Terms of Use

You must be at least 13 years old (or the minimum age of digital consent in your jurisdiction) to use the Services. If you are under 18, you may use the Services only with the consent of a parent/guardian who agrees to these Terms.

We may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be posted with a new “Effective date.” Your continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.

Your use of the Services is also governed by our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice (collectively, our “Privacy Terms”), which explain what we collect, why, and your choices.

➜ Link your policies: Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice.

• 4.1 Trademarks

  The Love Sees heart-eye logo, EYES FOR MERCY, E4M, and any related names, logos, slogans, or product/service identifiers displayed on this Site are trademarks or service marks of Eyes for Mercy (“E4M”) or its respective owners. These marks may not be used, copied, imitated, or reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from E4M or the applicable rights holder. ou may not use any meta tags or other “hidden text” containing EYES FOR MERCY, E4M, or any other name, trademark, or service identifier of E4M without our prior written consent. The design and presentation of the Site— including page layouts, custom graphics, icons, images, and scripts—constitute the trade dress and proprietary expression of E4M and may not be copied, reproduced, or used without prior written permission. Any reference on this Site to third-party products, services, or organizations does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation unless expressly stated.

• 4.2 Ownership

  All content we publish—text, data, graphics, photographs, video, audio, logos, trademarks, and software—is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by intellectual-property laws.

• 4.3 Your license to use the Site

  We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Services for lawful, non-commercial purposes (or for your personal/professional interest in animal welfare). You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works except as expressly allowed here or by written permission.

• 4.4 No scraping or automated harvesting

  You may not scrape, crawl, collect, or harvest data from the Services (including user data or public records we compile) without our prior written consent, except where permitted by law and by our robots.txt.

• 5.1 General information only

  Our content is provided for general information, advocacy, research, and community awareness. It is not legal, medical, veterinary, or professional advice. If you need advice, consult a qualified professional.

• 5.2 Data sources; public records

  Some information may be derived from public records or third-party sources. We strive for accuracy but cannot guarantee completeness, timeliness, or correctness.

• 5.3 Sensitive content warning

  The Services may include descriptions or images of cruelty that some might find disturbing. Proceed with discretion.

We may use AI tools to summarize reports, identify patterns, translate text, or improve accessibility. AI outputs can be inaccurate, incomplete, or biased. You should not rely on AI outputs without independent verification. Beta features may be modified, suspended, or discontinued without notice.

• 7.1 Registration

  To access certain features (e.g., submitting reports, comments, tributes, or donations), you may need an account. Provide accurate information and keep your credentials secure. You are responsible for all activity under your account.

• 7.2 Notices

  We may send you service, legal, security, and transactional notices by email or in-app messaging. You can manage marketing preferences in your account or via unsubscribe links.

• 8.1 User-generated content

  You may submit text, images, videos, memorials, comments, reports, and other materials (“User Content”). You represent that you own or have rights to the User Content, and that it does not violate any laws or rights (privacy, publicity, IP, or otherwise).

• 8.2 License to us

  You grant the Organization a worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable license to host, store, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display your User Content in connection with the Services and our mission (including on social channels, reports, trainings, and fundraising). This license survives termination to the extent necessary for ongoing operation, archival, and legal compliance.

• 8.3 Attribution and anonymity

  We may credit you by display name/username. If you request removal or anonymization, we will make reasonable efforts consistent with law and technical feasibility.

• 8.4 Review and moderation

  We may (but are not required to) review, refuse, or remove User Content at our discretion—for example, content that is illegal, abusive, deceptive, infringing, doxxing, harassing, pornographic, or off-mission.

Please don’t:

• Use the Services for any unlawful purpose or to encourage harm or harassment.
• Upload or share content you don’t have rights to, or that infringes IP, privacy, or publicity rights.
• Post false or misleading statements, including fabricated reports or identities.
• Interfere with, disrupt, or probe the Services or related networks; introduce malware; attempt to access non-public areas.
• Scrape, mine, or harvest data except as expressly permitted.
• Use the Services to advertise third-party products or solicit funds for unrelated causes without our written permission.

• 10.1 Accuracy matters

  If you submit a cruelty report or case information, you must provide accurate details to the best of your knowledge and comply with applicable laws.

