# Disclosure Policy

> Last updated 2026-09-09 · PetGuideCalc is founded and maintained by Patrick Li.

## Current status

As of this update, PetGuideCalc does not participate in any affiliate program and is not compensated by product vendors. The site is supported by its owner as a one-person side project; no revenue is currently generated from product recommendations or external referrals.

## When this changes

If PetGuideCalc begins participating in an affiliate program in the future, this page will be updated before any affiliate link goes live, and the change will be noted in the [Past changes](#past-changes) section below.

## Programs we may participate in

When participation begins, the most likely programs are Amazon Associates and similar pet-product affiliate programs, for example a Chewy Affiliate Program, or retailer programs distributed through Impact, ShareASale, or similar affiliate networks. The complete current list will appear in this section, with each program named.

## How affiliate links are marked

Every link to a product page that participates in an affiliate program will carry one of the following markers, placed adjacent to the link and visible without hover or click:

- a visible "Affiliate" or "Sponsored" badge next to the product name,
- an explicit sentence in the surrounding copy ("This link goes to Amazon; we may earn a commission if you buy through it."),
- an asterisk or footnote-style marker on the page that points to this disclosure.

This is consistent with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's "clear and conspicuous" guidance for endorsement disclosures, and follows the same standard for any non-U.S. visitors.

## Editorial independence

Calculator accuracy and source selection are and will remain independent of any commercial relationships. Specifically:

- a product vendor's affiliate status has no bearing on whether a calculator is built, updated, or linked;
- sources listed on [/sources/](/sources/) are selected on the basis of peer review, institutional authority, or recognized keeper-community standing — not on whether the vendor participates in an affiliate program;
- the review cadence described on [/methodology/](/methodology/) is unchanged regardless of monetisation.

## What "affiliate" means in practice

When a reader clicks an affiliate link and subsequently purchases a product, the merchant pays PetGuideCalc a small commission at no additional cost to the reader. The commission is a percentage of the sale price; rates vary by program and product category. Affiliate relationships do not affect the price the reader pays.

## Cookies and tracking

Affiliate programs commonly use cookies or similar tracking to attribute purchases. Per-program details — cookie name, lifetime, and the operating vendor — will appear in this section once participation begins. PetGuideCalc itself does not set any affiliate cookies at this time. See the [privacy policy](/privacy/) for how analytics and cookie data are handled.

## Past changes

- **2026-09-09** — page created. Initial disclosure states that PetGuideCalc does not currently participate in any affiliate program.