Terms of Service
GoodPaws India

Introduction

Welcome to GoodPaws — India's trusted marketplace for verified puppies and kittens. GoodPaws is operated by ThePetNest Private Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 ("GoodPaws", "we", "us", or "our").

GoodPaws operates the website goodpaws.in and associated digital properties (collectively, the "Platform"). Our Platform enables prospective pet buyers to discover verified pet listings, connect with responsible breeders and sellers, and receive guidance from our Pet Advisor team — all at zero cost to buyers.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the GoodPaws Platform. They apply to all users, whether you are browsing as a visitor, registered as a buyer, or listed as a verified seller on our platform. Our Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

These Terms are governed by the laws of India, including the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the Contract Act, 1872. Any dispute arising out of these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Delhi, India.

1. Scope of the GoodPaws Platform

1.1 What GoodPaws Is

GoodPaws is a technology-enabled marketplace that connects prospective pet buyers with verified breeders and sellers of puppies and kittens across India. Our platform provides listing infrastructure, Pet Advisor guidance, and a verification framework designed to make the pet-buying process safer and more transparent for all parties.

1.2 What GoodPaws Is Not

GoodPaws is not a breeder, seller, or animal dealer. We do not own, breed, sell, or take possession of any pets listed on our platform at any time. GoodPaws does not act as a broker or agent for any pet transaction. All sales and transfers of ownership are direct arrangements between the buyer and the verified seller.

1.3 Verification Does Not Mean Guarantee

When we describe a seller or listing as "verified" or "GoodPaws Verified," this means that the seller has completed our onboarding process, which includes review of documentation and health records provided by the seller. It is not, however, an independent veterinary certification or a guarantee of the pet's long-term health. GoodPaws relies on the accuracy of documentation submitted by sellers and cannot independently verify every claim made in a listing.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

2.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least 18 years of age to use GoodPaws and to enter into any pet transaction facilitated through our platform. By using GoodPaws, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under Indian law.

2.2 Account Registration

Some features of GoodPaws may require you to register an account. When registering, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. If you become aware of any unauthorised use of your account, notify us immediately at trust@goodpaws.in.

2.3 One Account Per Person

Each individual or business entity may maintain only one account on GoodPaws. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent a suspension, bypass our verification process, or gain an unfair advantage on the platform is a material breach of these Terms and will result in permanent removal from the platform.

3. Using the GoodPaws Platform

3.1 Permitted Uses

You may use GoodPaws to browse pet listings, submit enquiries about specific pets, communicate with our Pet Advisor team, create a seller account, and access pet care information and resources published on our platform. All use must be for lawful personal or business purposes and in accordance with these Terms.

3.2 Your Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for any actions you take on the GoodPaws platform and for any consequences arising from those actions. This includes verifying the suitability of a pet for your household, understanding the care requirements of the breed you are considering, and ensuring that you can meet the financial and time commitment involved in responsible pet ownership.

3.3 Accuracy of Information

You agree to provide accurate and truthful information in all interactions with GoodPaws and with other platform users. Providing false or misleading information — whether in an enquiry, a listing, or a review — is a violation of these Terms and may result in account suspension or legal action.

4. Listings and Content Standards

4.1 Listing Requirements

All pet listings on GoodPaws must include accurate information about the breed, age, sex, health status, and location of the pet. Sellers must provide genuine photographs of the individual pet being listed. Using stock images, images of different pets, or manipulated photographs is strictly prohibited.

4.2 Health Documentation

Sellers are required to ensure that all health records provided in connection with a listing — including vaccination records, deworming records, and veterinary health certificates — are genuine, accurate, and current. GoodPaws reserves the right to request original documentation at any time and to remove listings where documentation cannot be verified.

4.3 Pricing Transparency

The price displayed on each listing must be the true and final price agreed upon between the seller and the buyer. Sellers may not add undisclosed charges after a buyer has expressed interest. Any additional costs — such as transport, microchipping, or registration fees — must be clearly disclosed upfront in the listing description.

4.4 GoodPaws Content Review

GoodPaws reserves the right to review, edit, or remove any listing that does not comply with our content standards or these Terms. We may remove listings that contain misleading health claims, inaccurate breed descriptions, inappropriate pricing, or any content that we determine, in our sole discretion, is harmful to buyers or to the welfare of animals.

