Privacy policy
Effective as of January 1, 2024
Welcome! You have arrived at VETSports website or VETSports mobile application (the “Website and mobile app”). The Website and mobile app is owned and operated by VETSports, Inc. (“VETSports”). Along with VETSports’ Terms & Conditions, this “Privacy Policy” governs your use of the Website and mobile app, and also applies to your use of interactive features, widgets, plug-ins, applications, content, downloads and/or other services that we own and control and make available through the Website and mobile app, regardless of how you access or use the Website and mobile app, whether via personal computers, mobile devices or otherwise. This Privacy Policy does not apply to our data collection activities offline or otherwise outside of the Website and mobile app (unless otherwise stated below), and does not govern the data practices of third parties that may interact with the Website and mobile app. It is important that you read and understand the entire Privacy Policy before using the Website and mobile app. By using the Website and mobile app, you consent to the use and sharing of your information and data, and other activities, as described in this Privacy Policy and the Term & Conditions.
I. What Information Does the Website and mobile app Collect?
A. Information You Provide to Us. We may ask you to provide to us via the Website and mobile app (or you may choose to submit or post) certain categories of information such as: (1) personally identifiable information, which is information that identifies you personally, such as your name and e-mail address (“Personal Information”); and (2) demographic information, e.g., your title, type of business and business location (“Demographic Information”). We may collect this information through various forms and in various places on the Website and mobile app, including account registration forms, “contact us” forms, or when you otherwise interact with the Website and mobile app. To the extent we combine Demographic Information with your Personal Information we collect directly from you on the Website and mobile app, we will treat the combined data as Personal Information under this Privacy Policy.
B. Information We Collect or Store as You Access and Use the Website and mobile app. In addition to any Personal Information or other information that you choose to submit to us via the Website and mobile app, we and our third-party service providers may use a variety of technologies that automatically (or passively) store or collect certain information whenever you visit or interact with the Website and mobile app (“Usage Information”). This Usage Information may be stored or accessed using a variety of technologies that may be downloaded to your personal computer, browser, laptop, tablet, mobile phone or other device (a “Device”) whenever you visit or interact with the Website and mobile app. To the extent we associate Usage Information with your Personal Information we collect directly from you on the Website and mobile app, we will treat it as Personal Information.
This Usage Information may include:
§ Your IP address, UDID or other unique identifier (“Device Identifier”). A Device Identifier is a number that is automatically assigned to your Device used to access the Website and mobile app, and our computers identify your Device by its Device Identifier;
§ Your Device functionality (including browser, operating system, hardware, mobile network information);
§ The URL that referred you to our Site;
§ The areas within our Website and mobile app that you visit and your activities there, including remembering you and your preferences;
§ Your Device location;
§ Your Device characteristics; and
§ Certain other Device data, including the time of day, among other information.
We may use various methods and technologies to store or collect Usage Information (“Tracking Technologies”). Tracking Technologies may set, change, alter or modify settings or configurations on your Device. A few of the Tracking Technologies include, without limitation, the following (and subsequent technology and methods later developed):
Cookies. A cookie is a data file placed on a Device when it is used to visit the Website and mobile app. A Flash cookie (or locally shared object) is a data file placed on a Device via the Adobe Flash plug-in that may be built-in to or downloaded by you to your Device. HTML5 cookies can be programmed through HTML5 local storage. Unlike Flash cookies, HTML5 cookies do not require a plug-in. Regular cookies may generally be disabled or removed by tools that are available as part of most commercial browsers, and in some but not all instances can be blocked in the future by selecting certain settings. Each browser you use will need to be set separately and different browsers offer different functionality and options in this regard. Also, these tools may not be effective with regard to Flash cookies or HTML5 cookies. For information on disabling Flash cookies go to Adobe’s web site www.adobe.com. Please be aware that if you disable or remove cookies, Flash cookies, or HTML5 cookies on your Device, some parts of the Website and mobile app may not function properly, and that when you revisit the Website and mobile app your ability to limit cookies is subject to your browser settings and limitations.
