Privacy Policy
PawSmart (pawsmartpet.com) is an independent, reader-supported publication. This policy explains what information we and our service providers collect when you visit the site or subscribe to our newsletter, how it is used, and the choices you have.
Information we collect
We do not require an account and we do not ask for personal information to read PawSmart. Three kinds of data are involved in running the site: technical data collected automatically (such as IP address, browser type, pages viewed and approximate region, via cookies and similar technologies), analytics data in aggregate, and — only if you choose to subscribe — the email address you give our newsletter form.
Newsletter (MailerLite)
If you subscribe to the PawSmart newsletter, the email address you enter (and your name, if you provide one) is collected and processed by MailerLite, our email service provider, for one purpose: sending you the PawSmart newsletter and the downloads you request. We do not sell or rent subscriber data, and we do not use it for advertising. Every email we send includes an unsubscribe link that takes effect immediately. You can also ask us at any time to delete your subscriber data entirely by emailing woof@pawsmartpet.com — we action deletion requests within 30 days. MailerLite stores this data on our behalf; their handling is described in MailerLite's privacy policy.
Analytics (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand, in aggregate, which guides people find useful — page views, session length, approximate geography and the type of device used. Google Analytics sets cookies and processes IP addresses to produce these aggregate reports. We do not use it to identify individual visitors. You can learn how Google processes this data at How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services, and you can opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Advertising, cookies and web beacons
PawSmart uses Google AdSense to display advertising. Google and its partners are third parties that may use cookies, web beacons and IP addresses to serve and measure ads, including ads personalised to your interests based on your visits to this and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to PawSmart and/or other sites on the Internet. This is described in detail at How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
Where required by law (including for visitors in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland), a consent message is shown before advertising cookies are used, and ads are only personalised in line with the choices you make there. You can change your ad personalisation settings at Google Ads Settings, and opt out of personalised advertising from many providers at aboutads.info/choices.
Affiliate links
PawSmart participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you click an affiliate link, the retailer may set cookies so that qualifying purchases are attributed to PawSmart. As an Amazon Associate, PawSmart earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate cookies are set by the retailer, not by us, and are governed by the retailer's own privacy policy.
Your choices
You can: block or delete cookies in your browser settings (the site keeps working); use the analytics and advertising opt-outs linked above; unsubscribe from the newsletter with one click in any email; and email woof@pawsmartpet.com to ask what data we hold about you or to request deletion. We answer every such request.
Data retention and international transfers
Newsletter data is kept only while you remain subscribed (plus a short period to honour unsubscribe requests) and is deleted on request. Aggregate analytics data is retained on Google's standard retention settings. Our service providers (Google, MailerLite, Netlify — our hosting provider) may process data on servers outside your country, including in the United States; each provider applies its own safeguards for international transfers as described in its privacy policy.
Children's privacy
PawSmart is a general-audience website about dog ownership and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we change how data is handled — for example, adding a new service provider — we will update this page and its date. Significant changes will be noted on the page itself.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your data: woof@pawsmartpet.com. PawSmart is operated by its founder and editor, Adrian Furletti.