Our Disclosure Policy

Every rating, verdict, and recommendation on Cheerio Checks In reflects our genuine, independent assessment of how a place treats a small dog and their human. Nothing else buys, earns, or influences it. We review properties we may have a relationship with exactly as we would any other — and we would rather lose a partnership than soften a verdict.

When any of the following apply to a property or to the site, we say so plainly — in the review itself and here:

• Affiliate links and commissions — links that may earn the site a commission if you book or buy through them.
• Complimentary or discounted stays and meals — any hosting, media rate, or comp provided by a property.
• Sponsored content and partnerships — any arrangement where a brand pays for placement or collaboration.
• Gifts — products, services, or hospitality offered to us at no charge.

A disclosed relationship never determines a rating. A complimentary stay does not earn a better score, and a paid partnership does not protect a property from an honest review.

Every property page carries a short disclosure line stating its commercial status — for example, “Independent — no partnership in place.” Where a relationship exists, that line names it. If you ever see a Cheerio Paw Rating on a property we have a relationship with, that relationship is disclosed on the same page, and the rating still reflects our honest assessment.

Some links may earn the site a small commission at no additional cost to you, which helps fund independent reviewing. They are never a factor in whether a property is covered, how it is rated, or what we say about it. When a page contains affiliate links, we disclose it.

We may, at times, accept a complimentary or discounted stay to make first-hand reviewing possible. When we do, it is disclosed on the property's page, and it changes nothing about the score. A comped stay is held to the same rubric as one we paid for in full — and if the experience falls short, we say so.

Reader reports help us decide what to verify next and add real-world texture to our coverage. They are valuable, but they are not a substitute for a first-hand visit and do not by themselves determine a Cheerio Paw Rating.

We never invent policies, and we never assume one is current without confirmation. Pet policies change, so treat everything here as a starting point, not a guarantee.

For questions about this policy or any specific disclosure, please contact us. For how we handle data and privacy, see our Trust & Privacy page; for legal terms, see our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.