Web Beacons. Small graphic images or other web programming code called web beacons (also known as “1x1 GIFs” or “clear GIFs”) may be included in the Website and mobile app’s pages and messages. Web beacons may be invisible to you, but any electronic image or other web programming code inserted into a page or e-mail can act as a web beacon. Web beacons or similar technologies may be used for a number of purposes, including, without limitation, to count visitors to the Website and mobile app, to monitor how users navigate the Website and mobile app, to count how many e-mails that were sent were actually opened or to count how many particular articles or links were actually viewed.
Embedded Scripts. An embedded script is programming code that is designed to collect information about your interactions with the Website and mobile app, such as the links you click on. The code is temporarily downloaded onto your Device from our web server or a third party service provider, is active only while you are connected to the Website and mobile app, and is deactivated or deleted thereafter.
ETag, or entity tag. A feature of the cache in browsers. It is an opaque identifier assigned by a web server to a specific version of a resource found at a URL. If the resource content at that URL ever changes, a new and different ETag is assigned. Used in this manner ETags are a form of Device Identifier. ETag tracking may generate unique tracking values even where the consumer blocks HTTP, Flash, and/or HTML5 cookies.
We may use Tracking Technologies for a variety of purposes, including:
Strictly Necessary. We may use cookies or other Tracking Technologies that we consider are strictly necessary to allow you to use and access the Website and mobile app, including cookies required to prevent fraudulent activity, improve security or allow you to make use of shopping‑cart functionality.
Performance‑Related. We may use cookies or other Tracking Technologies that are useful in order to assess the performance of the Website and mobile app, including as part of our analytic practices or otherwise to improve the content, products or services offered through the Website and mobile app.
Functionality‑Related. We may use cookies or other Tracking Technologies that are required to offer you enhanced functionality when accessing the Website and mobile app, including identifying you when you sign‑in to the Website and mobile app or keeping track of our specified preferences, including in terms of the presentation of content on the Website and mobile app.
We obtain your consent to our information storage or collection Tracking Technologies by providing you with transparent information in our Privacy Policy and providing you with the opportunity to make a choice to disable cookies as set forth above. Please note that we are not required to obtain your consent to the information collection Tracking Technologies identified above that are strictly necessary. You have the right to object to the use of other information storage or collection technologies. There may be other Tracking Technologies now and later devised and used by us in connection with the Website and mobile app.
C. Information Third Parties Provide About You. We may, from time to time, supplement the information we collect directly from you on the Website and mobile app with outside records from third parties for various purposes, including to enhance our ability to serve you, to tailor our content to you, to evaluate your candidacy to partner as a licensee, and to offer you other opportunities that may be of interest to you. To the extent we combine information we receive from those sources with your Personal Information we collect on the Website and mobile app, it will be treated as Personal Information and we will apply this Privacy Policy to such combined information, unless we have disclosed otherwise.
II. How Do We Use the Information Collected?
A. Use of Information by Us. We may use your Personal Information, Demographic Information or Usage Information that is subject to this Privacy Policy: (1) to provide you with information or services or process transactions that you have requested or agreed to receive including to send you electronic newsletters, or to provide you with special offers or promotional materials; (2) to enable you to participate in a variety of the Website and mobile app’s features; (3) to process your registration with the Website and mobile app, including verifying your information is active and valid; (4) to improve the Website and mobile app or our services, to customize your experience on the Website and mobile app, or to serve you specific content that is relevant to you; (5) to contact you with regard to your use of the Website and mobile app and, in our discretion, changes to the Website and mobile app and/or Website and mobile app’s policies; (6) for internal business purposes such as grant compliance; and (7) for purposes disclosed at the time you provide your information; or (8) as set forth in Section III of this Privacy Policy (below).
Please note that information submitted to the Website and mobile app via a “contact us” or other similar function may not receive a response; we will not use that information so provided to contact you for marketing purposes unrelated to your inquiry unless you agree otherwise.
