Privacy Policy for Patica
Last updated: April 30, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Patica ("we," "us," or "our") handles information when you use our mobile application (the "App"), which is designed for social discovery among dog owners.  

1. Information We Collect
To provide the core features of Patica, we collect the following types of information:

Account Information: When you log in via Google Sign-In, we receive your email address and basic profile information to manage your account and identity within the App.  

Location Data: Patica is a discovery app based on proximity. We collect your device's location to power the Radar and Map features, allowing you to discover other dogs nearby. You may provide your GPS location or declare a specific reference point.  
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User-Generated Content: We store information you provide about your "Pack" (Manada), including dog names, breeds, and profiles. Photos uploaded to dog profiles are stored to be displayed in the Discovery feed.  
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Communications: Direct messages sent through our chat feature are stored and cached to facilitate communication between users.  

2. How We Use Information
We use the collected data to:

Maintain your user identity and dog profiles.  

Provide local discovery services via the Radar and Map.  

Deliver real-time chat messages and push notifications.  

Improve App performance through anonymized analytics.  

3. Data Storage and Retention
Local Storage: We use SQLite and AsyncStorage to cache messages, preferences, and location data directly on your device for faster access and offline functionality.  

Cloud Storage: Images and profile data are stored using secure cloud infrastructure (Cloudflare/Firebase) to be accessible to other users according to the App's discovery features.  

Data Pruning: We may implement periodic deletion of old messages or temporary data to optimize server performance.  

4. Third-Party Services
The App integrates with the following third-party services which may handle your data:

Google Sign-In: For secure authentication.  

Firebase (Google): For analytics and push notification delivery.  

Map Providers: Apple Maps (on iOS) and Google Maps (on Android) to render location-based services.  

5. Children's Privacy
Patica is intended for a general audience and does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, we will delete it immediately from our servers.  

6. Changes to This Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our features or legal obligations. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy within the App.  

7. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
hola@patica.app

If you wish to request the deletion of your Patica account and associated data, please contact us at:
account-delete@patica.app