COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Effective Date: January 15, 2025

WELCOME TO THE BPETIT COMMUNITY

BPetit is a community of pet lovers dedicated to helping each other provide the best care for our beloved companions. These Community Guidelines help ensure our community remains safe, supportive, and respectful for everyone.

By participating in the BPetit community, you agree to follow these guidelines. Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent ban.

1. BE RESPECTFUL AND KIND

Treat Others with Respect

  • Be courteous and considerate in all interactions
  • Respect differing opinions and experiences
  • Use constructive language, even when disagreeing
  • Remember there's a real person behind every screen name

Zero Tolerance for Harassment

We do NOT tolerate:

  • Bullying, harassment, or targeted attacks
  • Hate speech or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic
  • Threats, intimidation, or incitement to violence
  • Doxxing (publishing private information without consent)
  • Stalking or unwanted contact after being asked to stop

2. NO MEDICAL OR VETERINARY ADVICE

Why This Matters

Providing unqualified medical advice can harm animals and create liability for everyone involved.

What's Allowed

✅ Sharing personal experiences: "When my dog had similar symptoms, my vet diagnosed..." ✅ Suggesting professional help: "That sounds serious - please contact your veterinarian" ✅ Asking for recommendations: "Can anyone recommend a good vet in [city]?"

What's NOT Allowed

❌ Diagnosing conditions: "That's definitely kidney disease" ❌ Prescribing treatments: "Give them this medication at this dosage" ❌ Discouraging veterinary care: "Don't waste money on a vet, just try..." ❌ Representing yourself as a professional if you're not licensed

Medical Emergencies

If someone describes an emergency situation:

  • Strongly urge them to contact a veterinarian immediately
  • Do NOT provide treatment advice
  • Report the post if you believe the animal is in immediate danger

3. KEEP IT RELEVANT

On-Topic Content

BPetit is for pet care discussions. Posts should relate to:

  • Pet health and wellness
  • Training and behavior
  • Nutrition and diet
  • Products and supplies
  • Pet stories and photos
  • Community support

Off-Topic Content

The following are off-topic:

  • Political discussions
  • Religious debates
  • Unrelated personal matters
  • Promotional content (see Section 5)
  • Spam or repetitive posts

4. PROTECT PRIVACY

Your Privacy

  • Do NOT post your personal contact information (phone, address, email)
  • Be cautious about sharing identifying details
  • Use privacy settings to control who sees your information
  • Think before you post - it may be public forever

Others' Privacy

  • Do NOT post personal information about others without consent
  • Do NOT share private conversations or messages
  • Respect confidentiality
  • Do NOT post identifiable photos of people (especially children) without permission

5. NO SPAM OR COMMERCIAL PROMOTION

What's Considered Spam

  • Repeatedly posting the same content
  • Excessive self-promotion
  • Unsolicited advertising
  • Affiliate links without disclosure
  • Multi-level marketing schemes
  • Fake accounts or bot activity

Limited Commercial Activity

Allowed with restrictions:

  • Recommending products you genuinely use (occasional, no affiliate links)
  • Sharing discounts or deals (if genuinely helpful, not excessive)
  • Veterinarians/professionals participating as community members (not advertising services)

NOT allowed:

  • Direct advertising of your business
  • Soliciting clients or customers
  • Posting links to your website/store repeatedly
  • Asking for money or donations (except through official BPetit features, if implemented)

If you're a business: Contact us about official partnerships instead of self-promoting.

6. CONTENT QUALITY AND AUTHENTICITY

Be Authentic

  • Post genuine content and honest opinions
  • Do NOT impersonate others
  • Do NOT create fake accounts or multiple accounts
  • Do NOT manipulate votes/likes with fake accounts

Quality Standards

  • Use clear, descriptive titles for posts
  • Proofread before posting (typos happen, but try your best)
  • Stay on topic within each post/thread
  • Search before posting to avoid duplicates
  • Use appropriate categories/tags

Misinformation

  • Do NOT knowingly post false information
  • Do NOT share debunked myths or conspiracy theories about pet care
  • Cite sources when making factual claims
  • Correct your mistakes if you learn you were wrong

7. APPROPRIATE CONTENT

Prohibited Content

Absolutely NOT allowed:

  • Animal abuse or cruelty (including descriptions, images, or videos)
  • Graphic violence or gore (even if medically relevant - use warnings and mark sensitive)
  • Sexual or pornographic content
  • Illegal activity or encouragement thereof
  • Self-harm or suicide content (if you're in crisis, seek professional help)
  • Dangerous advice that could harm animals or people

Sensitive Content

If posting potentially sensitive content (surgical photos, injuries, death/grief):

  • Mark as sensitive/NSFW
  • Include clear warnings in the title
  • Provide context
  • Consider whether it's necessary

Language

  • Keep language appropriate for a general audience
  • Avoid excessive profanity
  • No slurs or hate speech
  • No sexually explicit language

8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Respect Copyright

  • Only post content you own or have permission to use
  • Do NOT copy/paste entire articles (link with a summary instead)
  • Give credit to original creators
  • Do NOT post copyrighted photos without permission

Fair Use

  • Brief quotes with attribution are generally acceptable
  • Linking to sources is preferred over copying
  • When in doubt, ask permission

Your Content

By posting, you grant BPetit a license to display your content (see Terms of Service). You retain ownership but allow the platform to operate.

