Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to the Leon County Humane Society  (“LCHS”). We have developed this privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) that covers how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information. Please read this Privacy Policy in its entirety to understand how LCHS will handle the privacy of personal information that you provide through the areas defined below.

This Privacy Policy applies to the following areas (collectively our “Digital Properties”):

  • LCHS family of websites, including, but not limited to leoncountyhumane.org and volunteer.leoncountyhumane.org (collectively “Websites”)
  • LCHS social media properties including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (collectively “Social Media Sites”)
  • LCHS mail, email, and phone communications including, but not limited to marketing, event, and fundraising communications

Please remember that this Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by our own communications channels. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of websites or communications networks that are operated or owned by third parties. For example, links to other third-party websites, including those of our corporate supporters and partners, can be accessed from our Digital Properties. Please be advised that the privacy policies of those third-party sites or communications platforms operated by other third parties may not be consistent with this Privacy Policy.

LCHS may use and disclose the information that you provide through its Digital Properties or other communications channels only for purposes permitted or required by law, for purposes described in this Privacy Policy, or for purposes which you might authorize.

Changes to the Policy

LCHS may change this Privacy Policy at any time. If and when a change occurs, notice will be prominently posted on the Digital Properties covered by the Privacy Policy. However, please refer back to the Privacy Policy regularly because your use of the Websites, Social Media Sites, Applications and/or other communication channels signifies that you agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

What information does LCHS collect?

In several areas of our Digital Properties, LCHS collects user-submitted personally identifiable information, such as your name, home address, email address, and telephone number.

LCHS also collects anonymous demographic information, which cannot identify you personally, such as ZIP code, gender, or interests. We may append to the data you provide additional data from publicly available sources in an effort to enhance your relationship with LCHS.

We may collect information about your interaction with our Digital Properties. For example, we may use website analytic tools on the Websites to retrieve information such as the site you came from or the keywords you used to find the Websites. We will also use technologies, such as cookies and pixel-based tracking, to collect information about the pages you view, the links you click on and other actions you take on the Websites. We use the aggregated information to provide a more useful and engaging experience to Website visitors. This information will sometimes be used to display content to you on our Websites, Applications or Social Media Sites.

In order to access certain areas on our Digital Properties, you may need to first complete certain steps to become either a registered user or a subscriber. During these steps, you may be required to provide us with personally identifiable information such as your name, ZIP code and email address. This information is used to help us understand who uses our Digital Properties, to operate and improve our Digital Properties, and to deliver the services or carry out the transactions you have requested.

Communication to Children

The LCHS Digital Properties are directed at a general audience. Please note that Website programs and Applications such as personal fundraising may only be used under the supervision of an adult.

How Does LCHS Secure My Information?

LCHS provides visitors to our Digital Properties with a secure experience when making a donation or purchasing merchandise through them. We work with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) compliant vendors.  When personal information is transmitted, it is protected through the use of industry-standard security technology, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.

Even with these measures in place, users should use special caution when using publicly accessible computer terminals or transmitting personal information over unsecured wireless networks.

In addition, on certain Website pages like blogs and news stories, we offer visitors the opportunity to provide comments or other user-generated content. You may also be able to comment on Social Media Sites or while using our Applications. Any information that you disclose when posting a message to these areas, along with the screen name or ID used, becomes public. We are not responsible for any personally identifiable information that you choose to disclose in the public areas of our Websites, Applications or Social Media Sites.

Donor Privacy: LCHS does not sell, rent, or exchange its donor list for direct mailing purposes. Its Board of Directors adopted a policy prohibiting the sale, rental, or exchange of its donor list. This Privacy Policy outlines how donor information is used.

How does LCHS use my personal information?

LCHS collects and uses your personal information to circulate news about LCHS and its programs, to promote events, to communicate with you regarding the adoption or fostering of one of our foster animals, to operate the LCHS Digital Properties, and for other internal marketing, promotional, and fundraising purposes.

We may use your personal information, demographic information or usage information that we collect about you: (1) to provide you with information or services or process transactions that you have requested or agreed to receive; (2) to enable you to participate in the features of an Application or Website, including event registration and fundraising; (3) to improve an Application or our services, to customize your experience on the Application or Website, or to serve you specific content that is most relevant to you; (4) to contact you with regard to your use of our Digital Properties or (5) for purposes disclosed at the time you provide your information or as otherwise set forth in this Privacy Policy.

A note about Adoption Applications: Adoption Applications are shared with the foster parent(s) of the animal(s) for which you submit the Application. Foster parents are volunteers with LCHS. Adoption Applications are used to allow communication between the Applicant and the foster parent and to facilitate the process of making the best match between potential adopters and foster pets.

Outside Contractors:  LCHS may employ independent contractors, vendors and suppliers (collectively, “Outside Contractors”) to provide specific services and products such as to help us perform statistical analysis, or send you email or postal mail. Access to your personally identifiable information by these Outside Contractors is limited to the information reasonably necessary in order for the Outside Contractors to perform their limited function for us. We also require that these Outside Contractors protect the privacy of your personally identifiable information consistent with this Privacy Policy, and not use or disclose your personally identifiable information for any purpose other than providing us with products or services for which we contracted.

Other: We may share aggregated demographic information with our funders, such as grant-making organizations and foundations, for the purpose of demonstrating that we are meeting our organization goals.

LCHS may release personal information if we believe that the law or legal process served on LCHS requires it, to protect and defend the rights or property of LCHS, or in an emergency, to protect the personal safety of an identifiable visitor or the public.

How does LCHS use cookies?

The LCHS Websites and Applications use “cookies” to ensure the integrity of the registration and transactional processes and to help you personalize your online or mobile experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your device’s hard drive or other storage medium by a Web page server. Most Web and mobile browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the LCHS Digital Properties you visit.

To protect our visitors, cookies do not save payment or credit card information. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies.

How does LCHS use pixel tracking?

LCHS may use pixel-based tracking on its Websites to gather information about your website activities and display relevant content to you on the Websites and other media networks.  Any personally identifiable information shared with or gathered by these media networks is considered confidential.

How Does LCHS Use My Email Address?

LCHS sends email to opted in addresses only.  An individual who receives email from us may opt out of email at any time by following the opt-out instructions contained in any LCHS email. Please note: you may have an email profile on multiple LCHS Websites, and may need to manage your email preferences on those sites individually.

How Can I Manage My Communications Preferences?

There are many self-service options available to manage your mail, email, and other communication preferences. If you need assistance in managing your preferences, please contact us via email.

  • Mail: The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) maintains a national Do Not Mail list. If you would like to remove yourself from all direct marketing lists, visit the DMA website to update your preferences.
  • Email: In compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act, all LCHS emails also have an unsubscribe link in their footer. Note that some email lists for affiliated LCHS programs may require you to opt out specifically from those email communications.
  • Phone: The FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry will allow you to remove a number from all telemarketing lists. Visit the National Do Not Call Registry website to update your preferences.
  • Other communications preferences: For any other communications preferences you would like to change, please contact us via email.

EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) Considerations

LCHS does not intend to solicit users from within the European Economic Area (EEA) to visit its Websites, Applications, or Social Media Sites. LCHS commits to continue to follow safe data handling processes and will follow European data privacy laws and regulations to the extent applicable.

If the processing of your personal information is subject to the GDPR, and your personal information is processed based on legitimate interests you have the right to object to the processing on grounds related to your specific situation.

If the processing of your personal information is subject to the GDPR, you also have certain rights to request to have your personal information deleted, request that your personal information be restricted, and to ask for portability of your personal information.

To the extent they are applicable, you can exercise these rights (including making these requests) by emailing us. Please put the statement “GDPR Privacy Rights” in the subject of your request, as well as your name, country, or region, and enough information to allow us to respond. If your use of our Websites, Applications, or Social Media Sites falls under GDPR regulations that are applicable to us, we agree, subject to any legally permitted exception or extension to respond to access, deletion, rectification, or suspension requests within 30 days of receipt of the request.

Contact Information

LCHS welcomes your comments regarding this Privacy Policy. If you have any questions or believe that LCHS has not adhered to this policy, please contact LCHS via email or by phone at (850) 224-9193. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and remedy the problem.

revised 1/17/2019