Companion Animal Behavioural Services operates to the highest standards of animal welfare and takes client privacy and confidentiality extremely seriously. All parties, human and animal, must operate with the utmost trust in each other. Consultations are undertaken under the code of conduct and ethics upheld by the International Society of Animal Professionals and in accordance with relevant UK legislation and regulations, including but not limited to:
The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Companion Animal Behavioural Services is the Data Controller under the terms of this legislation.
Companion Animal Behavioural Services uses the legitimate basis for processing personal data as a legal basis since there is a relevant and appropriate relationship between Companion Animal Behavioural Services, potential clients and clients.
All information tendered with regard to the services provided by Companion Animal Behavioural Services will only be used for the purposes defined in the terms and conditions covering those services. This is the lawful basis on which data will be collected and may be stored as per Article 6 of the GDPR Regulations. Information will not be stored outside of the European Economic Area.
The information that you provide will be held securely in electronic and physical formats. Personal data will only be collected where it has direct relevance to the interactions between clients and Companion Animal Behavioural Services. Personal data can include, but may not be limited to: name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Personal data will be stored on a password-protected computer to guard against unauthorised access, use or disclosure and stored in locked premises for the duration of the consultation and behavioural programme and for 2 years thereafter. Data will be backed up to an independent storage device which will also be stored in locked premises to prevent accidental destruction and to ensure business continuity and disaster recovery. All data will be destroyed securely following the required period of storage or should a consultation not proceed.
Such data are collected at the initial contact and in subsequent consultations and are used to facilitate the services offered and to process payments for services rendered. Information tendered following a query about provision of services will be destroyed securely should the initial contact not result in services being provided. Information tendered following provision of services will be destroyed securely 2 years after the conclusion of those services unless express permission is given by the data provider for the data to be retained for further use.
You have a right at all times to:
- Access your personal information
- Object to the processing of your personal information
- Rectify, erase, restrict and transfer your personal information.
Requests or objections should be made in writing to the Privacy Administrator, Companion Animal Behavioural Services via
Information provided in writing (including via e-mail) or verbally (including via telephone) during the consultation period (this includes information provided at the initial or follow-up consultation and any subsequent face to face or verbal communications) may be recorded as part of the case history and stored securely. All information is regarded as confidential. Explicit consent will be sought to share information with relevant professionals such as registered veterinary surgeons or other qualified behaviourists at the outset or during the consultation as required. This consent can be witheld or withdrawn at any stage of the consultation period as per the terms and conditions of service.
How to make a complaint
If you are unhappy with the way in which your personal data have been processed, you should, in the first instance, contact Companion Animal Behavioural Services using the contact details above and address your complaint to the Data Protection Officer.
If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk