Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 24th July, 2023

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully before using Our Service.

Welcome to Puffin Sites’ Privacy Policy for www.petratties.com. In this Privacy Policy, we explain how we collect, use, and disclose your personal data in relation to your use of our services.

If you would like to access our other policies and disclaimers, please visit:

• Our About Us & Disclaimers Page
• Our Cookies Policy
• Our Terms & Conditions Page

1. Interpretation and Definitions

1.1. Interpretation

The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions. The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural.

1.2. Definitions

1.2.1. For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions:

1.2.2. Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where “control” means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for election of directors or other managing authority.

1.2.3. Country refers to: United Kingdom

1.2.4. Company (referred to as either “the Company”, “We”, “Us” or “Our” in this Agreement) refers to Puffin Sites, Apartment 4, 27 Manley Gardens, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3EF.

1.2.5. Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone or a digital tablet.

1.2.6. Service refers to the Website.

1.2.7. Third-party Social Media Service means any services or content (including data, information, products or services) provided by a third-party that may be displayed, included or made available by the Service.

1.2.8. Website refers to Pet Ratties, accessible from https://www.petratties.com

You means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable.

2. Who we are

Puffin Sites is responsible for processing your data. Puffin Sites is the company responsible for creating and managing Our Service/Pet Ratties website.

3. About this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how BuzzFeed collects, uses, and discloses your personal data. We collect personal data when you use our website(s), and other online products. This Privacy Policy does not apply to any third parties you may interact with through our Services.

To allow us to donate to animal charities and to provide you with products and promotions, Pet Ratties partners with third parties in the means of affiliate links and advertisements. If those third parties will receive your personal data, we will make their privacy policy available to you.

4. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We will update this Privacy Policy every time we make changes. When we make significant changes, we will notify you via our homepage, or via email if you’re subscribed to Pet Ratties mailing list, or via our Social Media.

This Privacy Policy will always contain the latest information on our privacy practices.

5. How to Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this Privacy Policy, or our handling of your personal data, your rights regarding use, or with to exercise your rights, please reach us via email at contact@PuffinSites.com, or contact us via our Get in Touch page.

6. Personal Data You Provide to Us

• Signing up to our Mailing List: We will collect and retain your name and email address. This won’t be shared with any third party or other company, person, or entity.
• Purchase Data: When you make a purchase from a third party after clicking on an affiliate link through our Pet Ratties website, we will receive data about the purchase so that we can receive acknowledgement for sending you to that third party.

7. Data We Collect Automatically

When you access or use our website, we use cookies and similar technologies that collect information about your browser and device.

• Log Data: We automatically receive and record information from your device or web browser when you interact with our Pet Ratties website. We collect your internet protocol (IP) address, mobile device ID, time zone setting, language preference, operating system, platform, internet service provider (ISP), and links you have clicked on or shared with others.

• Cookie Data: When you visit our Pet Ratties websites, there are “cookies” and similar tracking technologies on your device, including cookies and web beacons (“Cookies”). For more information about cookies and how to disable them, please see our Cookie Policy section below.

We may also use these technologies to collect data about your activities on our website over time, so that we can improve our services.

8. Location Data

We use your IP address to infer your approximate location. We may also collect the language option or country you choose. When we provide certain services, such as providing you with a version of our Services that is localized to your country, we link location data to other information we have collected about you to provide you with a localized experience.

9. Special Category Data

When we conduct research or carry out surveys and you participate in our research or surveys, we may collect sensitive personal data about you, for example information about your political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, racial or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. We will get your explicit consent for our collection, use of this data as required by law.

10. Aggregated Data

10.1 We analyze and aggregate personal data we collect such as the number and frequency of your visits to our website. We do this to create anonymized metrics and statistical information that does not identify you as an individual.

10.2 We combine data about you with information about other Pet Ratties users to allow us to create audience segments of aggregated data. For example, we use this to create and analyze statistical, demographic and usage data.

If we combine aggregated data with your personal data, we treat the combined information as personal data and follow this Privacy Policy’s guidelines.

11. How We Collect Personal Data

11.1 Directly From You: When you give us your personal information directly, or example, your name and email address when you subscribe to Pet Ratties newsletter, ask for user support, or contact us for any reason.

11.2 Using Cookies: We collect information about your devices and browsing actions and interests by using cookies and similar technologies. For more details on how this works, our Cookie Policy section provides more details.

11.3 From our Advertising Partners: Third parties who provide advertising and related services (such as analytics providers and ad networks, our “Advertising Partners” may give us your personal data so that we can compare it to personal data we hold in order to determine if you are the same individual (this is sometimes called “cookie-matching”). We may collect data from unaffiliated third parties so we can better understand you and provide you with information and offers that may be of interest to you.

