Last updated: June 9, 2026.
Welcome to akivathedog.com (the “Site”). These Terms of Use & Disclaimer (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Site. The Site is a personal, non-commercial blog about dogs, operated by Jamie Dolan, based in Neenah, Wisconsin, United States. By accessing or using the Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
About This Site
akivathedog.com is a personal blog sharing photos, stories, opinions, and information about dogs — including Akiva the Shih Tzu, reader-submitted “Dog of the Day” photos, and general dog care, training, and everyday life with dogs. Everything here reflects my personal views and is offered for general informational and entertainment purposes only.
Acceptance and Changes to These Terms
Your use of the Site constitutes acceptance of these Terms and of the Privacy & Data Use Policy, which is incorporated here by reference. I may update these Terms from time to time; when I do, I will revise the “Last updated” date above. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted means you accept the revised Terms.
User Submissions and Content License
This Site invites readers to submit material specifically so that it can be published — for example, reader photo features such as “Dog of the Day.” If you post a comment or submit material (such as photos, images, video, captions, or stories), you are solely responsible for that content, and you represent and warrant that you own it or have all rights and permissions necessary to share it and to grant the license below.
By submitting any material that is offered for publication, you grant Jamie Dolan and the Site a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable license to use, host, store, publish, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, resize, crop, caption, distribute, and archive that material, in whole or in part, on this Site and its associated channels, in any media now known or later developed, with credit where practical. This license is irrevocable and survives even if you stop using the Site or your submission is later taken down. As a courtesy, I will consider reasonable requests to remove a specific submission from public display, but because this license is perpetual and irrevocable, I am under no obligation to do so. If you do not want your material used under these terms, please do not submit it. Material you send privately and not for publication is treated as private, as described in the Privacy & Data Use Policy.
You agree not to post or submit anything that is unlawful, infringing, defamatory, harassing, hateful, obscene, deceptive, or that contains malware or spam. I reserve the right, but assume no obligation, to monitor, moderate, edit, refuse, or remove any user content at my sole discretion, for any reason, without notice. Opinions expressed in comments are those of their authors and do not represent my views.
General Disclaimer — No Professional Advice
The content on this Site is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experiences at the time of writing. It is not professional advice of any kind and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. I make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content, and information may be out of date. You use and act on the information on this Site entirely at your own risk.
No Veterinary, Medical, or Health Advice
Nothing on this Site is veterinary, medical, mental-health, nutritional, or other professional health advice, and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition in animals or humans. Articles that touch on dog health, nutrition, supplements, natural or home remedies, training, or care describe my personal experience and opinion only — they are not recommendations for your specific situation or your specific animal.
For animals: always consult a licensed veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, supplements, medication, exercise, or care, or if your animal is ill or injured. Pet-care content here reflects what worked for my own dogs and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. For people: always consult a licensed physician or qualified health-care provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. Any action you take based on information from this Site is strictly at your own risk, and I am not liable for any loss, injury, illness, or damage of any kind that may result.
“As Is” — No Warranties
The Site and all of its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement, as well as any warranty that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Jamie Dolan, or any contributor to the Site, be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or relating to your access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the Site, any content on it, or any products, services, or websites linked from it — whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), or any other legal theory, and whether or not I have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liability for certain damages, some of the above exclusions and limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, my liability will be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.
Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Jamie Dolan from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in any way connected with your use of the Site, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.
External Links and Third-Party Content
The Site may contain links to, or embedded content from, third-party websites and services that I do not own or control. I provide these links and embeds for convenience and reference only. I am not responsible for the content, accuracy, policies, or practices of any third-party site, and the inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement. Accessing third-party sites is at your own risk and subject to their terms and policies.
Affiliate Links and Advertising
This Site may contain affiliate links (including Amazon) and may display advertising. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full details, including the required disclosures, are in the Privacy & Data Use Policy.
Acceptable Use
You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes. You agree not to: violate any applicable law or regulation; infringe anyone’s intellectual-property or privacy rights; attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, its server, or any connected systems; interfere with or disrupt the Site’s operation or security; transmit viruses or malicious code; scrape, harvest, or collect data from the Site by automated means without permission; or use the Site to harass, abuse, or harm others.
Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise noted, the original text, photographs, and other content on this Site are the property of Jamie Dolan (or of the readers who submitted material under the license above) and are protected by copyright and other intellectual-property laws. You may view and share links to the content for personal, non-commercial use, but you may not copy, reproduce, republish, distribute, or create derivative works from the content without my prior written permission. Trademarks, logos, and brand names that appear on the Site are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright Complaints (DMCA)
I respect the intellectual-property rights of others. If you believe material on the Site infringes a copyright you own or control, please email jamiedolan@gmail.com with “DMCA Notice” in the subject line. To be effective under the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512), your notice should include your signature (physical or electronic), identification of the copyrighted work, the exact URL(s) of the material you claim is infringing, your contact information, a statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorized, and a statement under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf. Upon receiving a valid notice I will act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the material in accordance with the DMCA.
Privacy
Your use of the Site is also governed by the Privacy & Data Use Policy, which explains what information is collected and how it is used and protected.
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin and the applicable laws of the United States, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to the Site or these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Wisconsin, to the extent permitted by law.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
Contact
Questions about these Terms? Email jamiedolan@gmail.com.