5. Terms Specific to Buyers

5.1 No Fees for Buyers

Using GoodPaws to browse listings, submit enquiries, and connect with verified sellers is entirely free for buyers. We do not charge any commission, platform fee, or finder's fee to buyers at any stage of the process. If anyone claiming to represent GoodPaws asks you for a platform fee or buyer's commission, please report this immediately.

5.2 In-Person Meetings

GoodPaws strongly recommends that all buyers meet the pet in person before completing any transaction. Our Pet Advisor team facilitates in-person meetings as a standard part of our process. We advise buyers never to make full payment for a pet without first meeting the animal and reviewing all documentation in person.

5.3 Buyer Due Diligence

While GoodPaws takes reasonable steps to verify sellers and listings, the ultimate responsibility for evaluating a pet's suitability, health, and condition lies with the buyer. We recommend that all buyers:

• Request to see the original health and vaccination records of the pet.
• Conduct an independent veterinary examination of the pet before completing the purchase.
• Meet the pet's mother (dam) where possible, as this is the most reliable indicator of temperament and health.
• Avoid making advance payments to sellers through unverified payment channels.
• Never transfer money based solely on photographs or video calls without an in-person meeting.

5.4 Buyer Complaints

If you believe a seller has misrepresented a pet or engaged in fraudulent conduct, please report this to us immediately at trust@goodpaws.in. We investigate all complaints and will take appropriate action, including removing the seller from our platform where warranted. Note that GoodPaws is not a party to the transaction and cannot issue refunds on behalf of sellers.

6. Terms Specific to Sellers and Breeders

6.1 Seller Eligibility and Verification

To list pets on GoodPaws, sellers must complete our verification process, which includes providing valid identity documentation, accurate business or personal details, and genuine health records for the pets listed. GoodPaws reserves the right to reject any seller application at our discretion.

6.2 Legal Compliance

Sellers are solely responsible for ensuring that their breeding and selling activities comply with all applicable Indian laws, including any state-level regulations governing the sale of pets, breeding licences required in their jurisdiction, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 provisions. GoodPaws does not provide legal advice. Sellers should seek independent legal counsel to understand their obligations.

6.3 Animal Welfare Standards

All sellers on GoodPaws must adhere to basic animal welfare standards. Pets listed on our platform must be raised in humane conditions, receive appropriate veterinary care, be of the minimum age permitted for separation from their mother (typically 8 weeks for puppies and 10 weeks for kittens), and not be obtained through puppy or kitten mills. GoodPaws may remove any listing where we have reason to believe animal welfare standards are not being met.

6.4 Seller Accuracy Obligations

Sellers agree that all information provided to GoodPaws — including breed, age, health status, parentage, and documentation — is accurate to the best of their knowledge. Providing false information constitutes a material breach of these Terms and may result in permanent removal from the platform, forfeiture of any listing privileges, and referral to appropriate authorities.

6.5 No Exclusivity

Listing on GoodPaws does not create any exclusivity arrangement. Sellers may list on other platforms simultaneously, provided that any pet marked as available on GoodPaws is genuinely available and is updated promptly once sold.

7. Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited on the GoodPaws platform. Engaging in any prohibited activity may result in immediate account suspension, removal of all listings, and, where appropriate, referral to law enforcement.

• Listing pets sourced from puppy mills, kitten mills, or any operation that keeps breeding animals in inhumane conditions.
• Providing false, misleading, or fabricated health documentation, vaccination records, or breed papers.
• Impersonating another person, business, or brand on the platform.
• Using GoodPaws to facilitate the sale of protected or endangered species, or any animal whose sale is prohibited under Indian or international law.
• Collecting deposits or advance payments from buyers and subsequently disappearing without completing the transaction (advance fee fraud).
• Creating fake buyer enquiries or fake seller listings to manipulate platform metrics or rankings.
• Harvesting contact information from GoodPaws for unsolicited marketing purposes.
• Introducing malware, viruses, or other harmful code to our platform.
• Scraping, crawling, or otherwise extracting data from GoodPaws without our prior written consent.
• Listing the same pet on multiple listings simultaneously to create a false impression of availability.
• Making false or defamatory statements about other sellers, buyers, or GoodPaws in reviews or communications.