11.4 From our Advertisers and Affiliate Partners: We may receive your personal data from third parties when you buy things through our Services or when you buy things from a third party after clicking on an affiliate link in our content. This may include information on items purchased and purchase price, and delivery services.

11.5 From Social Media Platforms: If you contact us using Facebook, Twitter,

Instagram or Google credentials. we will automatically collect information about you such as your Facebook, Google, Twitter, or Instagram user ID/username. We use any information collected from a social media platform only in accordance with the social media’s policies and any preferences you’ve selected.

12. How We Use Your Data

We collect your data to provide and improve our services. We also use the data we collect to:

• Send you notifications, updates, support and administrative messages, security alerts, as well as responding to your customer service requests, questions and comments.
• Communicate with you about services, products, events, offers, as well as news and information we think will be of interest to you.
• Make inferences about your preferences and interests. These are inferred from data we collect about the content you have interacted with, how long you interacted with them, how often, and the nature of your interaction with the content.
• Allow us to personalize and improve our Pet Ratties website with advertisements, content and features that match your interests.
• Customize content from our third-party Advertising Partners, such as personalized third-party advertising).
• We may use your information such as your email address to identify you when you access our website via different devices.
• Monitor and analyze trends, activities and usage so we can personalize and improve our Pet Ratties website.
• Protect, detect, investigate and prevent illegal activities and fraudulent transactions. This allows us to protect the rights and property of Pet Ratties and its users.
• Carry out any other purpose dictated at the time the data was collected.

13. Sharing Your Personal Data

In general, any personal data remains with Puffin Sites, but we may share your personal data as follows:

• Within Pet Ratties/Puffin Sites: We will provide your personal data to Puffin Sites’ legal entities where necessary to allow us to fulfil contract or pre-contractual measures, or where we have a legitimate interest in doing so or a legal obligation.
• With service providers who process data, such as services that provide data analytics, research, marketing and financial services, i.e. Google Analytics. This data doesn’t include your name and email address.
• With Advertising Partners to customize your experience and better tailor the services, products, marketing and advertising on PetRatties and on their third party sites. Our Advertising Partners are companies that provide services that help us provide advertising to you. These companies may use their own tracking technologies to collect or request information about you.
• In rare circumstances, we may be legally required to disclose or share your personal data without your consent, such as when complying with a court order or with law enforcement. In these circumstances, we will only disclose your data if we have a good-faith belief that sharing is required under applicable legal obligations.

Other Sharing

We may also share de-identified or aggregated information, which cannot be used to identify you. We only attempt to re-identify de-identified information when required and permitted by law.

We may also share a hashed version of your email address with Advertising Partners so that they can facilitate customized ad campaigns and offers. “Hashing” transforms your email into an unrecognizable series of numbers and letters, e.g. a “hashed” version of joe@PetRattiesIsTheBest.com would be k498io2h3@PetRattiesIsTheBest.com.

14. UK and EU users: International Transfer of Your Personal Data

14.1 Our offices are located in the UK, so this is the only country where we process your personal data. We have put intra-group controls into place, including the standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission, to uphold the protection of your rights.

14.2 Third parties with whom we share your data may be based outside of the UK, so their processing of your personal data could involve a transfer of your data to outside the UK.

14.3 Our agreements with those third parties include Commission-approved standard contractual clauses, or uphold standards that safeguard your information and your legal rights.

15. Retaining your Personal Data

15.1 We only retain your personal data for as long as we need it for the purposes it was collected.

15.2 When we determine how long to keep your information, we take into consideration the amount, sensitivity, nature, why we need it, potential risks of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure, and any relevant legal requirements such as legal retention and destruction periods.

15.3 Puffin Sites may anonymize your personal data, meaning it’ll no longer be associated with you but allows us to have more accurate results for research and statistical purposes.

16. Social Media Platforms and Other Third-Party Sites

16.1 Puffin Sites’ websites may include links to apps and third-party sites such as social media platforms. Clicking on such links will likely allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We have no control over the data third-party sites retain or how they process your data, so we very much encourage you to read their privacy policies and terms.

We are not responsible for any damages or other harms that arise when you leave the Pet Ratties site and interact with Third-Party Sites, however, we take your safety and well-being very seriously, so if you have any issues with a website or app that you have accessed via Pet Ratties, contact us at PetRatties@PuffinSites.com.

Investigation into issues will begin within 24 hours of you contacting us, and results from the investigation can lead to suspending access to the Third Party service.

Our visitors’ safety and wellbeing always take priority.

16.2 We offer social sharing features with integrated tools. This allows you to share content on our Pet Ratties site with friends, family, and your other followers on social media platforms. We may use the analytics tools provided by the social media platforms, as these allow us to understand how people interact with our social media presence.

16.3 We receive aggregated statistical information from social media platforms about the performance of our posts and promoted content, such as numbers of views. This data is anonymized and aggregated by the social media platform before it reaches us.

