Dog Poop Health Check (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is operated by Innovative Online Industries. This policy explains how the Dog Poop Health Check app and our website handle information. It covers the app’s dog profiles, health journal, canine stool-photo screening, reports, and subscriptions.
1. Information We Handle
Depending on the features you use, we may handle:
- Dog and journal information: dog names, breed, age, weight, medical and medication records, vaccination and treatment dates, journal entries, and health events you enter.
- Photos and analysis information: stool images you choose to analyze, canine fecal scores, visible observations, confidence estimates, recommendations, and analysis history.
- AI request context: when you request a new analysis, up to five recent analysis summaries for the selected dog. Each summary may include its status, canine fecal score, and a short text summary.
- Anonymous service identifier and technical information: Firebase creates or uses an anonymous user ID to authenticate AI requests. Firebase services may process request metadata such as IP address, app/device information, App Check signals, and service diagnostics for request delivery, security, abuse prevention, and reliability.
- Website or support messages: if you contact us by email or use a website contact form, we receive the contact details and message you choose to provide.
- Subscription information: Apple processes payments. The app receives subscription entitlement/status information needed to provide purchased features; we do not receive your full payment card details.
The app does not require a user-facing account or login. Dog profile and journal information is not sent with an AI request. The AI request does not include your dog’s name/profile or Firebase user ID when it is forwarded to OpenAI.
2. How We Use Information
We use information to:
- provide the stool-photo screening and return its result;
- save, display, sync, and manage dog profiles, records, journal entries, and analysis history;
- create reports and share or export them when you choose;
- provide reminders and calendar features you enable;
- process subscriptions through Apple;
- protect, maintain, and troubleshoot the app and its services; and
- respond to support and privacy requests.
The app does not use your information for advertising or cross-app tracking. We do not sell or rent personal information.
3. AI Analysis and Service Providers
When you select a photo and request analysis, the app removes image metadata, resizes/compresses the image, and sends it with up to five recent analysis summaries to a Firebase Cloud Function hosted in Australia. Firebase Authentication supplies an anonymous user ID for the request, and Firebase App Check helps verify that requests come from the app.
The Firebase function forwards the photo and summaries to OpenAI’s API to generate the screening result. It does not forward the Firebase user ID or your dog’s name/profile. The request uses OpenAI’s Responses API with response storage disabled (store: false). This prevents the response from being stored as application state for later retrieval; it does not disable OpenAI’s abuse-monitoring logs. OpenAI says API abuse-monitoring logs may include prompts, responses, and related metadata and are generally retained for up to 30 days, unless a longer period is required by law or reasonably necessary for safety or security. OpenAI states that API data is not used to train models by default.
Our Firebase function does not intentionally save submitted photos or analysis results as app records. Firebase may process technical information to operate and secure its services. Google states that Cloud Functions uses IP addresses temporarily to provide the service, and Firebase Authentication may keep logged IP addresses for a few weeks. When an anonymous Firebase account is deleted, other associated authentication information is removed from live and backup systems within 180 days, according to Google’s current documentation.
4. Storage and Retention
- On your device: app records and images are stored locally so you can use and review them.
- iCloud: when iCloud is available and enabled on your device, supported dog profiles, health records, journal entries, analysis history, and photos sync through the app’s private CloudKit database associated with your Apple Account. Apple handles iCloud data under its terms and privacy policy.
- AI service: the app’s Firebase backend does not intentionally retain submitted photos or results as app records. OpenAI’s API processing and abuse-monitoring retention are described above.
- Firebase service data: Firebase may retain technical and authentication data for the periods described in its service documentation. The anonymous Firebase account can be deleted from the app.
- Support messages: we keep messages for as long as needed to respond, handle follow-up, and meet legal or security obligations.
Saved local and iCloud records remain until you delete them. Deleting the app may remove local copies but does not necessarily delete records already synced to iCloud. Deletions made in the app sync to iCloud when the device is online and signed in.
5. Sharing and Disclosure
We share information only as needed to provide the features you request:
- with Firebase and OpenAI for requested AI analysis and service security;
- with Apple iCloud/CloudKit when sync is available;
- with Apple to process subscriptions; and
- with other people only when you choose to export or share a report.
We may also disclose information when required by law or when reasonably necessary to protect the safety, rights, and security of users, the service, or others.
6. Your Choices and Requests
- You choose whether to use the camera or select a photo. You can continue using manual journal and record features without requesting AI analysis.
- AI processing occurs when you request analysis. You can stop future AI processing by not submitting photos for analysis.
- You can review and edit saved records in the app, delete supported records there, and export reports using the app’s sharing features.
- Delete the anonymous AI service account: go to Settings → Account & Privacy → Delete Account. This deletes the Firebase Authentication account used for AI requests. It does not delete dog profiles, journal entries, photos, analyses, or other records stored locally or in iCloud, and it does not cancel an Apple subscription. A new anonymous account is created if you request AI analysis again.
- Manage or cancel an Apple subscription in your Apple Account subscription settings.
For privacy requests or help, email support@dogpoophealthcheck.app. We will respond to requests in accordance with applicable law. Provider-held information may remain subject to the provider’s retention, safety, and legal requirements.
7. Children’s Privacy
The app is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided information to us, contact us at support@dogpoophealthcheck.app.
8. International Processing
The app is offered internationally. AI requests are processed by Firebase in Australia and OpenAI in locations where OpenAI and its service providers operate. iCloud data is processed by Apple under your Apple Account. Privacy protections and laws may differ between countries.
9. Security
We use measures such as HTTPS, iOS file protection, Apple’s private CloudKit database, Firebase Authentication and App Check, and server-side storage for the OpenAI API key. These measures help protect information but cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the app or its data practices change. We will post the updated policy with a revised effective date. Please review it periodically.
11. Contact
For questions about this policy or privacy requests, contact:
Dog Poop Health Check
Email: support@dogpoophealthcheck.app
Website: dogpoophealthcheck.app