or copy database content is strictly prohibited.

  1. Use of Automated Tools
    You must not use automated systems to:
    • Create accounts
    • Submit listings
    • Extract data
    • Spam users or businesses
    • Manipulate search or ranking results
  2. Protection of Users and Animals
    You must not:
    • Offer illegal services
    • Advertise unsafe or unethical animal care services
    • Provide false veterinary or behavioural advice
    • Offer activities prohibited by Animal Welfare Regulations
    • Share harmful or dangerous recommendations
  3. Enforcement and Penalties
    We may take any action necessary, including:
    • Removing content
    • Editing listings
    • Suspending accounts
    • Permanently banning users or businesses
    • Removing Verified status
    • Reporting unlawful behaviour to authorities
  4. Reporting Violations
    If you see any content or behaviour that breaks this Policy, email us at:
    pawsup@allpawsdirectory.co.uk
  5. Updates to This Policy
    We may revise this Policy at any time. Updates will be published with a new “Last Updated” date.