Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 27, 2025

Privacy at a Glance

This summary provides a quick overview of our privacy practices. For full details, please read the entire policy.

What data we collect Account info (name, email), user-submitted content (walks, photos, comments), social activity (Pack members, favourites), and technical data (IP address, browser type).
Why we collect it To run the website, provide social features, manage your account, improve our services, and ensure security.
Who we share it with Your public profile and content are visible to the public. We also share data with essential service providers like our web host and analytics partners (e.g., Google).
Your key rights You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. You can contact us at [email protected] to exercise your rights.

1. Introduction

Welcome to Dog Walks Near Me (the "Site"), operated by Trail Tails Ltd ("we", "us", "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website (www.dogwalksnearme.co.uk) and use our services.

This policy should be read together with our Terms of Use and Cookie Policy.

2. Data Controller

Trail Tails Ltd is the data controller responsible for your personal data. For any privacy-specific requests or questions, please see the "Contact Us" section at the end of this policy.

3. What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect, use, store, and transfer different kinds of personal data about you which we have grouped together as follows:

  • Identity & Account Data: Includes your name, email address, password (hashed), and profile picture.
  • User-Generated Content (UGC): Includes walk information, photos, comments, and reviews you submit.
  • Social & Activity Data: Includes your public profile information, your list of "Pack" members (friends), Pack requests you send and receive, and your public activity on the Site, such as walks you favourite or mark as completed.
  • Financial Data: We do not store your financial data. All payments are processed securely by our payment provider, Stripe.
  • Technical & Usage Data: Includes your IP address, browser type, operating system, and how you interact with our Site (e.g., pages visited).
  • Communications Data: Includes your preferences in receiving marketing from us and records of our correspondence with you.

4. How We Collect Your Data

We use different methods to collect data from and about you, including:

  • Directly from you: When you create an account, post content, subscribe to our newsletter, or contact us.
  • Automatically: As you navigate the Site, we collect Technical & Usage Data via cookies and similar technologies (e.g., Google Analytics). For more information, see our Cookie Policy.
  • From third parties: Such as advertising networks (e.g., Google AdSense).

5. Legal Basis for Processing Your Personal Data

We will only use your personal data when the law allows us to. Most commonly, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

  • Contractual Necessity: To perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you (e.g., creating your account and providing our core services).
  • Legitimate Interests: Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests. Our legitimate interests include operating and improving the Service, keeping our platform secure, preventing fraud, and enabling social features.
  • Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent to process your data for a specific purpose (e.g., sending you marketing newsletters or placing non-essential cookies).
  • Legal Obligation: Where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.

6. How We Use Your Data

We use your data to: operate and maintain the Site; create and manage your account; enable social features such as connecting with other users and viewing activity feeds; process payments for premium services; personalise your experience; communicate with you; analyse site usage to make improvements; moderate content; ensure security; and (with your consent) deliver relevant advertising.

7. How We Share Your Data

Important: Information Visible to the Public and Other Users

Please remember that your profile name, profile picture, and any content you post (walks, photos, comments) are publicly visible. Other registered users can search for you by your name, and members of your "Pack" will be able to see your recent public activity. Do not post any information you want to keep private.

We may share your data in the following situations:

  • With the Public & Other Users: As described in the notice above.
  • With Third-Party Service Providers: We share information with vendors who perform services for us, such as payment processing (Stripe), analytics (Google Analytics), and web hosting. These vendors only have access to the data needed to perform their functions and are contractually obligated to protect it.
  • For Legal Reasons: We may share information if required by law or if we believe in good faith that such action is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of our company, our users, or others.
  • In a Business Transfer: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your personal data may be transferred.

8. Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored on secure servers, primarily in the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet-based system can be 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Data Retention

We retain your data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Our retention periods are as follows:

  • User Account Data: We retain your account data for as long as your account remains active. If you delete your account, your personal data will be deleted or anonymised within 30 days.
  • User-Generated Content: Content you post (walks, comments) may be retained indefinitely after your account is deleted to maintain the integrity of the Service, but it will be disassociated from your personal account details (anonymised).
  • Contact Form Submissions: Inquiries sent via our contact form are typically deleted within 12 months.
  • Technical Logs: Anonymised technical data may be kept for longer periods for statistical analysis.

10. Your Data Protection Rights (under UK GDPR)

Under UK data protection law, you have various rights. These include the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate personal data.
  • Erasure: Request that we delete your personal data.
  • Restriction: Request that we restrict the processing of your personal data.
  • Portability: Request that we transfer your personal data to another organisation.
  • Object: Object to our processing of your personal data.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on it as a legal basis.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to all legitimate requests within one month. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

11. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to help our Site function, to analyse performance, and to deliver personalised advertising. For a detailed breakdown of the specific cookies we use and for further information on how to manage them, please see our full Cookie Policy.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website and to help us improve our content and performance. Google Analytics collects information such as your IP address, device type, browser, pages visited, and time spent on each page. This data is anonymised where possible and used in aggregate.

You can opt out of Google Analytics by adjusting your cookie preferences or using Google’s opt-out tool.

Affiliate Links and Tracking

Some links on our website are affiliate links provided through the Awin network. If you click one of these links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. When you click an affiliate link, you may be redirected through Awin's tracking system, which may set cookies or use other technologies to track the referral.

For more information, please see Awin’s privacy policy.

12. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16.

13. International Data Transfers

Some of our third-party service providers (e.g., Google, Stripe) are based outside the UK/EEA, so their processing of your personal data will involve a transfer of data outside this area. When this happens, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to give the data the same level of protection it has in the UK.

14. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. We encourage you to read their privacy statements.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us: