Privacy policy

Privacy Policy — Paws and Whiskers

Introduction
At Paws and Whiskers ("we," "us," or "our"), we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or make a purchase from us.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

  • Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses
  • Payment Information: Credit card details, billing information (processed securely through our payment processors)
  • Account Information: Username, password, order history, preferences
  • Photos & Personalization Content: Images you upload for custom or personalized products (such as pet photos), along with any style, size, or customization choices you make
  • Communication Data: Messages you send us, customer service interactions, reviews and feedback

Information Collected Automatically

  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, click-through rates, search queries
  • Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience (see Cookie Policy below)

How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information to:

  • Process and fulfill your orders and payments
  • Produce personalized products from the photos and customization details you provide
  • Communicate with you about your purchases and account
  • Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
  • Send marketing communications (with your consent where required)
  • Improve our website, products, and services
  • Prevent fraud and enhance security
  • Comply with legal obligations

How We Share Your Information
We may share your information with:

  • Fulfillment Partners: Our print-on-demand provider (Gelato) receives only the information needed to produce and ship your order — including the photo you upload for personalized products, your customization choices, and your shipping address.
  • Service Providers: Shipping carriers, payment processors, email service providers, and website hosting
  • Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or to protect our rights
  • Business Transfers: In case of merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets

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

How We Handle Your Uploaded Photos
Photos you upload for personalized products are used solely to create your order. We share them only with our fulfillment partner to produce your item, and we do not use your photos for advertising or sell them to anyone. We retain uploaded images only as long as needed to fulfill your order, provide support, and handle any reprints or disputes, after which they are deleted in the normal course of business.

International Data Transfers
As we serve customers globally, your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

Your Privacy Rights

For US Residents (Including California — CCPA)
You have the right to:

  • Know what personal information we collect about you
  • Access your personal information
  • Delete your personal information (with certain exceptions)
  • Opt-out of the sale of personal information (we don't sell your data)
  • Non-discrimination for exercising your rights

For EU/UK Residents (GDPR)
You have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Rectify inaccurate personal data
  • Erase your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
  • Restrict processing of your personal data
  • Data portability
  • Object to processing
  • Withdraw consent at any time

For All Users
You can:

  • Unsubscribe from marketing emails
  • Update your account information
  • Request deletion of your account or uploaded photos
  • Contact us about privacy concerns

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

  • Fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy
  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

Transaction records are typically retained for up to 7 years to meet accounting and legal obligations. Uploaded photos are retained only as long as needed to fulfill and support your order.

Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Cookies Policy
We use cookies and similar technologies for:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality
  • Analytics Cookies: To understand how visitors use our site
  • Marketing Cookies: Meta Pixel, to provide relevant advertisements and measure ad performance
  • Preference Cookies: To remember your settings and preferences

Meta Pixel: We use Meta Pixel for marketing and advertising measurement. Where required by law (such as in the EU/UK), we obtain consent before activating marketing trackers through our cookie consent banner. This helps us show relevant ads on Facebook and Instagram and measure our advertising effectiveness.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie consent banner.

Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those sites, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

Children's Privacy
Our services are not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Information
For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please reach out through our Contact page. For EU/UK residents: if you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Jurisdiction-Specific Information

California Residents: This Privacy Policy serves as our CCPA disclosure. California residents may request information about our disclosure of personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes.

Nevada Residents: Nevada law allows Nevada residents to opt-out of the sale of certain personal information. We do not sell personal information as defined under Nevada law.

Canada Residents: We comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy laws.

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with major privacy regulations including GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, and other applicable laws.