Privacy Policy — The Dog Butler

Last updated: 12th Jan 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to The Dog Butler (“we”, “us”, “our”). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share and protect personal data when you use our website https://thedogbutler.co.uk and related services, in accordance with UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Controller and contact details

Data controller: The Dog Butler

Registered address: 6 Peveril Close, Appleton, Warrington, WA4 5BU

Company registration number: Sole Trader

Data protection contact: Roxanna Stevenson, Owner, [email protected]

For guidance you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): https://ico.org.uk

3. Personal data we collect and why

a) Information you provide directly

Contact details: name, email address, phone number, postal address — when you contact us, book services, or create an account.

Payment information: when you pay we use Stripe; we do not store full card numbers on our servers. (See Section 6.)

Account details: username, hashed password if you create an account.

Marketing preferences & consent: when you subscribe to our newsletter or opt into marketing.

Communications: messages, enquiries, and other content you send via contact forms, email, or chat.
Purposes & lawful bases:

To provide and manage bookings and payments (contract performance).

To respond to enquiries and provide customer support (legitimate interests / contract).

To send marketing where you have given consent (consent).

To send transactional messages about bookings and payments (contract performance).

b) Information collected automatically

Usage & device data: IP address, browser type/version, device information, pages visited, referring/exit pages, search terms, timestamps.
Purposes & lawful bases:

To operate, secure and improve the website (legitimate interests).

For analytics and performance monitoring (legitimate interests or consent where required).

c) From third parties

Analytics providers (Google Analytics) and payment processors (Stripe) receive limited data to support services. See Sections 6 and 7.

d) Special categories

We do not intentionally collect special category (sensitive) personal data. If you volunteer sensitive information (for example, medical details about your pet), we will process it only where necessary and, where required, with your explicit consent.

4. How we use your personal data — summary

Provide services, manage bookings and process payments.

Communicate booking confirmations, service updates and support.

Operate and improve our website and services using analytics.

Send newsletters and marketing communications where you have given consent or where permitted by law for existing customers.

Prevent fraud, detect abuse and protect our rights.

Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax and accounting).

5. Lawful bases for processing

We process data on these lawful bases:

Contract: to perform obligations under a booking or sale.

Consent: for marketing communications and non-essential cookies where required.

Legitimate interests: for site administration, security, analytics and improving services (we balance these interests against your rights).

Legal obligation: where required by law (e.g., retention for tax).

6. Payments — Stripe

We use Stripe to process payments. Stripe acts as a payment processor and may be a separate data controller for payment data.

When you make a payment we share your name, billing/shipping address, email and payment details with Stripe. We do not store full card numbers on our servers; Stripe stores card data securely under PCI-DSS.

Stripe privacy: https://stripe.com/gb/privacy

Lawful basis: performance of a contract and legal obligations.

7. Analytics — Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to analyse site usage and improve performance. We configure analytics to anonymise IP addresses (where technically possible).

Google may set cookies and collect data about your use of the site. You can opt out via the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/ or by managing cookie preferences on our site.

Google privacy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Lawful basis: legitimate interests for analytics; where required we obtain consent for analytics cookies.

8. Newsletters and email marketing (specific wording)

If you subscribe to our newsletter you provide your name and email address and explicitly consent to receive marketing communications from The Dog Butler. We will only send promotional emails if you have opted in, except where we may rely on a legitimate interest for communications about similar products or services to existing customers (where permitted).

You will always be asked to confirm consent at point of sign-up (clear checkbox or double opt-in). We keep an audit trail of consent (what you were told, when and how).

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the “unsubscribe” link in each email or by contacting [email protected]. Unsubscribing does not affect transactional messages (e.g., booking confirmations).

We may use a third-party email/CRM provider (e.g., [Mailchimp/Sendinblue — replace if using another]) to send marketing. That provider processes data on our behalf under contract and their privacy policy is: [provider privacy link].

Lawful basis: consent for marketing to non-customers; for certain existing-customer marketing we may rely on legitimate interest where permitted — you may object at any time.

9. Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies for essential site function, preferences, analytics and marketing.

Categories:Strictly necessary: required for site functionality (no opt-out).Preferences: remember language or display settings (optional).Analytics: measure site usage (optional; consent requested).Marketing: third-party tracking and targeted ads (optional).

You will be offered a cookie banner on first visit to manage preferences. You can also block cookies in your browser settings (may affect site functionality).

Example cookie list (update with your exact cookies):

Cookie namePurposeRetentionsessionidSession managementSession_ga (Google Analytics)Distinguish users2 years_gid (Google Analytics)Distinguish users24 hours

10. Sharing and disclosure

We may share personal data with:

Service providers who process data for us (Stripe, Google, hosting, email/CRM providers). They process data under contract and only for specified purposes.

Legal and regulatory bodies if required by law (e.g., court order, fraud investigation).

Business transfers: personal data may be transferred in the event of a sale, merger or reorganisation—any buyer must honour privacy protections.

11. International transfers

Some providers (Stripe, Google) may transfer data outside the UK (e.g., to the US). Where we transfer data outside the UK we use appropriate safeguards such as adequacy decisions, Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), or other lawful mechanisms required by UK data protection law. Review provider policies for details.

12. Data security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures: encryption where appropriate, access controls, secure hosting, HTTPS, and internal policies to limit access.

No system is completely secure; if a personal data breach is likely to result in a risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms we will notify the ICO and affected individuals as required by law.

13. Data retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described or as required by law. Typical retention periods:

Transactional & booking records: [6–7 years] for tax/accounting (replace with your exact period).

Account data: while account is active + [e.g., 2 years] after last activity unless deletion is requested.

Marketing data: until you withdraw consent or opt out.

Analytics data: aggregated/anonymised where possible; raw analytics retained for [e.g., 24 months].
Adjust these periods to match business and legal requirements.

14. Your rights

Under the UK GDPR you have the right to:

Request access to your personal data.

Request correction of inaccurate data.

Request erasure in certain circumstances.

Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.

Object to processing where we rely on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.

Request portability where processing is based on consent or contract and automated.

Withdraw consent at any time (this does not affect processing already completed).
To exercise rights contact: [email protected]. We may ask for identity verification. We will respond within statutory timescales (usually one month; may extend for complex requests).

15. Children

Our services are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, contact us and we will delete it. Parental consent is required under UK law for online services aimed at children under 13.

16. Marketing & promotional competitions

If you enter a competition/promotion we will use the contact information you provide to administer the promotion and notify winners. Where entrants opt into marketing we will process that information under consent.

17. Third-party links

Our site may link to third-party websites. This policy does not cover their practices. Please review their privacy policies.

18. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post the revised policy with an updated “Last updated” date and notify users of significant changes where appropriate.

19. How to complain

Contact us first at [email protected]. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): https://ico.org.uk/concerns/

20. Technical & vendor summary

Hosting: GoDaddy

Payment processor: Stripe — https://stripe.com/gb/privacy

Analytics: Google Analytics — https://policies.google.com/privacy

Email/CRM: GoHighLevel/LeadConnector