• 10.2 We are not law enforcement

  We may share information with relevant authorities, shelters, rescues, or partners where permitted by law and our Privacy Terms. Submitting a report to us does not replace contacting local authorities or veterinarians in emergencies.

• 10.3 Takedowns and corrections

  If you believe something is inaccurate or infringes your rights, contact us (Section 26). We may request verification before making changes.

We provide spaces where communities can remember animals and acknowledge responders. We may moderate for accuracy, tone, and safety; we may edit for clarity or length. We reserve the right to curate or remove submissions that conflict with our mission or the law.

Our Services may link to or embed content from third parties (e.g., shelters, news outlets, payment processors, social networks). We do not control or endorse third-party content and are not responsible for their policies or actions. Use them at your own risk and review their terms and privacy notices.

• 13.1 Processors

  We use third-party processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, Network for Good) to handle payments. Their terms and privacy notices apply to donation processing.

• 13.2 Recurring gifts

  If you enroll in recurring donations, you authorize the processor to charge your payment method at the chosen interval until you cancel. You can cancel via your donor portal or by contacting us with sufficient notice before the next charge.

• 13.3 Receipts & tax status

  We provide email receipts. Tax-deductibility depends on our IRS status at the time of your gift and your local laws. Consult a tax advisor. If our 501(c)(3) determination is pending, we will disclose that status on receipts.

• 13.4 Refunds

  We generally honor refund requests made within 15 days of the donation date for errors or duplicate transactions. In-kind gifts and event tickets are typically non-refundable. Contact donations@eyesformercy.org.

By providing contact details, you consent to receive service and transactional messages. Marketing communications are optional; you can opt out any time. Standard carrier/data rates may apply for SMS (where offered).

We strive to meet WCAG 2.1 AA where feasible. If you encounter accessibility barriers, contact us. We will work in good faith to provide an accessible alternative.

We take reasonable measures to protect the Services, but no system is perfectly secure. Keep your credentials confidential and notify us immediately of suspected unauthorized activity.

You are responsible for compliance with local laws. We do not represent that the Services are appropriate or available in all jurisdictions. Transfers of data are governed by our Privacy Terms.

THE SERVICES AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” WE AND OUR LICENSORS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE AND OUR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, ADVISORS, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES; LOST PROFITS; LOSS OF DATA; BUSINESS INTERRUPTION; OR SECURITY BREACHES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICES OR THESE TERMS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO THE SERVICES OR THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED $100 USD OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US FOR THE APPLICABLE SERVICE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITS ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIABILITY; THESE LIMITS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

• 20.1 Informal resolution first

  Contact us to try to resolve disputes informally within 30 days.

• 20.2 Binding arbitration

  If not resolved, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services will be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, unless you are in a jurisdiction that prohibits arbitration for this type of agreement. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

• 20.3 Venue and Law

  The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Section. Illinois law governs all other matters. The seat of arbitration is Cook County, Illinois, unless you and we agree otherwise.

• 20.4 Class-action waiver

  You and the Organization agree to bring claims only on an individual basis, not as a class member or representative in any class or representative action.

• 20.5 Injunctive relief

  Either party may seek temporary or preliminary relief in court to protect its rights pending arbitration (e.g., to stop misuse of IP or confidential information).

• 20.6 Small claims

  You may bring an individual claim in small-claims court instead of arbitration if your claim qualifies.

• 20.7 Opt-out

  You may opt out of arbitration and the class-action waiver by sending written notice to info@eyesformercy.org within 30 days of your first acceptance of these Terms. Include your name, address, email, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out.

We may suspend or terminate your access for any reason, including if you violate these Terms. You may stop using the Services at any time. Certain provisions survive termination (e.g., licenses, disclaimers, limits of liability, dispute resolution).

We may cooperate with lawful requests and share information where permitted by law and our Privacy Terms, particularly in matters involving animal welfare or threats to public safety.

You represent that your use of the Services complies with all applicable laws, including those regarding privacy, IP, and online conduct.

• Entire agreement. These Terms, plus the Privacy Terms and any posted guidelines, are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Services.
• Severability. If a provision is unenforceable, the remainder remains in effect.
• No waiver. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver.
• Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our consent; we may assign them as part of a merger, reorganization, or asset transfer.
• Headings. Headings are for convenience only.