1. Our approach

NSW DOG Community is built around participation. Members should be able to ask questions, share experiences, form groups, exchange practical information and contribute ideas that help improve the platform. Participation works best when people communicate respectfully and act with the welfare of dogs and the community in mind.

2. Respect

Disagree with ideas without attacking, humiliating or intimidating the person behind them. Harassment, threats and targeted abuse are not acceptable.

3. Safety & welfare

Do not use the platform to encourage cruelty, neglect, dangerous conduct or activity that puts dogs or people at unnecessary risk.

4. Authenticity

Participate honestly. Do not impersonate another person or organisation, deliberately misrepresent your identity, or knowingly use deceptive information to manipulate other members.

5. Privacy

Respect the privacy of other members. Do not publish another person's private or sensitive information without a legitimate reason and appropriate permission.

6. Groups and community participation

Groups are intended to help dog owners and carers communicate, share local knowledge, organise activities, discuss common interests and support one another. Group participation must follow these Community Standards as well as any additional rules established for a particular group.

7. Content and conduct we do not allow

• credible threats, encouragement of violence, or content intended to facilitate harm;
• harassment, bullying, stalking or repeated unwanted targeting of another member;
• hate or degrading attacks directed at people on the basis of protected characteristics;
• content that promotes or depicts animal cruelty for the purpose of encouraging or glorifying harm;
• fraud, scams, deliberate deception or attempts to obtain money, credentials or personal information dishonestly;
• sexual exploitation or content that exploits or endangers children;
• publishing private, confidential or identifying information in a way that creates a foreseeable risk of harm;
• spam or repeated disruptive activity that interferes with genuine community participation.

8. Sharing advice and information

Members are encouraged to share experience and practical knowledge, but personal posts are not a substitute for professional veterinary, legal or emergency advice. Do not knowingly present false or misleading information as established fact where doing so could create a risk to a dog or another person.

9. Reporting and moderation

Members should be able to raise concerns about content or behaviour that may breach these standards. NSW DOG Community may review reported material and take proportionate action where necessary, including limiting visibility, removing content, restricting participation or suspending access.

Context matters. Moderation decisions should consider the nature of the content, its purpose, the surrounding conversation, the seriousness of any potential harm and whether an action is proportionate.

10. Help us improve

Community participation includes helping us improve NSW DOG Community itself. We encourage members to tell us what is useful, what is difficult, what is missing and what features would make the platform more valuable to dog owners and carers.

11. Changes to these standards

These standards may develop as the community and platform develop. Material changes will be reflected on this page.