Legal notices under the DSA – GetDogWalkers marketplace

1. Who operates this platform

The GetDogWalkers marketplace is an online platform within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on a Single Market for Digital Services (Digital Services Act, "DSA"). It is operated by Cogswell IT, owner Joshua Cogswell, Georg-Moller-Weg 29, 64625 Bensheim, Germany. All details about the provider are in the Impressum. Independent businesses offer pet care on the marketplace; the care contract is concluded between owner and business.

Cogswell IT is a micro enterprise within the meaning of Recommendation 2003/361/EC. Some DSA obligations do not apply to micro and small enterprises (Art. 15(2), Art. 19 and Art. 29 DSA). We publish the following information anyway so that it is clear how the marketplace works. Where information is voluntary, we say so.

2. Average monthly active recipients ⚖️

As of 10 November 2026 · Reference period: 1 May to 31 October 2026

The average number of monthly active recipients of the GetDogWalkers marketplace in the European Union during the reference period was far below 45 million, the threshold for very large online platforms under Art. 33 DSA. The marketplace is not a very large online platform and has not been designated as one. It is being built up across Germany.

As a micro enterprise, we are not obliged to publish this information under Art. 19(1) DSA. We do so voluntarily and provide the figure to the competent authority on request (Art. 24(3) DSA).

How we estimate the figure

We use no web analytics and no tracking cookies on the marketplace and do not evaluate access logs. We therefore do not know how many people only view the pages.
The estimate is based on data on our server: per calendar month, each email address counted once that was used on the marketplace to book, request a meet and greet, write a message, submit a review or create a GetDogWalkers account, plus each business with a published profile, averaged over the six months of the reference period.
For people who only view the marketplace we add a generous allowance. The figure is therefore an upper-bound estimate, not an exact count. Even with this allowance it is far below the threshold.

We update this information every six months. The next update will be made by 10 May 2027.

3. Points of contact

For authorities of the Member States, the European Commission and the European Board for Digital Services (Art. 11 DSA): email hallo (at) getdogwalkers.com, please with the subject "DSA authority". Post to the address in the Impressum.

For users (Art. 12 DSA): our contact form or email hallo (at) getdogwalkers.com. People answer there, not an automated system.

Languages for communication with both points of contact: German and English.

4. Reporting illegal content

Anyone can report content on the marketplace that they consider illegal or in breach of our rules (Art. 16 DSA), for example a profile, a photo, a review or a message.

Reviews and profiles: via "Report" directly on the review or at the bottom of the business's profile.
All other content: via the contact form with the topic "Report content" or by email to hallo (at) getdogwalkers.com.

So that we can assess a report, it should contain:

the exact location of the content, ideally the link to the profile or page,
an explanation of why the content is illegal or breaches our rules,
your name and email address (not required for reports of certain offences against children),
a statement that you believe in good faith that the information is accurate and complete.

What happens next: we confirm receipt if you have given an email address. A person reviews the report in a timely, diligent and objective manner; we do not decide automatically. We inform you of our decision and of how you can have it reviewed.

If we suspect a criminal offence involving a threat to the life or safety of persons, we inform the competent law enforcement authorities (Art. 18 DSA). In an acute emergency, please contact the police or emergency services directly.

5. Decision, statement of reasons and complaints ⚖️

If we restrict content or an account, for example by removing or hiding content, pausing a profile, restricting bookability or suspending an account, the person concerned receives a statement of reasons (Art. 17 DSA). It states the measure, the facts we rely on, whether the measure follows a report, the legal provision or rule breached and the available means of redress.

The person concerned and the reporting person can lodge a complaint against our decision on a report or restriction via the contact form within six months. We review the complaint again, where possible by a different person, and communicate the result. We offer this procedure voluntarily. Businesses can also use it for complaints about technical problems, ranking or restrictions.

6. Out-of-court dispute settlement

To resolve disputes about our decisions, you can turn to an out-of-court dispute settlement body certified by a Digital Services Coordinator under Art. 21 DSA. The European Commission publishes a list of certified bodies. Your right to go to court remains unaffected.

We do not take part in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board under the German Consumer Dispute Resolution Act.

7. How we enforce our rules

Not permitted on the marketplace are in particular illegal, insulting, discriminatory or misleading content, false information about businesses, services, proof or animals, purchased or fake reviews, spam and offers that breach animal welfare law. The rules for businesses are set out in our Terms.

We do not review content without cause, but when we receive a report or a specific indication. We do not use automated content detection for this. One exception: in messages between owners and businesses, we automatically hide phone numbers, email and web addresses until the first confirmed booking; this protects against fraud and keeps bookings on the marketplace. Depending on severity, measures include a notice, hiding or removing content, pausing a profile, restricting bookability and suspending an account. We choose the mildest suitable measure. Anyone who repeatedly posts manifestly illegal content or repeatedly submits manifestly unfounded reports may be suspended temporarily after a prior warning (Art. 23 DSA).

8. Ranking and recommendations

How we rank search results, which factors count and how much is explained on the page How we rank (Art. 27 DSA). The order depends only on your search. We do not build a profile of you and do not use data about your past behaviour for ranking. With service, date, animals, minimum rating and other filters you decide yourself what you see.

9. Advertising

On the marketplace, only businesses advertise themselves (Art. 26 DSA):

"Ad": up to two ad slots above the search results. Each ad shows who paid for it: always the business shown.
"Sponsored": results in the list whose position was improved by a paid boost or as a premium partner, also naming the business as the advertiser.

"Why am I seeing these ads?" and "Why sponsored?" directly on the result explain why something is shown to you. For advertising we only use your current search, no profile and no special categories of personal data. Details are under Ads and Boost.

10. Businesses on the marketplace ⚖️

Businesses publish their profile through the "GetDogWalkers" app or web dashboard, which requires an account with their business details. A business can only be booked online once it has connected an account with our payment service provider Stripe; Stripe checks the business's identity and bank details under its own legal obligations. Businesses can additionally verify their identity via Stripe Identity; the profile then shows the badge for verified identity. We do not check the quality or suitability of a business.

As a micro enterprise, we are not subject to the specific trader traceability obligations under Art. 30 to 32 DSA (Art. 29 DSA). Businesses state whether they offer their services as a trader and then give their name and address; we show this on the profile and before booking.

11. Transparency reports

Micro and small enterprises are exempt from the obligation to publish annual transparency reports on content moderation (Art. 15(2) DSA). We do not currently publish such a report.

Legal notices under the Digital Services Act