This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit our website, interact with our content, contact us, or use our services (including SMS/text messaging where applicable).

By using this website or providing us with your information (including via online forms, email, phone, or SMS), you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information from you in several ways:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

You may choose to provide personal data directly, for example when you:

• Leave a comment on the website
• Fill out a contact form or request information
• Create or update a user account (if applicable)
• Subscribe to newsletters or marketing communications
• Communicate with us via email, phone, or SMS/text message

This information may include:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number (including mobile number)
• Website URL (if you provide it in comments)
• Any content you submit (comments, form messages, attachments, etc.)

1.2 Comments

When visitors leave comments on the site, we collect:

• The data shown in the comments form
• The visitor’s IP address
• Browser user agent string (to help with spam detection)

Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

An anonymized string created from your email address (a hash) may also be provided to analytics or security tools to help us detect abuse and understand site usage.

1.3 Media Uploads

If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors to the website can download and extract location data from images displayed on the site.

2. SMS/Text Messaging

If you provide your mobile phone number (for example, through a contact form or by texting us directly), we may use it to send you SMS/text messages related to:

• Responses to your inquiries
• Appointment reminders or scheduling updates
• Service or account-related notifications
• Occasional informational or marketing messages (where permitted)

2.1 How You Consent to SMS

You consent to receive SMS/text messages when you:

• Submit a form on our website that includes a phone number and references consent to receive messages;
• Contact us by phone or SMS and provide your mobile number for communication; or
• Otherwise provide your mobile number and indicate you would like to receive updates or information.

Message frequency may vary. Standard message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile carrier and plan.

2.2 How to Opt Out

You can opt out of receiving SMS/text messages at any time by replying:

• “STOP” to any message we send, to unsubscribe; or
• “HELP” for more information about our messaging program.

Even if you opt out of marketing-related texts, we may still send critical service-related or transactional messages where permitted by law (for example, important account or safety notices).

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences (such as login status and display options)
• Improve website performance and user experience
• Understand how visitors use our website

3.1 Cookies Related to Comments and Login

• If you leave a comment on our site, you may choose to save your name, email address, and website in cookies. This is for your convenience so you don’t have to re-enter details for future comments. These cookies typically last for one year.
• If you visit our login page, we set a temporary cookie to check whether your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
• When you log in (if applicable), we set cookies to save your login information and screen display preferences:Login cookies generally last for two days.
  • Screen options cookies may last for a year.
  • If you select “Remember Me,” your login may persist for about two weeks. Logging out removes login cookies.
• If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie may be saved in your browser to store the post ID of the article you just edited. This cookie typically expires after one day and does not store personal data.

3.2 Analytics and Performance

We may use analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use our website and to improve our content and services. These tools may collect:

• IP addresses
• Device and browser information
• Pages visited and actions taken
• Time spent on pages

These analytics are generally processed in aggregated or anonymized form and are not used to identify you personally, but they do rely on your browser accepting cookies and/or similar tracking technologies.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings and, in some cases, opt out of certain analytics by using browser add-ons or tools provided by the analytics provider.

4. Embedded Content from Other Websites

Articles and pages on this site may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles, social media widgets, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if you had visited that other website directly.

These third-party sites may:

• Collect data about you
• Use cookies
• Embed additional third-party tracking
• Monitor your interaction with embedded content (including tracking your interaction if you have an account and are logged in to that third-party site)We do not control the data collection of these external sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

5. How Long We Retain Your Data

We keep personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy or as required by law.

Examples:

• Comments: If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata may be retained indefinitely so we can recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically rather than holding them for moderation.
• User Accounts: For users who register on our website (if any), we store the personal information provided in their user profile. Users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except for their username). Site administrators can also see and edit that information.
• Contact Form Submissions: Contact form entries may be retained for a reasonable period for customer service, record-keeping, and legal compliance.

6. Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell or rent your personal data. We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Trusted third-party vendors who help operate the website, provide hosting, analytics, email/SMS delivery, security, or other services. These providers only have access to the information they need to perform their functions and are obligated to protect it.
• Security and Spam Detection Tools: Automated services used to detect spam, abuse, or security threats (e.g., for comment spam filtering).
• Legal and Compliance: When required by law, regulation, court order, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others.

7. Your Rights Over Your Data

If you have an account on this site or have left comments, you may have the following rights, depending on your location and applicable law:

• Access: You can request an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us.
• Correction: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Deletion: You can request that we erase personal data we hold about you, subject to any data we are required to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
• Objection/Restriction: In some cases, you may be able to object to or request restriction of certain processing activities (for example, marketing communications).To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided at the end of this policy. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.

8. Where We Send Your Data

• Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service, which may be hosted in another country.
• Some data may be processed or stored on servers operated by third-party providers located in other jurisdictions, which may mean your data is transferred outside your country.Where applicable, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international data transfers.

9. How We Protect Your Data

We use reasonable technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to help protect your personal data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures may include:

• Secure hosting environments
• Access controls and authentication for administrative systems
• Regular software updates and security patchesHowever, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Data Breach Procedures

If we become aware of a data breach that may compromise your personal information, we will:

• Investigate the incident and take appropriate remedial steps
• Notify affected individuals where required by law
• Work with relevant authorities and service providers as necessary

11. Third-Party Data and Automated Decision-Making

• Third-Party Data: In limited cases, we may receive information about you from third parties (for example, analytics providers or security services) to help us understand site usage or detect fraud/abuse.
• Automated Decision-Making/Profiling: We do not engage in automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects solely based on automated processing. Analytics or spam detection tools may perform automated assessments (e.g., flagging likely spam), but these do not involve decisions about your legal or financial status.

12. Industry and Regulatory Disclosures

If specific industry regulations or legal obligations apply to this website or its operators (for example, certain professional, financial, or healthcare regulations), we will comply with those requirements and may update this policy to reflect additional obligations.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, our practices, or your rights, please contact us at:

DVEN
support@disabledvetscardonation.org

Main Website: disabledvetscardonation.org

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.

Changes take effect when posted. Your continued use of the website or our services after changes are posted signifies your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.