Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

The Pawfect Pick ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website pawfectpick.com and its associated social media accounts. We publish research-based product reviews, care tips, and guides for dog and cat owners.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us

• Contact form: your name, email address, subject, and message when you contact us.
• Email updates: your email address if you choose to subscribe to our newsletter. [REVIEW: keep only once you launch a newsletter]
• Comments: your name, email, and comment if you leave a comment on our site.

Information collected automatically

• Usage data: pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and how you arrived at our site.
• Device data: browser type, device type, operating system, and approximate location (such as country or city) based on your IP address.
• Cookies and similar technologies: see section 4.

We do not knowingly collect sensitive information such as payment details. Purchases you make through our links happen on the retailer's website, under the retailer's privacy policy.

3. How we use your information

• To reply to your messages and questions
• To send newsletters or updates you've signed up for (you can unsubscribe at any time)
• To understand which content is helpful so we can improve the site
• To track affiliate referrals so we can earn commissions that keep the site free
• To keep the site secure and prevent spam or abuse
• To comply with legal obligations

4. Cookies and tracking

Cookies are small files stored on your device. We and our partners use them for:

• Essential cookies: needed for the site to work properly and securely.
• Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors use the site. [REVIEW: keep if you use Google Analytics or similar]
• Affiliate cookies: placed by retailers such as Amazon when you click an affiliate link, so the retailer knows the purchase was referred by us.
• Advertising cookies: used by ad partners to show and measure ads, which may be based on your interests. [REVIEW: keep only if you run display ads]

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the site works.

5. Third-party services

We work with trusted third parties that may collect information under their own privacy policies:

• Affiliate programs: including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other pet retailers. These partners use cookies to track referrals and purchases.
• Analytics: such as Google Analytics, which collects usage data to help us understand site traffic. You can opt out using Google's browser add-on. [REVIEW]
• Email service providers: to send newsletters to subscribers. [REVIEW]
• Advertising partners: to display ads on our site. [REVIEW]
• Hosting and security providers: to host and protect the website.
• Social media platforms: embedded content or share buttons from platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest may collect data under those platforms' policies.

6. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We only share information:

• With the service providers listed above, to operate the site
• When required by law, or to protect our rights, users, or the public
• If The Pawfect Pick is involved in a merger, sale, or transfer of assets, in which case your information may be transferred as part of that transaction

7. How long we keep it

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy. Contact form messages are kept as long as needed to respond and follow up. Newsletter subscriber information is kept until you unsubscribe. Analytics data is kept according to our analytics provider's retention settings.

8. Security

We use reasonable measures to protect your information, including secure (HTTPS) connections and trusted hosting providers. No website or method of transmission is completely secure, so we can't guarantee absolute security.

9. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct or delete your information
• Opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link
• Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for targeted advertising, where applicable
• Withdraw consent where we rely on it

US residents: residents of certain states, including California, have additional rights under state privacy laws, such as the right to know what personal information is collected and the right to request its deletion. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

Visitors from the UK and EU: you have rights under the GDPR, including the rights of access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, and objection, and the right to complain to your local data protection authority.

To make a request, contact us. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

10. Children's privacy

Our site is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Links to other websites

Our site contains links to retailers and other websites. We aren't responsible for the privacy practices of those sites, so we encourage you to read their privacy policies before sharing information with them.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we'll change the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be highlighted on the site.

13. Contact us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or want to make a privacy request, please contact our team.