Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

RESCUE DOG .ME ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits our website, submits an application, or interacts with our organization. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and how we protect it.

By using our website or submitting information through any of our forms, you consent to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not submit personal information to us.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Contact information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address — submitted through our contact, adoption, foster, volunteer, or partner forms.
• Adoption application data: Household composition, employment information, existing pets, landlord details, personal references, and answers to application questions.
• Foster and volunteer information: Similar to adoption data, plus availability, vehicle information (for drivers), and relevant experience.
• Communications: Emails, form messages, and any other written correspondence you send us.

Payment Information

Adoption fees and event payments may be processed through third-party payment processors (such as PayPal, Venmo, or similar). We do not collect, store, or have access to your credit card, debit card, or bank account numbers. All payment data is handled directly by the payment processor under their privacy policy.

Device & Usage Data

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and general location (city/region level)
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring website (where you came from)
• Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)

This data is collected via analytics tools (such as Google Analytics or similar) and is used in aggregate to improve our website. It is not linked to your personal identity.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Process applications: Adoption, foster, volunteer, and partner applications require personal information to evaluate and respond to your request.
• Communicate with you: We send responses to your inquiries, updates about dogs you've applied for, status updates on your application, and event confirmations.
• Coordinate care: For dogs in our program, we may share relevant information with veterinary partners, transport volunteers, or co-coordinators as needed for the dog's care.
• Email updates and newsletters: With your consent, we may send periodic emails about available dogs, upcoming events, and rescue updates. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.
• Legal compliance: We may retain and use information as required by applicable law, including Wyoming state law, or to respond to lawful requests from government authorities.
• Improve our services: Aggregate usage data helps us understand how our website is used and where we can improve the experience.

4. Information Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for commercial purposes. We share information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Veterinary partners: Dog health records and relevant adopter/foster information may be shared with licensed veterinarians involved in the dog's care, with your knowledge.
• Transport volunteers: Pickup and delivery location information is shared with drivers on a need-to-know basis for specific transports only.
• Legal requirements: We will disclose information when required by law, court order, or government authority, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of any person or animal.
• Service providers: We may use third-party tools (email services, form processors, analytics) that process data on our behalf under confidentiality obligations. We do not authorize these providers to use your data for their own purposes.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies. Here is how we use them:

• Session cookies: Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser. Used for basic site functionality.
• Preference cookies: Remember settings you've selected (such as cookie consent status).
• Analytics cookies: Used by tools such as Google Analytics to help us understand aggregate traffic patterns. These cookies do not identify you personally.

You may decline non-essential cookies through your browser settings or through the cookie consent prompt on our website. Note that declining certain cookies may affect website functionality.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information for the following periods:

• Active applications and communications: Retained for the duration of the application process and for 3 years following final resolution.
• Completed adoptions: Adoption records are retained for a minimum of 7 years to comply with legal and organizational record-keeping obligations.
• Inactive records: Records for inquiries that did not result in an adoption or placement are deleted or anonymized after 3 years.
• Email subscribers: Retained until you unsubscribe or request removal.

You may request deletion of your personal data at any time for data that we are not legally required to retain (see Section 7).

7. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information, subject to our legal retention obligations.
• Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email, or by contacting us directly.
• Portability: Request a copy of the data you provided to us in a commonly used format.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@rescuedog.me with the subject line "Privacy Request." We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

8. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information without parental consent, please contact us at hello@rescuedog.me and we will promptly delete the information.

9. Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and use industry-standard measures to protect it, including:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted through our website.
• Access controls limiting who within our organization can view personal data.
• Use of reputable, security-vetted third-party form and email processors.

No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we work hard to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a confirmed data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify affected individuals promptly as required by applicable law.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites, social media platforms, and partner organizations. These third-party sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for their content or practices. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site you visit through a link on our website.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

• Email: hello@rescuedog.me
• Organization: RESCUE DOG .ME
• Location: Riverton, Wyoming

You may also use our contact form to reach us.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Your continued use of our website or services after any changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. If changes are material, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you directly (e.g., via email if you are a registered applicant or subscriber).