Eligibility

Pet Rescue New Zealand is intended for use by individuals who are 18 years of age or older. By accessing or registering with our website, you confirm that you meet this age requirement and have the legal capacity to form a binding contract.

We do not knowingly collect or permit the use of our services by individuals under the age of 18. If it is discovered that a minor has registered or used the site, we reserve the right to immediately delete the account and remove any associated content.

Parents or legal guardians are responsible for monitoring their children’s internet usage and ensuring that minors do not engage with our platform. If you are using this site on behalf of an organization or another individual, you warrant that you are authorized to do so.

Account Registration

To use certain features of Pet Rescue New Zealand, such as creating pet listings or messaging other users, you may need to create an account. When registering, you agree to provide accurate, complete, and current information as requested on the registration form. Providing false or misleading information may result in the suspension or termination of your account.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login credentials. This includes your email address and password. You must take all reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to your account. If you suspect that your account has been compromised, you must notify us immediately via our contact page or support email.

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account, including listings submitted and messages sent, even if those actions were not taken by you directly. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate any account at our discretion, especially if there is evidence of misuse, suspicious behavior, or violation of our policies.

User-Generated Content

Our website allows users to post a wide variety of content, including pet adoption listings, images, comments, descriptions, and reviews. You understand that by submitting content to the website, you are entirely responsible for it. You must ensure that your content is accurate, truthful, lawful, and appropriate for public viewing.

You may not post or share any content that is offensive, misleading, defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, pornographic, or otherwise in violation of New Zealand law or international standards. Content that promotes violence, hate speech, or animal cruelty is strictly prohibited.

Pet Rescue New Zealand does not actively monitor or pre-screen user content but reserves the right to remove, modify, or report content at any time if it is found to violate these terms or present a risk to users. By posting content on our site, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, copy, distribute, display, and publish your content in connection with the operation and promotion of the platform.

Responsible Use of the Website

All users of Pet Rescue New Zealand agree to use the website in a responsible, ethical, and lawful manner. You may not use the site to commit fraud, impersonate others, or engage in any conduct that could damage the website, its users, or its reputation.

You may not introduce viruses, malware, or engage in any form of hacking, phishing, or tampering with the security of the site. You are also prohibited from using automated scripts or bots to interact with the platform, unless given express permission to do so.

Additionally, you must not use our website for purposes unrelated to pet adoption, including commercial advertising, promotion of unrelated services, or spam communication. We aim to maintain a safe, respectful, and constructive environment and may block or report any user who violates this principle.

Scam Listings and Fraud Prevention

Pet Rescue New Zealand does not verify each listing or the identity of every user. As such, we cannot guarantee that every listing is legitimate. While we take pet scam reports seriously and act on complaints promptly, it is your responsibility to perform due diligence when interacting with others on the platform.

If someone claims to offer a pet for free but requests payment for transport, crates, or “refundable” services, proceed with caution. A common scam involves asking for payment through gift vouchers, cryptocurrency, or unusual third-party payment services. These should be treated as red flags.

You should always insist on speaking directly with the listing owner, ask questions, request recent photos or videos, and attempt to meet the pet in person if possible. Reverse image search tools can be helpful to identify if photos are stolen or reused from other websites.

We strongly encourage you to report any suspicious listings or messages to us immediately. While we will remove pet scam listings and suspend offending accounts, we are not responsible for financial or emotional losses resulting from fraudulent activity on the platform. For more inormation please check out some of the diffrent types of pet scams in New Zealand here 

No Guarantee of Adoption or Rehoming Outcome

Pet Rescue New Zealand provides a platform for connecting people but does not get involved in individual arrangements. We do not guarantee that:

• Pet listings will result in successful adoptions,

• Potential adopters will follow through on their intentions,

• Pets are accurately described or suitable for your needs.

