Effective Date: May 2022
Last Updated: May 2022

 

1. Introduction

VA4DogTrainers ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website [www.va4dogtrainers.com] (the "Site") and use our services (collectively, the "Services"). By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the collection, use, and processing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to any part of this Privacy Policy, we advise you to discontinue the use of our Services immediately. This Privacy Policy complies with applicable data protection laws, including but not limited to:

• • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU Regulation 2016/679) – Applicable to individuals within the European Union.
  • New York Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act – Governing data security requirements for businesses handling the personal information of New York residents.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information from users through various methods, including direct interactions, automated technologies, and third-party services.

(a) Information You Provide Directly

When you engage with our Services, we may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including but not limited to:

• • Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Your full name, email address, phone number, and business details.
  • Account Credentials: Usernames, passwords, and profile preferences associated with your account.
  • Payment Information: When making transactions through our Services, payment details may be collected and processed by secure third-party payment providers. VA4DogTrainers does not store full credit card numbers.
  • Communications & Customer Support Requests: Any messages, inquiries, or support requests submitted through our website, email, or other contact channels.

(b) Information We Collect Automatically

When you access our Site or use our Services, we may automatically collect certain information through cookies, log files, and similar tracking technologies, including:

• • Device and Technical Data: Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, operating system, device model, and screen resolution.
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on the website, interactions with features, and referral URLs.
  • Location Data: If location services are enabled on your device, we may collect approximate or precise geolocation data to enhance our Services.

(c) Information from Third-Party Sources

We may receive additional data from external sources, including:

• • Social Media Platforms: If you sign in or interact with our Services through platforms such as Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn, we may collect information such as your name, profile picture, and email address, subject to your privacy settings on those platforms.
  • Business Partners & Service Providers: We may obtain data from marketing partners, analytics providers, and publicly available databases to improve our Services.

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data for various purposes, ensuring that its use aligns with applicable legal frameworks.
Specifically, we use your information to:   

• • Provide and maintain our Services, ensuring seamless functionality and personalized user experiences.
  • Process transactions securely through third-party payment processors.
  • Communicate with you regarding account updates, service improvements, promotions, and customer support.
  • Analyze website performance and user behavior to improve our platform’s usability.
  • Detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, security threats, and potential legal violations.
  • Comply with regulatory requirements and fulfill legal obligations.

VA4DogTrainers does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR Compliance)

For users located in the European Union, we process your data based on the following legal grounds under GDPR:   

• • Consent (Article 6(1)(a)): When you explicitly provide permission, such as subscribing to marketing emails or enabling cookies.
  • Contractual Necessity (Article 6(1)(b)): When processing is required to provide you with the Services you have requested.
  • Legal Obligation (Article 6(1)(c)): When processing is necessary to comply with regulatory or statutory requirements.
  • Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f)): When processing is necessary to support security, fraud prevention, analytics, and business improvements.

5. How We Protect Your Data

We implement rigorous technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of your personal information, including but not limited to:   

• • Encryption & Secure Storage: Data is encrypted during transmission and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Access Controls: Only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs can access sensitive data.
  • Regular Security Audits: We continuously monitor and update our systems to identify and mitigate potential security risks.

While we take extensive precautions to protect your information, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. We encourage users to take appropriate security measures, such as using strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication where possible.

6. Your Rights Under New York SHIELD Act

Under the New York SHIELD Act, we implement robust security measures to safeguard your data. While the law does not explicitly provide individual consumer rights such as deletion or portability, we voluntarily extend the following rights to our users, subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements:

• • Right to Access: You may request a summary of the personal data we have collected about you.
  • Right to Correction: If any of the information we hold is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request corrections.
  • Right to Deletion: While the SHIELD Act does not mandate data deletion, we will honor reasonable requests to delete personal data that is no longer required for legal, business, or security purposes.
  • Right to Data Security: We are legally required to implement security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, or breaches.
  • Right to Notification in Case of Data Breach: If a data breach occurs that compromises your personal information, we will notify you in accordance with New York SHIELD Act requirements and applicable federal and state laws.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Marketing Communications: You may unsubscribe from marketing emails or promotional communications at any time by following the opt-out instructions in our emails or by contacting us.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights or have concerns regarding the security of your personal information, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory guidelines.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• • Fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.
  • Comply with legal, tax, accounting, or security obligations.
  • Resolve disputes and enforce contractual agreements.

After the retention period expires, data is permanently deleted or anonymized.

8. International Data Transfers

If you are located outside the United States, your personal information may be transferred to and processed in other jurisdictions with different data protection laws. We employ safeguards, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for EU-U.S. data transfers, to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

9. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• • Enhance website functionality and user experience.
  • Collect analytical insights to improve Services.
  • Deliver targeted marketing and advertisements.

Opt-Out Options:

• • Disable cookies in your browser settings.
  • Use Do Not Track (DNT) features in your web browser.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect regulatory changes or modifications in our business practices. When significant updates occur, we will notify users via email or an announcement on our website. We encourage you to review this policy regularly.

11. Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or data protection practices, please contact us at: Email: [email protected]