16.4 We may use the paid content and advertising tools provided by the social media platforms to help us with advertising campaigns to promote our content or our advertisers’ content. For example, we may use the “Promoted Pins” tool on Pinterest to promote content to visitors on Pinterest.

Again, we only receive anonymized aggregated statistical information from the social media platforms such as interactions with our ads including amount of views and how many times it’s been shared.

16.5 Any data collected from social media platforms is done so with a legitimate interest in interacting with our audience on social media, and may include how to promote our content on the platform.

For more information on how your data is collected and processed in connection with social media platforms and social sharing features, please use the following social media privacy policy page links below:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/en/privacy
• Facebook and Instagram – https://en-gb.facebook.com/policy.php
• YouTube: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/en/privacy-policy
• Pinterest: https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy
• Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/privacy
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy
• Snapchat: https://www.snap.com/en-US/privacy/privacy-center/
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/privacy-policy/
• LINE: https://terms.line.me/line_rules

17. Privacy Information for EEA and UK users

17.1 Information for UK/EU Users

We only use your personal data for the reasons we collect it, unless legally required to use it for another reason. If we do need to use your personal data for another reason, we’ll explain why we’ve legally been required to do so.

EU and UK residents have rights regarding the information that we hold about you.

Here’a a brief overview of these rights:

• Access: You have the right to request and obtain a copy of the personal data that we hold about you. We are legally obligated to provide you with this information. This applies to data that you have given to us, i.e. your name and email address. You have the right to receive this information in an electronic format, paper format, and to provide others with copies, if you wish to do so.

• Correction: You have the right to correct any personal data we hold about you if it is factually inaccurate. This right does not apply to opinions or expressed views in editorial content.

• Deletion: In some limited circumstances, we can are legally responsible to delete any data you request to be deleted. This is called the “right to be forgotten”. This right is not applicable where we are required by law to retain the data.

• Objection: You have the right to object us processing your personal data where we rely on “legitimate interests” as our legal basis for processing, however, we may be able to still process your data if our interest outweighs your objection.

• Withdrawing Consent: You have the right to withdraw consent of any personal data we are processing on the basis of “your consent”. In which case, we will stop that processing unless we have a legal basis to continue.

17.2 What’s Consent?

This is where users give permission for us to start collecting and using their personal information. For consent to be valid, it must meet the specific requirements outlined in the GDPR, including freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. It’s important that users are provided with access to withdraw their consent at anytime.

17.3 What’s Legitimate Interest?

The UK’s ICO defines “legitimate interest” as the processing of personal data on the basis of legitimate interest and doesn’t require a specific purpose or the user’s consent. The process of data on this basis can be carried out by us or a third party.

For more information on Consent and Legitimate Interest, please visit Iubenda’s article on consent vs legitimate interest.

17.4 How to Exercise Your Rights

If you would like to exercise your rights in dealing with your data, please contact us via contact@puffinsites.com, and we’ll send you the form you’ll need. Once your identity has been verified, the form will allow you to access your data, request that your data be deleted, as well as unsubscribe or be removed from our email list.

You can also request other specific services with this form. We acknowledge and respect your privacy and will try to comply with your request as soon as reasonably practical and consistent with applicable law. In the event that we refuse your request, we will explain why.

17.5 Complaints

You have the right to complain about data privacy matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (www.ico.org.uk), or any relevant data protection regulator in your country of residence. You can also reach the ICO via telephone on 0303 123 1113. We encourage you to raise your concerns with us first, so that we can try to resolve them. For more information on complaints, please visit our Complaints Policy Page.

18. Privacy Information for United States Residents

People residing in certain states have more rights and choices that described in Sections 1-15 of this Privacy Policy. This section will elaborate on those additional rights.

18.1 United States Privacy Rights

• Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete certain personal data we have about you.

• Access: You can request that we explain the categories of personal data we collect about you. These categories include: the categories of sources of your data, the business or commercial purpose for collecting your personal data, and the categories of third parties with whom we share personal data. There is also a Data Portability Request, this is where you can request that we provide you with access to and/or a copy of specific data we have collected about you.

• Correction: You have the right to have any data about you corrected if you believe it to be inaccurate. This right does not extend to opinions such as views expressed.

• No Discrimination: Under US Privacy Law, you have the right to not be discriminated against.

• Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to decide to not have your personal data shared or “sold” for interest, or targeted advertising on third party websites. “Sold” or “sale” may include allowing third parties to receive data such as cookies, and/or browsing data, or your IP address, to deliver targeted advertising on our website or other websites. We have relationships with third-party websites because it allows us to provide you with free content, provide you with relevant content, and allows us to donate to charities.

19.2. How to Exercise Your Rights

19.2.1. Opt-out of Sale/Share/Targeted Advertising

If you would like to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal data for targeted advertising, please contact us at PetRatties@PuffinSites.com.

