How Eternal Paws Fact-Checks Dog Stories
Eternal Paws operates a deterministic 4-tier verification calculus engine. We evaluate every canine story against primary records to calculate an objective, mathematical confidence score.
The 4 Verification Tiers Explained
Every published narrative is assigned one of four distinct verification tiers based on source density, documentary authority, and independent corroboration:
Multiple primary institutional sources with documentary corroboration.
- •At least 2 distinct institutional records (e.g. Police SAR log + Veterinary hospital chart).
- •Official tracking numbers, case references, or scanned medical files.
- •Calculated confidence score between 90 and 100.
At least one institutional source and corroborating witness/media reports.
- •At least 1 verified institutional record (e.g. Shelter intake log, municipal license docket).
- •Corroborating on-the-record eyewitness statement or verified news investigation.
- •Calculated confidence score between 70 and 89 (or >=60 with 2+ sources including 1 institutional).
Single shelter or community source under active editorial review.
- •Single verified rescue/shelter source, or 2+ community witness submissions.
- •No institutional documentation attached yet; ongoing editorial review.
- •Calculated confidence score between 40 and 69.
Community submission undergoing initial editorial intake and fact-checking.
- •Community contributor intake undergoing initial review.
- •Zero verified source attributions attached.
- •Calculated confidence score between 0 and 39.
Source Weighting Rubric Matrix
Our scoring algorithm weights evidence by reliability and institutional accountability. Scores are calculated additively and capped at 100 points:
| Source Classification | Base Score | Authority Type |
|---|---|---|
Police & SAR Dispatch LogsOfficial sheriff department incident logs, search and rescue GPS telemetry, or sworn dispatch records. | 35 – 40 pts | Yes (Institutional Authority) |
Court & Judicial RecordsCertified municipal court records, ownership custody restoration orders, or sworn legal affidavits. | 35 – 40 pts | Yes (Institutional Authority) |
Veterinary Case FilesLicensed DVM clinical intake logs, surgical charts, radiograph records, and microchip scan telemetry. | 30 – 35 pts | Yes (Institutional Authority) |
Shelter & Rescue Records501(c)(3) rescue intake documentation, microchip registration transfers, and municipal intake logs. | 25 – 35 pts | Yes (Institutional Authority) |
Journalistic News ReportsIndependent news reporting with named author attribution and verified editorial oversight. | 20 – 25 pts | No (Journalistic Secondary) |
Direct Eyewitness InterviewsFirsthand sworn testimony, recorded audio interviews, or corroborated bystander statements. | 15 pts | No (Community Corroboration) |
Additive Evidentiary Boosts
Our 4-Step Fact-Checking Workflow
Intake & Metadata Extraction
Initial submission review, dog details validation, location verification, and timeline recording.
Primary Record Corroboration
Direct outreach to shelters, veterinary clinics, or law enforcement dispatch offices to inspect records.
Calculus & Board Evaluation
Deterministic algorithm computes confidence score; Senior Fact-Checker inspects edge cases and AI media.
Trust Card & Article Publication
Story published alongside full interactive Trust Card, source citations, and direct reader correction link.
Notice a Factual Discrepancy?
Our editorial trust desk welcomes reader tips, document additions, and factual corrections.