Privacy Policy
# Privacy Policy for Hugo and Friends **Effective Date:** 9 September 2026 Welcome to **Hugo and Friends** (hugoandfriends.co.uk). We are committed to protecting and respecting the privacy of our clients and their pets. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. --- ## 1. Information We Collect We may collect and process the following categories of information about you and your pet: * **Client Personal Data:** Full name, residential address (including access details/lockbox codes where applicable), phone number, email address, and emergency contact details. * **Pet Data:** Your dog's name, breed, age, vaccination history, medical conditions, behavioral notes, and veterinary clinic details. * **Payment Data:** Billing details, transaction histories, and payment information. *Note: Digital payments are processed securely via encrypted third-party processors; we do not store full credit card numbers on our systems.* * **Media:** Photos or videos of your dog taken during walks or pet care sessions (used for client updates or marketing, subject to your explicit consent). --- ## 2. How We Use Your Data We use the information we hold about you to: * Fulfill our contractual obligations to provide dog walking and pet care services. * Coordinate access to your property securely. * Contact you, your designated emergency contact, or your vet in the event of an emergency. * Process payments and issue invoices. * Send you updates, photos, or service-related announcements. --- ## 3. Lawful Basis for Processing Under the UK GDPR, we rely on the following legal grounds to process your personal data: 1. **Contractual Necessity:** Processing is required to perform the services you have hired us to do. 2. **Consent:** Where you have explicitly opted in (e.g., allowing us to share photos of your dog on our website or social media). 3. **Legal Obligation:** To comply with tax laws, insurance requirements, or law enforcement requests. --- ## 4. Data Sharing and Third Parties We respect your privacy and will **never** sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We only share information with: * **Emergency Vet Services:** If your pet requires immediate medical attention while in our care. * **Trusted Service Providers:** Third-party tools necessary to run our business, such as secure scheduling software, invoicing systems, or payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). * **Legal/Regulatory Authorities:** Only if required by law or to protect our legal rights. --- ## 5. Data Security and Retention * **Security:** We employ strict digital security measures (password protection, encryption, and secure devices) and physical safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or disclosure of your information. * **Retention:** We only keep your personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, or to satisfy legal, accounting, and insurance reporting requirements (typically up to 7 years following the termination of services). --- ## 6. Your Rights Under UK data protection law, you have specific rights regarding your personal information, including: * **The right to access** the personal data we hold about you. * **The right to rectification** if any of your information is inaccurate or incomplete. * **The right to erasure** ("the right to be forgotten"), subject to certain legal obligations. * **The right to withdraw consent** at any time (e.g., for photo usage). To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. --- ## 7. Contact Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please reach out to us: * **Website:** [hugoandfriends.co.uk](https://hugoandfriends.co.uk) * **Email:** [hugoandfriends@myyahoo.com]