III. How and When Do We Share Information with Third Parties?
We may share non-Personal Information, such as aggregated user statistics, with third parties. We may share your Device Identifiers with third parties along with data related to you and your activities. We do not share your Personal Information that we have collected directly from you on the Website and mobile app with third parties for those third parties’ direct marketing purposes. In addition, we may share the information we have collected about you, including Personal Information, as disclosed at the time you provide your information and as described below or otherwise in this Privacy Policy. VETSports may disclose your information as follows:
A. Third Parties Providing Services on Our Behalf. We may use third-party vendors to perform certain services on behalf of us or the Website and mobile app, such as hosting the Website and mobile app, designing and/or operating the Website and mobile app’s features, tracking the Website and mobile app’s activities and analytics, and enabling us to send you special offers or perform other administrative services. We may provide these vendors with access to user information, including Device Identifiers and Personal Information, to carry out the services they are performing for you or for us.
B. To Protect the Rights of VETSports, Website and mobile app Users, and Members. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we may also disclose your information if we believe in good faith that doing so is necessary or appropriate to: (i) protect or defend the rights, safety or property of VETSports or third parties (including through the enforcement of this Privacy Policy, our Terms & Conditions [LINK], and other applicable agreements and policies); or (ii) comply with legal and regulatory obligations (e.g., pursuant to law enforcement inquiries, subpoenas or court orders). To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we have complete discretion in electing to make or not make such disclosures, and to contest or not contest requests for such disclosures, all without notice to you.
C. Affiliates and Business Transfer. We may share your information, including your Device Identifiers and Personal Information, Demographic Information and Usage Information with our parent, subsidiaries and affiliates (“Affiliates”). We also reserve the right to disclose and transfer all such information: (i) to a subsequent owner, co-owner or operator of the Website and mobile app or applicable database; or (ii) in connection with a merger, consolidation, restructuring, the sale of substantially all of our interests and/or assets or other corporate change, including, during the course of any due diligence process.
IV. Links To Third-Party Sites AppearING on the Website and mobile app
When you are on the Website and mobile app you may be directed to other Website and mobile apps that are operated and controlled by third parties that we do not control. We are not responsible for the data collection and privacy practices employed by any of these third parties. These other Website and mobile apps may associate their Tracking Technologies with you, independently collect data about you, including Personal Information, and may or may not have their own published privacy policies. Be sure to review any available policies before submitting any personally identifiable information to a third-party Website and mobile app.
V. How Do I Change My Information and Communications Preferences?
You are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the information you submit to us, such as your contact information provided as part of registration. The Website and mobile app may allow you to review, correct or update Personal Information you have provided through the Website and mobile app’s registration forms or otherwise, and you may provide registration updates and changes by contacting us at [email address]. If so, we will make good faith efforts to make requested changes in our then active databases as soon as reasonably practicable. Please note that it is not always possible to completely remove or delete all of your information from our databases and that residual data may remain on backup media or for other reasons. You may cancel or modify our e-mail marketing communications you receive from us by following the instructions contained within our promotional e-mails or in some cases by logging into your Site account and changing your communication preferences. This will not affect subsequent subscriptions and if your opt-out is limited to certain types of e-mails the opt-out will be so limited. Please note that we reserve the right to send you certain communications relating to your account or use of the Website and mobile app, such as administrative and service announcements and these transactional account messages may be unaffected if you choose to opt-out from receiving our marketing communications.
If you have any questions about the Privacy Policy or practices described in it, you should contact VETSports at: [randy_tharp@vetsports.org].
VI. What About Security?
We incorporate commercially reasonable safeguards to help protect and secure your Personal Information. However, no data transmission over the Internet, mobile networks, wireless transmission or electronic storage of information can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Please note that we cannot ensure the security of any information you transmit to us, and (as further set forth in the Terms & Conditions) you use the Website and mobile app and provide us with your information at your own risk.
VII. What About Changes to the Privacy Policy?
VETSports reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Privacy Policy and your use of the Website and mobile app indicates your consent to the privacy policy posted at the time of use. However, we will not use your previously collected Personal Information in a manner materially different than represented at the time it was collected without your consent. To the extent any provision of this Privacy Policy is found by a competent tribunal to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed to the extent necessary for the remainder to be valid and enforceable.