Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we get asked before people create an account.
The service
Is it free?
Yes, for dog guardians: registering a dog, printing their tag and reporting a loss costs nothing.
No payment is even possible on the site: there's no shop, no subscription, no Mobile Money. Whatever you agree with a veterinarian or a dog walker is settled directly with them.
Do I need to install an app?
No. Wourou is a website: it opens in your phone's browser, nothing to download.
That matters even more for whoever finds your dog: they scan the QR code with their camera, the page opens, and they have no account to create and no app to install.
Which cities does the platform cover?
Wourou is built to cover all of Côte d'Ivoire. The pilot starts in Abidjan, then veterinarians, places and providers are progressively listed in other towns and communes.
Your dog's profile, their QR code and search notices already work with no city limit: the code leads to a web page readable from anywhere.
The code and the scan
How do I make my dog's tag?
From your dog's profile, open "Printable tag". The front and back print side by side on an A4 sheet.
- Print the page.
- Cut out the front and back, glue them back to back.
- Laminate the tag — it will live outdoors, in the rain.
- Punch the marked hole and attach it to a collar ring.
The QR code is on the back and points to your dog's public profile. There's nothing to order and nothing to receive: it's neither a chip nor an electronic tag.
What happens when someone scans the code?
Whoever scans it sees a very short page: your dog's photo, name, breed and temperament. Nothing else — no full name, no address, no email.
At the same time, a notification is added to your space, with the scan's area when it could be inferred. The person's browser offers to share their location: if they accept, the exact spot appears in your dog's scan history. Today this is an in-app notification, visible when you open or refresh your space, not an SMS or a push alert.
If they decline, nothing is blocked: the scan is still recorded, without a location. The location is a bonus, never a condition.
Who sees my phone number?
No one, unless you decide otherwise. Someone who scans the code of a dog that's doing fine sees its profile, not your phone number.
This isn't an interface setting: the database itself refuses to release the number until you've chosen to share it.
When you report a loss, you're asked how you want to be reached. By default, people who see your dog report it through the platform and you call back: your number stays covered. You can choose to show it, when reporting or later, and hide it again — though a flyer already printed will keep carrying it. Details are on the Privacy page.
What should I do if I find a dog?
Check their collar. If it carries a QR code, scan it with your phone's camera: the page will tell you how to contact the owner and will record the scan in their space. Call them directly if their number is shown. Accept sharing your location if you can — it will be included with the report.
Read the temperament shown before approaching: a lost dog is scared, and the profile states if they may bite.
If the dog carries no code, the platform unfortunately can't identify them: there is no public search by photo or breed. If you received a search notice over WhatsApp and recognize the animal, open the link and use "I saw them": three fields, no account.
Your account
Can I delete my account?
Yes, yourself, from the app (Account › Delete my account) or from the "Delete my account" page of this site, after confirming your password. It is immediate and permanent. A professional account makes the request in the same place; our team handles it. If anything goes wrong, write to us via the Contact page.
What is erased, what remains. Your contact details, addresses, notifications and reviews are erased, and a dog whose carnet holds no act is deleted. A shared dog is handed over to its co-holder. A dog whose carnet holds acts stays in the registry, without your contact details: a record whose content could vanish at its holder's request would no longer prove anything.
Removing a dog's profile, without deleting the account, is requested via the Contact page, and follows the same reservation: an animal carrying certified acts keeps its health record. What you can do yourself, at any time: archive the profile to remove it from your lists — nothing is deleted, and it reactivates whenever you want —, delete its photos one by one, and renew its tag, which immediately deactivates the QR code already printed.
How do I become a listed veterinarian?
Create an account and choose "veterinarian" at sign-up. This choice is a request, not an automatic listing: our team verifies every practitioner by hand.
Once approved, you complete your clinic's public profile: address, specialties, phone and hours. The public can then find and contact you directly. Until verification is done, you don't appear in the directory.
I'm a dog walker, groomer or boarder. Can I be listed?
Yes, the same way: create an account and choose "provider", state your area, your services and your rates in FCFA. Your profile is reviewed before publication.
How do I sign in?
With your email address and password. Sign-in by SMS code will appear once that feature is enabled on the platform.
Privacy
Is my data sold?
No. Nothing is sold, rented, or passed on to an advertiser. The site carries no advertising and installs no advertising tracker.
Who can see my dog's profile?
- You, in full.
- Someone who scans the code: the name, photo, breed and temperament, nothing more.
- The platform administrator, for moderation and support.
The full table is on the Privacy page.