11. ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

This Acceptable Use Policy establishes the rules and standards that apply when using the Paws Garden website, services and communication channels.

Our aim is to maintain a safe, reliable and respectful environment for customers, employees, service providers and other users.

By accessing or using our website, you agree to comply with this policy and with all applicable laws and regulations.

11.1 LAWFUL USE

You must use the Paws Garden website only for lawful purposes.

You must not use our website or services in a way that:

• Violates applicable laws or regulations;

• Infringes another person's rights;

• Facilitates fraud or other unlawful activity;

• Attempts to deceive Paws Garden or other users;

• Interferes with the operation of our website;

• Places our systems, customers or service providers at unnecessary risk.

11.2 PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

Users must not attempt to:

• Gain unauthorised access to our website, systems or accounts;

• Circumvent security measures;

• Introduce malicious software, viruses or harmful code;

• Interfere with website servers or networks;

• Overload or disrupt website infrastructure;

• Access information belonging to another customer;

• Use automated tools to interact with the website in an unauthorised manner;

• Collect personal information from other users without appropriate permission;

• Use the website to distribute unlawful or harmful material.

Any suspected misuse may be investigated and appropriate action may be taken.

11.3 FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES

Customers must not use Paws Garden to facilitate fraudulent transactions or deliberately provide false information.

Examples may include:

• Using another person's payment information without authorisation;

• Creating accounts using false identities for fraudulent purposes;

• Deliberately submitting false claims;

• Attempting to obtain products or refunds through deception;

• Misrepresenting delivery or payment information;

• Using the website as part of another fraudulent scheme.

Where fraudulent activity is reasonably suspected, we may take appropriate steps to protect our business, customers and payment providers.

11.4 ACCOUNT SECURITY

Where customer accounts are available, users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials.

You should:

• Keep passwords confidential;

• Avoid sharing account credentials;

• Use appropriate security measures;

• Notify us if you suspect unauthorised access.

Paws Garden will not normally ask customers to provide their password through ordinary customer support communications.

11.5 WEBSITE INTERFERENCE

Users must not intentionally interfere with the normal operation of our website.

This includes attempts to:

• Disrupt website functionality;

• Circumvent technical restrictions;

• Exploit vulnerabilities;

• Manipulate website processes;

• Interfere with checkout or payment systems;

• Cause excessive or unreasonable technical load.

Security vulnerabilities should be reported responsibly rather than exploited.

11.6 AUTOMATED ACCESS

Unauthorised scraping, crawling, data collection or automated interaction with the Paws Garden website is prohibited where it places unreasonable demands on our systems or violates applicable rights.

This does not prevent legitimate uses of publicly available information where such use is lawful and does not interfere with our website.

11.7 CONTENT SUBMITTED BY USERS

Where Paws Garden allows customers to submit reviews, comments, photographs or other material, users are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are lawful and appropriate.

User-submitted content must not:

• Contain unlawful material;

• Infringe copyright or trade marks;

• Contain threats or harassment;

• Deliberately mislead other users;

• Contain malicious software;

• Infringe another person's privacy;

• Impersonate another person or organisation;

• Promote fraudulent activity.

11.8 REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

Customers are encouraged to provide honest and genuine feedback about their experiences.

Reviews should reflect the customer's actual experience with the relevant product or service.

Users must not knowingly submit false reviews or attempt to manipulate ratings through coordinated or deceptive activity.

We may remove reviews that violate applicable laws or our website rules, subject to any applicable legal requirements.

11.9 COMMUNICATION WITH CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Paws Garden aims to treat customers fairly and respectfully, and we expect the same standard in return.

Customers should not use our communication channels to send:

• Threats;

• Harassment;

• Abusive communications;

• Discriminatory content;

• Deliberately harmful messages;

• Repeated communications intended solely to disrupt customer support.

Where necessary, we may restrict communication methods to protect our employees and service providers.

Such restrictions will not prevent customers from exercising legitimate legal or consumer rights.

11.10 PERSONAL INFORMATION

Users must not attempt to obtain, collect, disclose or misuse another person's personal information through our website.

This includes attempting to access another customer's:

• Name;

• Address;

• Contact information;

• Account information;

• Order information;

• Payment information.

Any personal information obtained accidentally should not be copied, distributed or otherwise misused.

11.11 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Users must respect the intellectual property rights of Paws Garden and third parties.

Unauthorised copying, distribution or commercial exploitation of protected content may violate applicable intellectual property laws.

Additional information can be found in our Intellectual Property Policy.

11.12 THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Our website may contain links or integrations involving third-party services.

Users must comply with applicable rules when using those services.

Paws Garden is not responsible for unlawful activity carried out by users through third-party services merely because those services are accessible through our website.

11.13 ENFORCEMENT

If we reasonably believe that this Acceptable Use Policy has been violated, we may take appropriate action.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Issuing a warning;

• Restricting access to certain features;

• Suspending an account;

• Cancelling an order where legally permitted;

• Removing prohibited content;

• Investigating suspected misuse;

• Reporting serious unlawful activity to appropriate authorities where legally required or reasonably necessary.

Any action taken will be considered in light of the circumstances and applicable law.

11.14 LEGAL RIGHTS

Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict statutory consumer rights or other rights that cannot legally be excluded.

Customers remain entitled to exercise legitimate rights concerning purchases, refunds, cancellations, faulty products, data protection and other matters.

11.15 REPORTING MISUSE

If you believe that our website is being used for fraudulent, unlawful or abusive activity, you may contact Paws Garden using the official contact information provided on our website.

When reporting an issue, provide enough information for us to understand the concern.

Do not attempt to investigate, access accounts or obtain private information yourself.

11.16 CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our website, services, security practices or applicable legal requirements.

The latest version will be published on this page.

11.17 CONTACT US

If you have questions about this Acceptable Use Policy or believe that a violation has occurred, please contact Paws Garden through the official contact information provided on our website.