Privacy policy

Who we are

This website, firstpaws.org, is operated by the FirstPaws team ("we", "us"). We are responsible for personal data collected through this site. You can reach us through our contact page.

Information we collect

• Information you send us. If you email us or use our contact form, we receive your name, email address and message.
• Usage data. Like most websites, our servers and analytics tools record technical information such as IP address, browser type, device, pages viewed, referring page and time of visit.
• Read and "helpful" counts. To show how many people read or found a guide helpful, our own server counts visits and clicks. It stores only a one-way hashed identifier derived from your IP address and browser, never the IP address itself; the identifier used for read counts changes every day.
• Tool inputs. Our calculators run entirely in your browser. The values you enter are not sent to us.

Cookies and similar technologies

We may use cookies and similar technologies to keep the site working, to understand how visitors use it (analytics) and to measure the performance of our own advertising. These can include services provided by Google, such as Google Analytics and Google Ads conversion measurement. Google's use of data is described in How Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Where the law requires it (for example in the UK and the European Economic Area), we ask for your consent before setting non-essential cookies, and you can change your choice at any time. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Details of the cookies we use are in our cookie policy.

How we use information

• To run, secure and improve the website (legitimate interests).
• To reply to messages you send us (legitimate interests, or steps at your request).
• To measure site usage and advertising performance (consent where required, otherwise legitimate interests).
• To comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information.

Sharing

We share data only with service providers who help us run the site (such as hosting, analytics and email providers), under contracts that limit their use of the data, or where required by law. Some providers are located outside your country, including in the United States; where required, transfers rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses.

Retention

We keep messages for as long as needed to handle your enquiry and for a reasonable period afterwards. Analytics data is kept in aggregated or pseudonymised form for up to 26 months.

Your rights

UK and EEA residents can request access to, correction or deletion of their personal data, object to or restrict processing, request portability, and withdraw consent at any time. You also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.

California and other US state residents may have rights to know, access, correct and delete personal information and to opt out of its sale or sharing for cross-context behavioural advertising. We honour Global Privacy Control signals where applicable. See Your Privacy Choices for how to opt out.

To exercise any right, contact us through our contact page. We will respond within the time required by law.

Children

This site is intended for adults and is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect their personal data.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed.