Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 2026

At Horwich Canine Company, we take the privacy of our clients (and their humans!) very seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services.

1. Who We Are

Horwich Canine Company is based in Horwich, Bolton, United Kingdom. For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), we are the "Data Controller" of your personal data.

If you have any questions about this policy, you can contact us at:

Email: info@horwichcanines.co.uk
Phone: 07706447261
Mailing Address: 504 Manchester Rd., Blackrod, Bolton BL6 5SW

2. The Information We Collect

We only collect info that is absolutely necessary to give you and your dog the best possible service. This includes:

Identity & Contact Data: Your name, phone number, email address, and home address (essential for home visits or pickup/drop-off services).
Dog Profile Data: Your dog’s name, breed, age, medical history, behavioural traits, vet details, and vaccination status.
Financial Data: Payment details if you book and pay for services directly through our website.
Technical & Usage Data: Your IP address, browser type, and how you interact with our website (collected automatically via cookies to help our site run smoothly).

3. How We Use Your Information

We promise never to sell your data. We only use your information to:
Provide our services (dog walking, training, boarding, or sitting).
Manage your bookings, accounts, and process your payments.
Respond to your inquiries, text messages, or emails.
Share adorable updates or photos of your dog during our sessions.
Send occasional newsletters or updates about our services (only if you opt-in).
Comply with legal, tax, or regulatory obligations in the UK.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the UK GDPR, we rely on the following legal grounds to handle your data:

Contractual Necessity: We need your details to fulfil our service agreement with you.
Consent: You have given us clear permission (e.g., ticking a box to receive a newsletter or allowing us to post your dog on our social media).
Legitimate Interests: To improve our business, keep our website secure, and protect the safety of the dogs in our care.

5. Sharing Your Data

We keep things local and confidential. However, we may share your data with trusted third parties in these limited scenarios:

Emergency Vet Care: If your dog requires urgent veterinary attention while with us, we will share relevant medical history with a registered vet.
Service Providers: Secure third-party platforms that help us run our business (like our website host, booking software, or payment processors like Stripe/PayPal).
Legal Obligations: If required by law enforcement or UK regulatory bodies.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

We only keep your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Typically, if you stop using our services, we securely delete or anonymize your data after 7 years (to comply with UK tax records).

7. Your Rights Under UK Law

You have complete control over your data. As a UK resident, you have the right to:

Access a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
Request erasure (the "right to be forgotten") of your data, subject to legal hold restrictions.
Object to or restrict our processing of your data.
Withdraw your consent at any time for things like marketing or social media photos.

How to make a request: If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please email us. We will respond within one month, and there is no fee.

If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues (www.ico.org.uk).

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or UK law. We will post any updates directly to this page and change the "Last Updated" date at the top.