Terms of use
As of November 20261. Provider
Shelter Friend is provided by Ioannis Kousidis, Obol Forge, Hindenburgstr. 62, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany (“we”). Contact: [email protected]
2. What Shelter Friend is
Shelter Friend is a free platform where animal shelters and helpers can find and contact each other. We only put people in touch. We are neither a contracting party nor an employment agency, and as a rule we do not check users, listings or details. A “Verified” tick only means that we have checked that an organisation exists.
All arrangements about placements, in particular period, tasks, accommodation, meals, travel, pay, insurance and working conditions, are made directly between shelter and helper at their own responsibility. They are themselves responsible for complying with the law, for example on work, residence, taxes and animal welfare.
Donations in kind (e.g. food, blankets, supplies) are likewise handed over directly between donor and recipient. We are not involved, do not check the goods and give no guarantee for their condition, shelf life, suitability or delivery. Donations are free of charge; selling goods via Shelter Friend is not allowed.
3. Account
You need an account to use the app. You must be at least 18 years old. Your details must be true. Only someone authorised to act for a shelter may create an account for it.
Keep your password secret. You are responsible for everything that happens through your account.
4. Rules of conduct: zero tolerance
We do not tolerate objectionable content or abuse. In particular the following is forbidden: unlawful content; insults, threats, harassment and bullying; hate speech and discrimination; sexual or pornographic content; depictions of violence or animal cruelty; selling or trading animals; spam, advertising and chain letters; false details, fake profiles and fraud; collecting other users’ data; content that infringes the rights of others, such as photos without permission.
You can report and block content and people in the app. Blocked people can no longer message you and you no longer see their listings. We review reports promptly, usually within 24 hours, remove inadmissible content and ban people who break these rules.
5. Your content
The rights to your texts and photos remain yours. You allow us to show them in the app, to translate them automatically for other users and to store and process them technically for this purpose as long as they are published in the app. You may only upload content for which you hold the necessary rights. Recognisable people in photos must agree.
6. Availability
We strive for smooth operation but cannot guarantee constant availability. We may change, extend or discontinue features.
7. Liability
We are liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, for injury to life, body or health and under the German Product Liability Act. In case of slight negligence we are only liable for breach of an essential contractual obligation, limited to the foreseeable, typical damage.
We are not responsible for the content, details and behaviour of other users, nor for anything that happens between users during placements, as we are not involved in them.
Donor and recipient alone are responsible for donations in kind, in particular their condition, shelf life and suitability for animals, and for their handover or shipping.
8. Ending use
You can delete your account in the app at any time. We may remove content and suspend accounts temporarily or permanently if these terms or the law are broken.
9. Changes
We may change these terms if the app or the law changes. We will inform you of significant changes in good time in the app. If you do not agree, you can delete your account.
10. Law and dispute resolution
German law applies. Mandatory consumer protection rules of the country where you habitually reside remain unaffected.
We are neither willing nor obliged to take part in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.