Terms of Use for Sitters / Independent Contractors

1. General provisions and operator details

This User Agreement (the “Agreement”) is a public offer by Individual Entrepreneur Andrei Zaitsev (ID: 305864758; registered address: Georgia, Tbilisi, Saburtalo district, Bakhtrioni St. No. 22; activity: Software; the “Operator” or “Neighbor Paw”) addressed to individuals and individual entrepreneurs who wish to provide pet-care services through the Neighbor Paw (Petsy) Platform.

Registering on the Platform, creating a Sitter profile, completing verification, and/or accepting a first order means full and unconditional acceptance of this Agreement.

This Agreement is governed by the laws of Georgia.

2. Platform status and sitter status

Platform role: Neighbor Paw is an information-technology marketplace (intermediary) providing software infrastructure for finding clients, booking, accepting payments, communication, and dispute resolution. Neighbor Paw is not an employer, staffing agency, or direct provider of pet-care services.

Sitter legal status: the parties intend the Sitter to act as an independent contractor (freelancer or IE), and this Agreement is not an employment contract. Whether a relationship is one of employment is determined by Georgian law on the facts, not by this clause; nothing here waives rights that cannot be waived by agreement. The Sitter sets their own services, prices, and availability, decides which bookings to accept, and is responsible for declaring income and paying taxes under Georgian tax law.

Direct care contract: the contract for pet care (walking, boarding, grooming, vet accompaniment, etc.) is concluded directly between the Pet Owner (Customer) and the Sitter (Contractor) when the booking is confirmed and paid.

3. Sitter requirements and verification

Only persons aged 18 or older may provide services.

Verification: the Sitter must provide accurate profile information. If the Sitter claims specialised care skills or veterinary education, they must upload supporting diplomas and certificates.

Veterinary limits: veterinary activity in Georgia is regulated, so the Platform’s services do not include treatment, injections, or other invasive procedures. A Sitter may only give medication already prescribed to the pet, in the form prescribed, following the Owner’s written instructions. Anything beyond that is for a licensed veterinarian, and in an emergency the pet is taken to a clinic.

Foreign nationals must confirm lawful stay and economic activity in Georgia (including IE status or a work permit where required).

Uploaded documents are manually reviewed by Platform security. If the data are inaccurate, the Operator may refuse verification or restrict the profile, tells the Sitter the reason, and the Sitter may correct the data or object through support.

Uploading and reviewing documents on the Platform serves only an internal trust rating and is not a state licence or accreditation.

4. Booking, payment, and platform commission

All settlements between Customer and Sitter run through the Platform’s non-cash system. Payments are processed by Flitt, a payment service provider registered in Georgia; Neighbor Paw accepts payment as the Sitter’s commercial agent and does not keep funds on its own accounts.

Platform commission: Neighbor Paw charges a commission on top of the Sitter's service price. The Customer pays the service price plus commission; the Sitter receives the full service price. The rate is shown in the account when the order price is formed.

Hold (24 hours): funds for a completed service appear on the Sitter balance and stay held for 24 hours from order completion so either party can raise claims. Hold ends early when both Owner and Sitter confirm in the app that the service was rendered.

Tips: voluntary tips from the Customer are paid to the Sitter in full and are not charged Platform commission.

No off-platform payments: the Sitter must not accept cash or transfers outside Neighbor Paw, or exchange personal contacts before booking confirmation. Breaches lead to measures proportionate to the breach — a warning, restricted visibility, suspension, or closure of the account for repeated or deliberate breaches. The Sitter is told the reason and may object.

5. Cancellation rules and account measures

Sitter cancellation: if a confirmed booking cannot be fulfilled, the Sitter must immediately notify the Customer and Platform support.

If the Sitter cancels after payment, the Owner receives a 100% refund. Repeated cancellations (more than twice a month) or cancellation less than 24 hours before the service day lower the Sitter’s catalogue ranking and may reduce profile visibility or suspend the account for review.

Completion: only the Owner may mark the booking complete. The Sitter cannot confirm completion. If the Owner does not mark complete, the Platform may auto-complete on the calendar day after the last service day when there is no open dispute. During the payout hold, either party may confirm that the service was rendered; when both confirm, the hold ends early.

A no-show without notice returns the held payment to the Customer in full and suspends the Sitter account; the account may be closed after review.

Ranking and visibility are calculated automatically from booking history. The Sitter is told the reason for any measure, a person reviews the decision on objection, and the Sitter may ask for the underlying data.

6. Liability and dispute resolution

The Sitter bears full individual and material responsibility for the safety, life, and health of the pet entrusted to them, and for the Customer’s property during the service.

If a dispute or incident arises (pet injury, loss, property damage), the Sitter payout stays held until the Platform’s claim review is complete. The Platform decides only how the held amount is allocated; it is not an arbitrator between the parties, and either party may go to court.

The Platform is not an insurer and provides no liability cover for the Sitter. The Sitter is advised to arrange their own insurance.

The Sitter must strictly follow Neighbor Paw Safety Rules and the Customer’s written care instructions.

7. Confidentiality and content

The Sitter must not disclose Customer personal data (addresses, phones, access codes) to third parties.

Photos and videos created by the Sitter during service and uploaded to Platform chat may be used by Neighbor Paw to confirm service quality and handle claims. They are not used for advertising or published outside the booking without the Sitter’s and the Owner’s separate consent.

8. Governing law and changes

This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Georgia.

Disputes between the Sitter and the Operator are resolved by negotiation, and if unresolved — in the courts of Georgia. Negotiation is not a precondition for court proceedings.

Changes: the Operator notifies Sitters of changes to this Agreement in the app before they take effect. Changes do not apply to bookings already confirmed.