Privacy Policy

Effective as of July 2025

 

What Information Do We Collect?

 

Personal Information

We only collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you create an account and/or participate in our auction by making bids or emailing us.

The personal information we collect typically includes:  names, phone numbers, and email addresses.

Payment information is not collected on this website, but is processed via our Best Friend Pet Adoption Paypal account which is linked from this site.

 

What information is automatically collected using Cookies, Web Beacons and similar technologies?

Just like many businesses, we use “cookies” on our site to automatically collect certain types of information.  A “cookie” is a piece of data stored on a site visitor’s hard drive. It helps improve your experience and access to our site and is used for our internal analytics and reporting purposes, and to maintain the security and operation of our site.

If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies typically last for a few days, and screen options cookies last for longer. If you select “Remember Me”, your login typically will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies should be removed.

This information does NOT reveal your specific identity (like your name or contact information) but may include the following:

  • Log Data – this is service-related, diagnostic, usage and performance information our servers automatically collect when you access our site and which we record in log files.  This may include data such as your IP address, device information, and browser type.
  • Usage Data – this is information related to your activity navigating our website, such as date/time stamp, pages and files viewed, searches, actions you take and which features you use and any device event information like errors and system activity.
  • Device Data – this may include the device type (computer, tablet, phone) you use to access our site, device ID numbers, browser type, hardware model, internet service provider, IP address, mobile carrier, operating system, and system configuration information.
  • Location Data – we may collect your device’s location, which can be precise or imprecise.  How much we can collect depends on the type and setting of the device you use to access our site. You may choose to turn off location services when accessing our site via your browser settings.

If you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.


When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

We know that privacy is an important topic to our Auction Participants and we (“we”, “our” or “us”), are committed to protecting your privacy by complying with this Privacy Policy (“Policy”).

This Policy describes how and why we might collect, store, use, and/or share (“process”) your information when you use our services (“Services”), such as when you:

  • Visit our website at https://bfpa-auction.org
  • Initiate electronic communications with this website (i.e. submit bids, connect to our email)
  • Engage with us about our Services, such as by email, phone, video calls or text, as well as via any other activities or events

This Policy should also help you understand your privacy rights and choices.  If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services.

This Policy should be read in conjunction with our Terms and Conditions, which references this Policy.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at fundraising@bfpa.org.

 

Why do we process your information?

We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our site and services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with the law.  We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent.  We process your information only when we have a valid legal reason to do so.

 

When and with whom do we share your personal information?

We do NOT sell or share your information with third parties for marketing or similar purposes.

We may share customer testimonials from third parties such as Google or Facebook reviews, which may contain personal information.

We may need to share your personal information in the following specific situations:

  • Business Transfers:  We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.
  • Business Partners:  We may share your information with a limited set of business partners, if and when we would engage them to assist in the delivery of our products or services that you requested.
  • If and when we use Google Maps Platform APIs, we may be required to share your information with those platforms per their Terms of Use.
  • If required by law

 

How long do we keep your information?

We keep your information as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy and for our legitimate business needs.  When your personal information is no longer needed, or you request us to do so, we will either delete or anonymize such information as part of our regular data and record maintenance schedule.

 

How do we keep your information safe?

We have implemented appropriate and reasonable technical and organization security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process.  However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology is 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information.

 

Do we collect information from minors?

We do NOT knowingly collect or solicit data from, or market to children under 18 years of age, nor do we knowingly sell such personal information.  By using our site or services, you represent that you are at least 18 years of age, or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of our site and/or services.

 

What Are Your Privacy Rights? 

Based on the applicable laws of your country or state of residence in the United States, you may have the right to request access to and receive details about the personal information we maintain about you and how we have processed it, correct inaccuracies, get a copy of, or delete your personal information.  You may also have the right to withdraw your consent to our processing of your personal information.  These rights may be limited in some circumstances by applicable law.

  • Revoking Consent:  If we are relying on your express or implied consent to process your personal information, you may withdraw this consent by contacting us at the email below.
  • Opting Out:  You may opt out of any marketing or promotional communications by clicking the unsubscribe link in any emails that we send or by contacting us at email below.

To revoke consent, opt out of marketing communications, or request information about the data we have collected, please contact us at fundraising@bfpa.org.

 

Controls for Do-Not-Track Features

Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and application include a Do-Not-Track (“DNT”) feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected.  To date, no uniform technology standard for recognizing and implementing DNT signals has been established.  Therefore, we currently do not respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanisms that automatically communicate your choice to not be tracked online.

 

Do We Make Updates to This Notice?

We may update this Privacy Policy as necessary to stay compliant with relevant laws.  The updated version will be indicated by an updated “Revised” date at the top of the page.  If we make material changes that impact data we’ve collected from you prior to the changes, we will notify you directly via the email we have for your in our records.