We do respond to browser-based opt-out signals sent through “Global Privacy Control”.https://globalprivacycontrol.org/. We also respond to all other browser-based signals that meet the requirements of state privacy laws. If you use an opt-out preference signal, we will apply the opt out to the device or browser which send the opt-out preference signal.

It is important to note that because opt-out signals are based on Cookies, you will need to opt-out again if you visit our website from a different device or browser, or if you have cleared your Cookies.

We do not sell or share the personal data of minors under 18 years of age unless required to do so by law.

19.2.2. Exercising Your Other Privacy Rights

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your name and email address. You are able to request access or deletion to this data by emailing us at contact@PuffinSites.com.

Your verifiable consumer request must include:

• Sufficient information that allows us to reasonably verify that you are the person of whom we have collected personal data, or an authorized representative.

• Describe your request with sufficient detail so we are able to understand, assess, and respond appropriately.

We are unable to respond to any request or provide personal data, if we are unable to verify your identity or authority. We will only ever use personal data provided in a verifiable consumer request to verify the requestor’s identity or authority.

Verifiable consumer requests will only be accepted from the person we hold personal data about, or a person authorized to act on their behalf. An exception to this is that you can make a verifiable consumer request on behalf of your child if said child is a minor.

A verifiable consumer request for access or deletion can only be made twice within a 12-month period. It’s important to note that some data may be exempt from access, deletion, data portability, and correction requests under US Privacy Law. An example of this is that we need to retain certain data to be able to provide you with our website, or to comply with legal obligations.

In the event that we have been unable to honor your request and you would like to appeal, or you are not satisfied with the outcome, you have the right, within a reasonable period of time to contact us. Please contact us via contact@PuffinSites.com with your Privacy Appeal.

19.3. Notice for California Users

This section explains our practices regarding the use, collection, and disclosure of your personal data within 12 months prior to the last update of this Privacy Policy (please see date at top of page). We’ll also use this section to explain your rights regarding your personal data applicable to U.S. state privacy laws.

19.3.1. Categories of Information We Collect:

• Your contact details: Your name and email address
• Demographic Information: We may collect data such as sex, ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation, if you complete one of our surveys.
• Internet Activity Information: Such as your interaction with our website, our adverts, or our emails.
• Inferences: This may include inferences about your personal preferences.
• Online Identifiers: For example IP address, cookie IDs, internal identification numbers, ADID/IDFA
• Location data: Your country, state, or city.
• Application Information: This applies to job applicants. It includes data such as your driver’s license or other state identification card number, your passport number, and your education and employment information.

19.3.2. Categories of Sources:

• You
• Your device
• Data partners

19.3.3. The Purpose of Our Collection

• To improve our website by better understanding diversity and inclusion needs.
• To comply with applicable law, regulations, as well as regulatory and legal processes.
• To communicate with you, including the processing of your requests.
• For the administration and protection of our business.
• To advertise and market our website, and the products and services of our advertisers.

19.3.4. When Do We Share, Sell, or Disclose Personal Data?

Data that may be shared or sold

• Internet activity information, inferences and online identifers: Advertising networks, data analytics, vendors, social networks, and other Advertising Partners.

Data that may be disclosed

• Contact details: Your contact details may be disclsoed to email service vendors, social network partners, other vendors who provide services on our behalf, sweepstakes and promotions partners.
• Demographic information: Our research and survey vendors, and our advertisers.
• Purchase history & preferences: Our affiliate partners.
• Internet activity information, inferences and online identifiers: Advertising networks such as Google Ads, internet service providers, operating systems and platforms, social networks, and data anayltics vendors.
• Location data: Internet service providers, operating systems, platforms, and data analytics vendors.

We may also share your personal data with government entities when we are required to do so by law.

19.4. Statistics on California Consumer Requests We Receive

The CCPA states that metrics must be provided about the number of requests we received each year and how they have been fulfilled. This information is detailed in the table below.

	Requests Submitted	# Requests Received	# Complied with in whole or in part	# of Requests Denied	Mean # of Days to Respond to Request
Requests to Access	0	0	0	0	0
Requests to Delete	0	0	0	0	0
Requests to Opt Out	0	0	0	0	0

*Please note: The numbers in the table reflect requests received from all individuals, not solely California consumers.

19.5. California Shine the Light Disclosure

Under California Civil Code sections 1798.83 – 1798.84, Californian residents have the right to request a notice identifying the categories of personal customer data that we share with our third parties for their own direct marketing purposes, and providing contact information for such affiliate and/or third parties. If you would like a copy of this notice, please submit a written request to Puffin Sites, Apartment 4, 27 Manley Gardens, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3EF.

20. Contact us

If you have any questions or queries regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at PetRatties@PuffinSites.com