9. REPORTING AND MODERATION

How to Report

If you see content that violates these guidelines:

  • Click the "Report" button on the post or comment
  • Select the reason for reporting
  • Provide additional context if helpful
  • Do NOT engage or argue with the violator

What We Review

We investigate reports of:

  • Guideline violations
  • Harassment or threats
  • Spam or scams
  • Illegal activity
  • Animal welfare concerns

Moderation Actions

Depending on severity and history, we may:

  • Issue a warning
  • Remove content
  • Temporarily suspend account
  • Permanently ban account
  • Report to law enforcement (for illegal activity)

False Reports

Do NOT:

  • Report content you simply disagree with
  • File false or malicious reports
  • Abuse the reporting system
  • Retaliate against others through reports

Abuse of the reporting system may result in action against your account.

10. SPECIAL RULES FOR SPECIFIC FEATURES

Lost Pet Posts

  • Only enable for genuinely lost pets
  • Do NOT abuse the emergency contact feature
  • Update immediately when your pet is found
  • Be cautious when meeting strangers

AI Vet Chat

  • Understand it's informational only, not medical advice
  • Do NOT rely on AI for emergencies
  • Verify information with licensed professionals
  • Do NOT post AI responses as your own expert advice

Photos and Media

  • Only post photos of your own pets or those you have permission to share
  • Do NOT post disturbing or graphic images without warnings
  • Respect others' copyright
  • Do NOT post photos that reveal personal information (license plates, addresses, etc.)

11. CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATIONS

Warning System

First offense (minor): Written warning Second offense (minor): Temporary suspension (1-7 days) Third offense (minor): Extended suspension or permanent ban

First offense (major): Immediate temporary or permanent ban

  • Major violations include: harassment, threats, animal abuse, illegal activity

Appeals

If you believe your content was removed or account suspended in error:

  • Email: bpetit.contact@gmail.com
  • Subject: "Appeal - [Your Username]"
  • Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect
  • Include relevant information

We review appeals but decisions are final.

12. ADDITIONAL NOTES

We Reserve the Right To:

  • Remove any content for any reason
  • Suspend or terminate accounts at our discretion
  • Modify these guidelines at any time
  • Take action not explicitly listed here

You Are Responsible For:

  • Everything you post
  • Your account security
  • Compliance with all applicable laws
  • Your interactions with other users

These Guidelines Don't Cover Everything

Use common sense and good judgment. If you're unsure whether something is appropriate, it probably isn't. When in doubt, don't post it or ask us first.

13. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Respect Different Practices

  • Recognize that pet care practices vary across cultures
  • Avoid judging others' cultures or traditions
  • Focus on animal welfare, not cultural superiority
  • Be open to learning different perspectives

Language

  • English is the primary language, but we welcome all languages
  • Be patient with non-native English speakers
  • Do NOT mock accents, grammar, or language skills

14. HEALTHY COMMUNITY BEHAVIORS

We Encourage:

✅ Asking questions - No question is too basic ✅ Sharing success stories - Celebrate wins, big and small ✅ Supporting others - Kind words matter ✅ Constructive feedback - Help others learn and grow ✅ Admitting mistakes - We all make them ✅ Seeking professional help - When in doubt, see a vet ✅ Fact-checking - Verify before sharing ✅ Gratitude - Thank those who help you

We Discourage:

❌ Gatekeeping - "You're not a real pet owner if..." ❌ Shaming - Everyone's doing their best ❌ One-upping - It's not a competition ❌ Unsolicited advice - Offer help, don't force it ❌ Drama - Take conflicts to DMs or move on ❌ Passive aggression - Be direct but kind

15. FOR VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS

If you're a licensed veterinary professional:

  • You're welcome to participate as a community member
  • You MAY share general information and education
  • You MAY correct dangerous misinformation
  • You may NOT diagnose, prescribe, or establish professional relationships through the platform
  • You may NOT advertise your services
  • You must follow your professional ethical guidelines
  • Consider disclosing your professional status (but you're not required to)

Remember: No professional relationship is created through community interactions.

FINAL WORDS

These guidelines exist to protect everyone - animals, users, and the community as a whole. By fostering a respectful, supportive environment, we can create a valuable resource for pet owners worldwide.

If you see something, say something. Report violations and help us maintain community standards.

Be the community member you'd want to interact with. Kindness, respect, and compassion go a long way.

Thank you for being part of BPetit! 🐾

CONTACT

Questions about these guidelines:

Report violations:

Appeals:

© 2025 Manuel Echavarria (BPetit). All rights reserved.

These Community Guidelines supplement our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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