Last updated: March 1, 2026

Privacy and Cookie Policy

www.happytailsdetective.com ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy and Cookie Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services. We comply with applicable laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for EU residents and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents. By using our site, you consent to the practices described herein.

Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

  • Personal Data: Information you voluntarily provide, such as name, email address, phone number, or service inquiries submitted through contact forms or account registrations.
  • Log Data: Automatically collected information including IP address, browser type, operating system, referring/exit pages, and clickstream data.
  • Device Information: Details about your device, such as hardware model, unique device identifiers, mobile network information, and operating system version.

We do not collect sensitive personal information unless explicitly required for our pet detective services and with your consent.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and deliver personalized content. Cookies are small data files stored on your device. You can manage cookies through your browser settings, but disabling them may limit site functionality.

Categories of Cookies:

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for the website to function properly. They maintain user sessions and ensure basic site security. Legal basis: Legitimate interest (to provide core website functionality). No consent required.
    • session_id: Maintains user session state. (Provider: Website, Duration: Session)
  • Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our site to improve performance and user experience. Legal basis: Consent (GDPR) or legitimate interest (non-EU).
    • _ga: Distinguishes unique users. (Provider: Google Analytics, Duration: 2 years)
    • _gid: Distinguishes users. (Provider: Google Analytics, Duration: 24 hours)
    • _gat: Throttles request rate. (Provider: Google Analytics, Duration: 1 minute)
  • Marketing Cookies: Used for ad personalization and targeting. Legal basis: Consent.
    • personalization_id: Ad personalization. (Provider: Twitter/X, Duration: 2 years)
  • Performance Cookies: None detected.

To manage your preferences at any time, click Manage Your Cookie Preferences. Google Analytics complies with Google's privacy policies; we do not use it for advertising without consent.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Provide and improve our pet detective services.
  • Respond to inquiries and communicate with you.
  • Analyze site usage and trends via analytics.
  • Personalize content and advertisements.
  • Prevent fraud and ensure site security.
  • Comply with legal obligations.

Legal Basis for Processing

Under GDPR, we process data based on:

  • Consent (e.g., non-essential cookies).
  • Contract (e.g., service fulfillment).
  • Legitimate interests (e.g., site analytics, security).
  • Legal obligations.

For CCPA, we do not sell personal information but may share for business purposes.

Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

We share data with trusted third parties, including:

  • Google Analytics for usage insights (anonymized where possible).
  • Twitter/X for marketing (with consent).
  • Service providers for hosting, email, and analytics (bound by data processing agreements).

We do not sell your data. Sharing occurs only as necessary, with safeguards.

International Data Transfers

Data may be transferred to the US or other countries. For EU data, we use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or adequacy decisions to ensure GDPR-level protection. Google services comply with EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined, typically:

  • Service inquiries: 2 years.
  • Analytics data: As per cookie durations (up to 2 years).
  • Logs: 90 days.

Data is securely deleted or anonymized thereafter.

Your Privacy Rights

You have the following rights:

  • GDPR (EU/UK): Access, rectification, erasure ("right to be forgotten"), restriction, portability, objection to processing (including profiling), and withdraw consent.
  • CCPA (California): Disclosure of data collection/sharing, deletion, opt-out of sale/sharing (we do not sell), and non-discrimination.

To exercise rights, contact us (see below). We respond within 30-45 days. California residents: No financial incentives for data.

Children's Privacy

Our site is not directed at children under 13 (US) or 16 (EU). We do not knowingly collect data from children. If we discover such data, we delete it promptly. Parents/guardians may contact us regarding child data.

Data Security Measures

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encryption, access controls, firewalls, and regular audits, to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no system is completely secure.

Do Not Track Signals

We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals from browsers, as no universal standard exists. Instead, use our cookie management tool or browser settings.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Changes will be posted here with the updated "Last Updated" date. Significant changes will be notified via email or site notice. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

Contact Information

For privacy inquiries, please use the Contact Us methods available on our website or contact us directly at 085 116 3907.