8. Intellectual Property

8.1 GoodPaws IP

All content on the GoodPaws platform that is not submitted by users — including the GoodPaws name, logo, website design, copy, graphics, and underlying code — is the intellectual property of ThePetNest Private Limited and is protected under the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Trade Marks Act, 1999. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from GoodPaws content without our prior written permission.

8.2 User-Submitted Content

By submitting photographs, descriptions, reviews, or any other content to GoodPaws, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, display, and distribute that content on our platform and in our marketing materials for the purpose of operating and promoting GoodPaws. You represent that you own or have the right to grant this licence for all content you submit.

8.3 Copyright Infringement

If you believe that any content on GoodPaws infringes your copyright, please submit a notice of infringement to legal@goodpaws.in with the subject line "Copyright Notice." Your notice should include: a description of the copyrighted work, the URL of the allegedly infringing content, your contact information, and a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorised by the rights holder.

9. Disclaimers

THE GOODPAWS PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE INDIAN LAW, GOODPAWS MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• The health, temperament, breed accuracy, or fitness of any pet listed on the platform.
• The identity, credibility, or conduct of any seller or buyer on the platform.
• The accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any listing information.
• Uninterrupted, error-free, or virus-free access to the GoodPaws platform.
• The suitability of any pet for your specific household, lifestyle, or circumstances.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, GoodPaws (ThePetNest Private Limited) and its directors, officers, employees, agents, and partners shall not be liable for:

• Any loss or damage arising from your reliance on information provided by sellers on the platform.
• Any loss arising from the health condition, behaviour, or death of a pet acquired through our platform.
• Any financial loss arising from a transaction between a buyer and seller — including advance payments made by buyers to sellers.
• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, even if GoodPaws has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
• Any loss arising from temporary or permanent unavailability of the GoodPaws platform.

Where liability cannot be excluded entirely under Indian consumer law, our total aggregate liability to any user for any claim shall not exceed INR 10,000 (ten thousand rupees), or the amount actually paid by you to GoodPaws in connection with the relevant claim, whichever is lower.

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Disputes Between Users

GoodPaws is not a party to any transaction between buyers and sellers. Accordingly, any dispute arising from a pet transaction — including disputes about pet health, payment, or misrepresentation — is a matter between the buyer and the seller. GoodPaws may, at our discretion, offer mediation assistance but is under no obligation to do so.

11.2 Disputes with GoodPaws

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms, or the use of the GoodPaws platform, shall first be referred to our customer support team at legal@goodpaws.in for informal resolution. We commit to responding to all formal dispute notices within 15 business days.

11.3 Arbitration

If informal resolution is unsuccessful, disputes shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The seat of arbitration shall be Delhi, India. Proceedings shall be conducted in English. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding on both parties.

11.4 Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Terms limits any right you may have as a consumer under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. If you are a consumer as defined under that Act, you retain the right to approach the relevant Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission regardless of any arbitration agreement.

12. Termination and Suspension

12.1 By You

You may stop using GoodPaws at any time and may request deletion of your account by emailing support@goodpaws.in. Account deletion requests will be processed within 30 days, subject to any legal retention obligations described in our Privacy Policy.

12.2 By GoodPaws

GoodPaws reserves the right to suspend or permanently terminate your access to the platform, remove any listing, or revoke any seller verification status, with or without prior notice, if we determine that you have violated these Terms, engaged in fraudulent or harmful conduct, or if continued access poses a risk to other users or to the platform's integrity.

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the GoodPaws platform ceases immediately. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination — including intellectual property provisions, disclaimers, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution — shall continue to apply after termination.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them — including non-contractual disputes or claims — shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India.

Subject to the arbitration clause in Section 11, the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Delhi, India, for any disputes that are not resolved through arbitration.

14. Changes to These Terms

GoodPaws may update or revise these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. For material changes — such as changes to dispute resolution procedures or liability limitations — we will provide at least 14 days' notice by posting a prominent notice on the platform or by emailing registered users.

Your continued use of GoodPaws after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you should stop using the platform and request account deletion.

15. Contact and Legal Notices

For all legal notices, formal complaints, or questions about these Terms, please contact us at the details below. We are committed to responding to all formal correspondence within 15 business days.