Version 2.1 · Effective November 11, 2026

Privacy Policy

This policy describes information collected by Wildlife Exchange (the “Marketplace”) and how it is used in the current version of the service.

Information we collect

• Account details such as username, email address, and caretaker display name.
• The Caretaker’s selected account scope and any USDA license reference they provide.
• The Caretaker account scope and each listing’s animal category.
• Optional operation name and description, general location, street address, and public contact information that a Caretaker chooses to enter.
• An optional business photo uploaded by a Caretaker.
• Visibility settings that determine which optional Caretaker details appear publicly.
• An optional Caretaker directory setting and selected state, used to show and organize opted-in operation listings for paid members.
• Transporter account details and business, contact, USDA license, insurance, service-area, animal-handling, and vehicle-capability information entered by transporters or administrators for the member-only Transporter Directory.
• Listing descriptions and photos uploaded by caretakers.
• Information needed to keep you signed in and protect the service, such as session data.
• Subscription identifiers and status needed to provide paid caretaker plans.
• Private message text, conversation participants, listing or transporter references, usernames shown to conversation participants, and message timestamps.
• Private saved Caretaker contacts and direct Caretaker conversation references.

Passwords are stored using Django’s password-hashing system; the Marketplace does not store them as readable text. Stripe Checkout collects and processes payment card details. The Marketplace receives subscription records such as Stripe customer and subscription identifiers and whether a subscription is active; it does not store full payment card numbers.

How we use information

We use account information to create and manage accounts, support listings, review submitted photos, administer USDA license checks, manage subscriptions, operate private messaging, and protect the service. Message content is used to deliver conversations to their participants and may be reviewed by authorized administrators for support, abuse investigation, or legal obligations. Stripe processes subscription payments and provides subscription status updates. USDA license references are private and are not displayed as public listing content.

The public listing shows a Non-USDA Caretaker label and a notice that the account is limited to non-exotic animals. Listing category is also shown publicly. Exotic listings are shown only after the Caretaker’s USDA license is verified by an administrator.

Optional operation details, location, address, and contact information are displayed on public listing pages only when the Caretaker enables the matching sharing setting. A full street address is not shown unless its separate sharing setting is enabled. A business photo is displayed only after an administrator approves it and the Caretaker enables sharing. The account login email is not copied into the public contact field.

A Caretaker can separately opt in to the member-only directory. The directory uses their selected U.S. state to organize search results and shows the business name and description entered for the directory, plus any optional photo, location, address, or contact information allowed by the Caretaker’s corresponding sharing settings. It is available only to users with an active paid Customer membership or Caretaker subscription. Directory access ends when the Caretaker’s listing access ends or they disable directory sharing.

Transporters can create free accounts and enter their profile information, including optional contact and service details. The Transporter Directory is available only to users with an active paid Customer membership or Caretaker subscription. Administrators review the USDA license details and control verification and publication. The directory displays published business and contact details, license reference, and service information to eligible users. Transporter photos appear only after administrator approval. Transporters can opt out of the directory at any time.

Private conversation screens display the account usernames of the participants to each other. They do not display account email addresses.

Caretakers with active access can start conversations with other eligible Caretakers from animal listings, save Caretaker contacts privately, and start direct conversations from their saved contacts. A saved list is visible only to the Caretaker who created it. Optional email, phone, address, and website details in the saved-contacts view appear only when the Caretaker has enabled the corresponding sharing settings.

What visitors can see

When a listing is published, visitors can see its title, species, description, public photos, and—if the Marketplace administrator has manually verified the caretaker’s license reference—the USDA License Verified badge. A Caretaker’s first listing and photos are reviewed together; after the account passes that review, non-exotic listings and photos may publish automatically. Exotic listings remain subject to administrator review. Caretaker login identity, account email, and license reference remain private. Operation name, location, full address, and contact information appear only when the Caretaker enables the corresponding sharing setting. Business photos require initial approval and the Caretaker’s sharing choice.

Signed-in members may report a public animal photo. When a report is submitted, that photo is hidden immediately while an administrator reviews it. The Marketplace stores the report reason, optional details, reporter account, review status, and relevant photo/listing reference to investigate the report and document the outcome.

Paid members can also search the Caretaker directory by state. It contains only Caretakers who explicitly opted in and whose listing access remains active.

Service providers and storage

DigitalOcean provides the application hosting, database, and photo storage used by the Marketplace. These providers process information to operate the service. Photos are stored in a private DigitalOcean Space and are displayed on public pages only when the listing and photo are eligible for publication under the review rules above.

Cookies, sharing, and retention

The site uses session cookies needed for sign-in. The current starter does not include advertising trackers or analytics. We do not sell personal information. We retain account and message information while needed to provide and secure the service, handle disputes, and meet legal obligations; backup copies may persist for a limited period after changes or deletion. Deleting an account may also remove its conversations and messages.

Your choices

You may choose the Non-USDA account scope, which limits your listings to non-exotic animals, or provide a USDA license reference for the USDA-holder scope. You may ask to correct or delete account information, subject to information that must be retained for legal, security, or operational reasons.

Policy updates

We may update this policy as the Marketplace changes. If a change requires renewed acknowledgment, account access will ask you to acknowledge the new version.

Contact

Privacy questions or requests: [email protected].