Each interaction is between private individuals. We do not act as intermediaries, nor do we inspect pets, verify ownership, or provide background checks. As such, any agreement to adopt, surrender, or transport an animal is made entirely at your own risk and responsibility.

We are not liable for any disputes that may arise between users, including those involving miscommunication, failed arrangements, or disagreements over animal welfare. You should use your best judgment and take all necessary precautions before making any commitments.

Intellectual Property

The design, structure, text, graphics, logos, images, and software that make up this website are the property of Pet Rescue New Zealand unless stated otherwise. These elements are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws under New Zealand and international legislation.

You may use the website for personal, non-commercial purposes only. You are not allowed to copy, modify, reproduce, or redistribute content from this site without prior written permission. This includes both the content we create and the content provided by users.

However, any content you upload — such as pet listings, descriptions, or photographs — remains your property. By posting it on our site, you give us permission to use it for promotional or operational purposes, including featuring listings on our homepage, sharing them on social media, or improving our services.

Third-Party Links

Our website may include links to other websites operated by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience and may offer products, services, or information related to pet care, animal welfare, or community services.

Pet Rescue New Zealand is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of these third-party websites. Clicking on these links takes you away from our platform, and we do not control the terms of use of those external sites.

We encourage you to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party site before providing personal information or making a transaction. Your use of any linked site is at your own risk.

Termination of Access

We reserve the right to terminate, suspend, or restrict your access to Pet Rescue New Zealand at any time. This may happen with or without prior notice if we believe that you have violated these terms, acted fraudulently, or caused harm to other users or the website.

Termination may include deletion of your account, removal of listings or content, and restriction of your ability to access or interact with the platform in the future. We may also take legal action where necessary.

If your account is terminated, you are no longer permitted to create a new account or attempt to use the site under a different identity unless given explicit permission to do so.

Disclaimer of Warranties

The services provided on this website are offered “as is” and “as available.” We do not guarantee that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or always available. Access may be affected by maintenance, updates, or technical issues beyond our control.

We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of listings or user content. Pet Rescue New Zealand does not promise that the information posted by users is correct, nor do we warrant the outcomes of using our services.

By using this website, you accept that your use is entirely at your own risk and that you are responsible for verifying any information or listings before acting on them.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Pet Rescue New Zealand is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages resulting from your use of the site. This includes financial losses, missed opportunities, emotional distress, injury, or property damage arising from:

• Inaccurate listings or user content,

• Fraudulent behavior,

• Misuse of the platform,

• System outages or data loss.

We are not responsible for interactions between users, and we are not party to any transaction or adoption agreement. If you suffer harm due to another user or because of an issue on the platform, your sole remedy is to discontinue use of the site.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Pet Rescue New Zealand, its owners, directors, volunteers, and partners from any claims, damages, or expenses that arise from your use of the website. This includes:

• Content you post,

• Your violation of any law or third-party rights,

• Any harm you cause to another user.

This obligation survives the termination of your account or use of the site.

Not a Registered Charity

Pet Rescue New Zealand is not a registered charitable organization. We are an independent, community-driven platform operating through private funding, advertising partnerships, and user donations.

All funds collected are used to maintain and improve the website, including hosting, development, moderation, and technical support. We are not affiliated with any government agency, and we do not receive public grants.

We are committed to transparency and encourage users to support us if they find the service helpful. Your support directly helps us keep the platform running and accessible for all.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any dispute or claim arising from the use of the website or these terms shall be resolved in a New Zealand court of law. By using our services, you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.

Changes to Terms

We may update or revise these terms at any time. If we do, we will update the effective date listed at the top of this page.

You are responsible for reviewing the terms regularly. By continuing to use the site after changes have been posted, you agree to the revised terms.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, or if you need to report abuse, scams, or content violations, please get in touch with us.

You can email us at support@petrescue.org.nz or use our contact form on the website at https://www.petrescue.org.nz/contact

We appreciate your help in making Pet Rescue New Zealand a safe and supportive space for all.