If you feel threatened or unsafe

Dog Meetup safety guidance for online messages, public meetups, and urgent real-world concerns.

Quick safety summary

If there is immediate danger, leave if you can and contact local emergency services first.
Move towards people, light, staff, shops, transport, or another visible public place.
Do not argue, explain, or continue the meetup if you feel unsafe. Leaving is enough.
When safe, use Dog Meetup to block and report the owner.
Keep screenshots, usernames, meetup details, and messages if it is safe and lawful to do so.

Immediate danger

If you, another person, or a dog is in immediate danger, leave the area if you can and contact local emergency services first. Dog Meetup support is not an emergency service and cannot provide real-time rescue or law-enforcement response.

Examples of immediate danger include threats of violence, being followed, assault, theft, stalking, coercion, a dangerous dog incident, someone refusing to let you leave, or any situation where you believe a person or dog could be harmed.

What to do during a meetup

End the meetup immediately. You do not need to explain or negotiate.
Move to a visible public place with other people nearby.
Keep your dog close and on lead if it is safe to do so.
Do not get into a vehicle or go to a private place with someone you do not trust.
Contact emergency services if there is a threat, assault, stalking, theft, dangerous dog incident, or urgent risk.
When safe, block and report the owner in Dog Meetup.

You do not owe anyone a second chance, a private conversation, or a detailed explanation. A safe exit matters more than politeness.

Warning signs to take seriously

They pressure you to meet somewhere private, isolated, or different from the agreed public park.
They refuse to respect your dog’s boundaries, lead preference, muzzle requirement, or need for space.
They become angry when you say no, cancel, ask questions, or try to leave.
They ask for money, gifts, verification codes, private documents, or unrelated personal details.
They make sexual, threatening, discriminatory, or manipulative comments.
They try to move the conversation away from Dog Meetup before trust is established.
The dog appears uncontrolled, aggressive, distressed, neglected, or handled unsafely.

What to do online

Block

Use Dog Meetup's block control to stop further contact and hide the owner from your discovery or meetup flow.

Report

Use the report control for threats, harassment, fake profiles, unsafe behaviour, scams, or child safety concerns.

Keep evidence

Keep screenshots, usernames, dates, meetup details, messages, and any reference numbers if it is safe and lawful to do so.

Do not continue

Do not continue messaging someone who threatens, pressures, blackmails, harasses, or tries to move you into unsafe situations.

If someone keeps contacting you

Do not reply further if the contact is unwanted, threatening, manipulative, or abusive.
Use the block control in Dog Meetup.
Report the account and include the repeated contact pattern.
Keep a record of dates, usernames, messages, profile details, meetup plans, and any other accounts they use.
If the person continues outside Dog Meetup or you believe you are being stalked or threatened, contact appropriate local authorities.

If your dog is threatened or injured

Move away from the other dog or person if it is safe to do so.
Do not put your hands between dogs that are fighting unless you know how to intervene safely.
Contact a vet or emergency vet if your dog is injured, bitten, overheated, limping, distressed, or unwell.
Keep details of the other owner, dog, park, time, and any witnesses.
Report unsafe owner behaviour in Dog Meetup once you and your dog are safe.

If you suspect fraud or a fake profile

Do not send money, gift cards, bank details, login codes, ID documents, or private photos.
Be cautious if a user avoids normal dog-related details, changes stories, refuses public meetups, or creates urgency.
Report the profile as suspicious and block the account.
If payment fraud or identity theft has happened, contact your bank or relevant authority as soon as possible.

Report to Dog Meetup

In the app, use report controls on profiles, matches, meetups, or messages. For serious safety concerns, email dev@prints3d.org.

Include the username, dog name if known, date and time, park or meetup location, what happened, and whether you already contacted emergency services.

Dog Meetup may review reports, remove content, restrict accounts, suspend accounts, preserve records where legally required, or report serious matters to appropriate authorities.

Child safety concerns

Child sexual abuse, grooming, exploitation, sextortion, or any behaviour that endangers minors is prohibited. Read the Dog Meetup Child Safety Standards and report urgent concerns to appropriate authorities.

Helpful Dog Meetup pages

Child Safety Standards - CSAE/CSAM standards and child safety contact.
Moderation Policy - how reports, blocks, and enforcement work.
Location and Meetup Safety Policy - location use and public meetup expectations.
Community Guidelines - behaviour rules for owners.
Support and Safety - support contact and safety reminders.

Before future meetups

Meet only in public places during sensible hours.
Tell someone you trust where you are going.
Keep first meetings short and easy to leave.
Use lead introductions and respect both dogs' body language.
Trust discomfort early. Leaving is always allowed.
Arrange your own transport where possible so you can leave without relying on another owner.
Check park opening times, lighting, weather, dog rules, and whether the area is busy enough for a first meeting.
Do not share your home address, workplace, school details, or private routine with someone you have just met.