Privacy Policy

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Sacred Paws ("Sacred Paws," "we," "us," or "our") Effective Date: July 8, 2026 Website: www.sacredpaws.dog

Sacred Paws is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned street dogs, primarily in the Tijuana area, and connecting them with adoptive families in the United States. We also offer community programs such as fostering, volunteering, and sponsorship. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect information when you visit our website, donate, apply to adopt, volunteer, or otherwise interact with us.

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By using our website or services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our website or provide us with your information.

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1. Information We Collect

a) Information You Provide Directly

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Donors: When you make a donation, we (or our payment processors) collect your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and payment information. Donations on our site are processed through PayPal, Venmo, and Bloomerang. We do not store your full credit card, debit card, or bank account numbers on our own servers; that information is collected and processed directly by our payment processors under their own privacy and security policies.

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Adopters: If you apply to adopt a dog, we may collect your name, address, phone number, email, information about your household and living situation, references, photo or video of your home (if a home check is required), and details relevant to evaluating your suitability as an adopter.

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Volunteers and Community Program Participants: If you sign up to volunteer, foster, sponsor a dog, or take part in a community program, we may collect your name, contact information, availability, relevant experience, emergency contact information, and any waivers or agreements you sign.

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General Contact: If you email us, fill out a contact form, or message us on social media, we collect the information you choose to share, such as your name, contact details, and the content of your message.

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b) Information Collected Automatically

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When you visit our website, we (and any analytics tools we use, such as Google Analytics) may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address

• Browser type and device information

• Pages visited and time spent on the site

• Referring website

• General location (city/region level, derived from IP address)

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We may use cookies or similar tracking technologies to support this. See Section 5 (Cookies) below.

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c) Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, such as veterinary partners, transport partners, or other rescue organizations, if you are involved in the adoption, fostering, or transport of a dog through our organization.

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2. How We Use Your Information

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We use the information we collect to:

• Process donations and issue donation receipts for tax purposes

• Evaluate and process adoption applications

• Coordinate fostering, volunteering, and community program participation

• Communicate with you about your donation, application, or involvement with Sacred Paws

• Send newsletters, updates, or fundraising communications (you may opt out at any time)

• Maintain records required for our nonprofit status and financial reporting

• Improve our website and programs

• Comply with legal, regulatory, or law enforcement requirements

• Protect the safety and wellbeing of the dogs in our care and the people we work with

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We do not use adopter, donor, or volunteer information for automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

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3. How We Share Your Information

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We do not sell your personal information.

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We may share information with:

• Payment processors (PayPal, Venmo, Bloomerang) to process donations

• Veterinary clinics or partner organizations involved in the care, transport, or adoption of a specific dog

• Service providers who help us operate our website, send emails, or manage donor and adopter records, under confidentiality obligations

• Government or regulatory authorities, if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Sacred Paws, our staff, volunteers, adopters, or animals in our care

• Successor organizations, in the unlikely event of a merger, reorganization, or transfer of our nonprofit operations

 

Because our rescue operations span the United States and Mexico, your information may be transferred to, stored, or processed in either country as needed to coordinate a dog's rescue, care, transport, or adoption.

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4. Data Retention

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We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including maintaining donor records for tax and accounting purposes, and adopter records to support the wellbeing of dogs we've placed. Retention periods may also be affected by legal, accounting, or reporting requirements applicable to nonprofits.

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5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

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Our website may use cookies and similar technologies (such as Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use our site and to improve our content and donation experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting them, though this may affect how parts of our website function.

We do not currently use tracking technologies for third-party advertising purposes. If this changes, we will update this policy.

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6. Your Choices and Rights

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• Communications: You may opt out of marketing or newsletter emails at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" or contacting us directly.

• Access/Correction: You may contact us to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information, subject to our recordkeeping obligations as a nonprofit (for example, we may need to retain donation records for tax purposes even after a deletion request).

• California Residents: Depending on the nature and scale of our data processing, some California privacy law provisions (CCPA/CPRA) may apply to us, and nonprofits may also qualify for certain exemptions. If you are a California resident and would like more information about your rights, please contact us and we will respond appropriately.

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7. Children's Privacy

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Our website and adoption/donation processes are intended for individuals 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13. If a community program involves minors (for example, a family volunteer day), we collect information about the minor only through a parent or guardian, and only as needed for the program.

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8. Data Security

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We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the personal information we collect. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

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9. Third-Party Links

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Our website may contain links to third-party websites (such as PayPal, Venmo, Bloomerang, Petfinder, or social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies separately.

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10. Changes to This Policy

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We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision. Continued use of our website after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

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11. Contact Us

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If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us at:

Sacred Paws Website: www.sacredpaws.dog Email: hello@sacredpaws.dog