Gulf Coast Humane Society ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website at https://dev.gchscc.org. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website. Please read this policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the site.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

• Submit an adoption inquiry or application
• Apply to volunteer or foster
• Make a donation
• Sign up for our newsletter
• Contact us via email, phone, or online forms
• Create a favorites list of animals

This information may include your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, payment information, and any other details you choose to provide.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain information is collected automatically, including:

• IP address, browser type, operating system, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring URLs and search terms used to find our site
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 4)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process adoption inquiries, volunteer/foster applications, and donations
• Communicate with you about your interactions with us
• Send newsletters and updates about our programs (with your consent)
• Improve our website, services, and user experience
• Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
• Prevent fraud and ensure the security of our website
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services, each of which may collect data as described below. We encourage you to review their respective privacy policies.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to:

• Essential Cookies — Required for the website to function (e.g., session management, security, favorites list).
• Analytics Cookies — Help us understand how visitors use our site (Google Analytics).
• Third-Party Cookies — Set by embedded content (YouTube, Instagram, Givebutter) when you interact with those features.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on our website.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information with:

• Service providers who assist in operating our website and programs (as described in Section 3)
• Law enforcement or government agencies when required by law
• Other parties with your explicit consent

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our website
• Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent unauthorized scripts and data exfiltration
• Payment information is processed by PCI-compliant payment processors (Stripe, Braintree) and is never stored on our servers
• Regular security updates to our website platform and plugins

While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Donation records are retained as required by applicable tax and nonprofit regulations.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of marketing communications
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at help@gchscc.org.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

10. Links to External Websites

Our website contains links to third-party websites and services (including ShelterLuv, Givebutter, Home to Home, Adopt a Pet, and social media platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: