Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 15/09/2024

At ChipHERO, we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal data when you visit or interact with our website, as well as our obligations under the Microchipping of Dogs and Cats Regulations 2023 and other relevant legislation.

1. About Us

ChipHERO is a microchip database for pets. Our primary purpose is to support pet keepers by securely storing and managing pet microchip information, enabling the reunification of lost pets with their keepers. We share information with legally-authorized individuals such as veterinary professionals, welfare organizations, and local authorities in accordance with the Microchipping of Dogs and Cats Regulations 2023.

2. Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

  • Pet Keeper Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, and other contact details.
  • Pet Information: Microchip number, pet name, species, breed, color, age, and medical information.
  • Authorized Agent Information: If you are a veterinarian or other authorized individual accessing the database, we collect your name, organization, professional license number, and contact details.
  • Website Usage Data: IP addresses, browser type, and information about your use of the website through cookies and similar technologies (refer to our Cookie Policy for further details).

3. How We Use Your Data

We process your data for the following purposes:

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data on the following legal bases:

  • Consent: Where you have provided explicit consent (e.g., when creating an account or registering your pet).
  • Contractual Necessity: When processing is necessary to fulfill the contract we have with you (e.g., registering a microchip).
  • Legal Obligation: When processing is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including the Microchipping of Dogs and Cats Regulations 2023.
  • Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as ensuring the smooth operation of our services, improving user experience, or safeguarding pets.

5. Sharing Your Data

To meet our obligations and to ensure that pets are reunited with their keepers, we may share your personal data with the following parties:

  • Veterinarians and Animal Welfare Organizations: We may share pet microchip information with veterinarians and welfare organizations to facilitate the return of lost pets to their keepers.
  • Local Authorities and Law Enforcement: We may share information with local councils, police departments, and other relevant authorities as required by the Microchipping of Dogs and Cats Regulations 2023 or other legal requirements.
  • DEFRA and Regulatory Bodies: We may be required to provide data to DEFRA and other regulatory bodies for compliance purposes.
  • Service Providers: We may share your data with third-party service providers who help us operate the website and database, such as cloud hosting or IT support services. These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and only process it in line with our instructions.

6. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Right to Erasure: You may request the deletion of your data, although this may not apply in cases where we are legally required to retain it.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your data if it is based on legitimate interests.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including complying with legal, accounting, or reporting obligations. Specifically, microchip registration data will be retained in line with the Microchipping of Dogs and Cats Regulations 2023 and related legislation.

8. Data Security

We take the security of your data seriously. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and regular security assessments.

However, please note that the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the security of your data during transmission to our website.

9. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to collect data about your use of the website. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how you can manage your cookie preferences, please see our Cookie Policy.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy applies only to ChipHERO. If you follow a link to any other website, please review the privacy policy of that site before submitting any personal data. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites.

11. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and where appropriate, we will notify you via email or other communication channels. Please check back regularly to stay informed about how we protect your data.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us at:

ChipHERO
Address: Poplar Farm, Epworth, DN9 1LQ
Email: [email protected]