Privacy Policy

1. Who this policy is for

This policy explains how AVDTags handles personal information when you create an account, manage a pet, scan a tag, place an order or contact us.

For privacy questions or requests, email [email protected].

2. Information we handle

• Account information: your name, email, password hash, sign-in details and preferences.
• Owner and pet information: contact details you save, pet names, breeds, dates, photos, notes and tag links.
• Orders: items purchased, customer and delivery details, order references and payment status. Payment providers handle the payment details submitted through their checkout.
• Alerts and support: found-pet alerts, reports, support requests and any saved message history associated with them.
• Technical information: scan and activity timestamps, IP addresses, browser/device information and records used to operate and protect the website.

You do not have to fill in optional pet or owner fields. Leaving out information may limit how useful a profile is to a finder.

3. Why we use it

• To provide the service: creating and verifying accounts, managing profiles, linking tags, handling orders and responding to service requests. This supports our contract with you.
• To operate and protect AVDTags: preventing abuse, investigating reports, diagnosing faults and maintaining the service. These are our legitimate interests, balanced against your rights.
• For optional email choices: sending found-pet alerts and six-month tag-check reminders when you opt in. You can withdraw that consent.
• To meet legal obligations: handling records or requests where the law requires it.

Account verification, password recovery and order-related messages are service messages, separate from optional found-pet emails and reminders.

4. Public profiles: Safe and Lost

Anyone with the public profile link can open it. A tag or QR code is one way to reach that link. Only save contact details you are comfortable sharing if your pet is marked Lost.

Changing back to Safe hides owner details again. AVDTags cannot retrieve information someone has already copied, downloaded or shared elsewhere.

5. Found-pet alerts and reminders

Pressing I’ve Found This Pet sends an alert to the owner on AVDTags. It does not automatically change the pet’s status or publish hidden contacts.

• Found-pet email alerts: an optional checkbox allows us to send these to your saved notification email.
• Tag-check reminders: a separate checkbox allows an email reminder every six months to test your tags and review profile details.
• Changing your mind: turn the relevant setting off in your account. You can also unsubscribe from reminder emails.
• Mobile notifications: the mobile/SMS option is currently unavailable.

Opting into an email does not make that email public while your pet is Safe.

6. Verifying a new email account

Before an email-and-password account is activated, we temporarily store the signup name, email, password hash and a hashed verification token. The email link expires after 1 hour.

Successful verification creates the account and removes the temporary signup record. Abandoned signup records become eligible for removal after seven days and are cleared during request-triggered cleanup.

For supported social sign-in, we use the provider’s verified email and identity information to connect the account. We do not receive your Google or Apple password.

7. Who may receive information

We do not sell your personal information.

• Profile visitors: receive the information available under your pet’s status and visibility settings.
• Service providers: hosting, email delivery, payments and supported sign-in providers process information needed for their part of the service.
• Support and administration: authorised administrators may access records to manage the service, investigate alerts or deal with a request.
• Legal recipients: information may be disclosed where required by law or to handle a legal claim.

If you post a keepsake image or lost-pet poster elsewhere, that website or recipient handles the shared information under its own terms. Review optional contact details before sharing a lost-pet poster.

8. How long information is kept

Account and pet information is kept to provide your active account and profiles. You can edit or delete profiles and request account deletion.

Deleting an account removes the active account and pet profiles. It does not necessarily erase order records, reports, security logs or saved support/message records. Retention depends on the purpose of the record, any unresolved issue and applicable legal obligations. Contact us to ask about a specific record or request erasure.

The temporary signup record has a separate cleanup process, explained in section 6.

9. Your privacy rights

Depending on the circumstances and the applicable data-protection law, you may ask us to:

• Provide access to your personal information.
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Erase information, restrict its use or consider an objection to processing.
• Provide a portable copy where that right applies.
• Record your withdrawal of consent for optional processing.

Email [email protected] to make a request. We may need to confirm your identity to protect your information.

You can also raise a concern with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

10. Protecting your information

We use access controls and other technical measures to protect the service. Account passwords are stored as hashes, rather than readable passwords. Verification links are time-limited.

No website can guarantee complete security. Use a strong, unique password, keep verification links private and tell us if you suspect unauthorised account access.

11. Cookies and browser storage

Features such as sign-in, returning to a scanned tag, checkout and saved preferences can use cookies or browser storage to work correctly.

You can manage cookies and stored website data through your browser. Clearing or blocking them may sign you out or reset saved preferences. Third-party sign-in and payment services also have their own privacy and cookie information.

12. Children and shared information

AVDTags is intended for adults. Anyone under 18 should use the service with a parent or guardian.

Avoid adding children’s personal details or unnecessary sensitive information to a pet profile, free-text field or shared poster. Only add someone else’s contact details or photo if you are authorised to do so.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the service or the way information is handled changes. The current version and its update date are published here.

Review the policy when you use a new feature or change what you choose to share.

14. Contact AVDTags

For questions about this policy, a privacy request or a concern about your information, email [email protected].

Include enough information for us to identify the relevant account or issue, but do not send your password or unnecessary sensitive documents.