Help & Support
Everything you need to know about HugsyAlert
Beta: Telegram recommended
Telegram (a free app) is the fastest way for HugsyAlert to reach you and your helpers. Without it, I remind you by browser alerts or email. Helpers are alerted on whatever they connected: Telegram, email, or text. Text messages (SMS) are optional: opt in at Settings → SMS preferences. If you opt in, I text you check-in reminders and a heads-up when you miss one. Helpers who opt in get a text when an alert reaches them. Texts are extra, alongside your other channels. Reply STOP to opt out. Coming later: a dedicated iOS/Android app and phone calls.
Documentation
Getting Started
Add Your Pets
Navigate to the Pets page and add your pet's information including name, breed, and medical details.
Invite Helpers
Add trusted contacts who will receive emergency alerts. Helpers can connect by Telegram (free), email, or text. They choose from the setup link you share, which works for 7 days.
Set Up Check-Ins
Configure your check-in interval. If you miss a check-in, your helpers will be alerted.
Alert flow
HugsyAlert watches for missed check-ins and tries to reach the people you chose:
- Reminder sent to you by Telegram, browser alerts, email, or text if you opt in
- Still no response? Helpers are alerted to stand by
- Active helpers are alerted by Telegram, email, or text, each with a private link to your pet-care steps
- Escalation continues until you check in or a helper confirms they are responding
HugsyAlert is a best-effort backup-plan tool, not an emergency service, medical alert system, insurer, pet-care provider, or rescue service. Alert delivery and helper response can't be guaranteed. In an emergency, contact local emergency services directly.
You can also trigger a manual emergency from Settings → Emergency Controls, or by typing "help" or "emergency" in the chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does CPoL (Conversational Protocol of Life) work?
CPoL lets you adjust your monitoring level through natural conversation. Tell it you're going hiking and it'll increase check-in frequency. Say you're on vacation and it'll relax the schedule.
What happens if I miss a check-in?
The system waits for a grace period, then sends you a reminder. If you still don't respond, your helpers get alerts by Telegram, email, or text, each with a private link to your pet's care steps. When an alert is open, reply 'I'm OK' (or tap I'm OK) to stand it down.
How do I connect a helper via Telegram?
Send them their setup link from the Helpers page. They tap 'Connect Telegram' there. The link works for 7 days.
Is my data secure?
We protect it with Firebase Authentication and encrypted connections. Only add the details your helpers need. Keep lockbox or alarm codes out of the app and share them with your helper directly.
Contact Support
Telegram
Send /help to the HugsyAlert bot for quick assistance
Response Time
HugsyAlert is built and supported by one person. I read every message and usually reply within a day or two — faster for anything safety-critical.
Official channels & staying safe from scams
Human support inbox
For questions, reports, and beta feedback: support@hugsyalert.com. This is the only address where a human reads and replies.
Automated system senders
HugsyAlert sends automated emails from these addresses — they are all legitimate:
- notifications@hugsyalert.com — safety alerts, check-in reminders, and digests (replies route to support)
- alerts@hugsyalert.com — health and system alerts (no-reply)
- emergency@hugsyalert.com — emergency fallback notifications (no-reply)
- noreply@hugsyalert.com — invites, verification, and waitlist emails (no-reply)
We also contact you through the HugsyAlert bot you connected from inside this app. We will never ask for your password, your check-in or invite codes, or payment in a direct message.
If someone messages you claiming to be HugsyAlert from anywhere else — a different email, a random Telegram account, or a number you don't recognize — treat it as suspicious. We can't verify or vouch for messages sent outside these channels.
Report a suspicious message
Got an unexpected message that mentions HugsyAlert, or a Telegram DM that worries you? Don't reply with personal details. Block and report the account in Telegram, then forward what you saw to support@hugsyalert.com. Safety-critical reports get priority.
System Status
HugsyAlert is in beta and doesn't publish a live status page yet. Core components: the web app (Vercel), data & check-in monitoring (Firebase), and alert delivery (Telegram, email, text and browser alerts). The check-in monitor runs around the clock.
If alerts seem delayed or something looks wrong, send /help to the HugsyAlert bot — that's the fastest way to reach me. Safety-critical reports get priority.