Privacy Policy

We value your privacy and are dedicated to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data, and your rights concerning this data.
 
1. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not share your personal data with third parties for marketing or promotional
purposes. We may share your data with third parties only in the following circumstances:
  • Service Providers: With third-party service providers who perform functions on our behalf, such as IT service providers, data storage providers, and telecom service providers
  • Legal Obligations: When required by law or to respond to legal processes.
  • Protection: To protect our rights, property, and safety, or that of our customers and others.
 
2. Data We Collect
We collect various types of personal data, including:
  • Identity Data: First and last name.
  • Contact Data: Email address, phone number, billing and delivery address
  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system, and platform.
  • Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, products, and services.
  • Marketing and Communications Data: Your preferences in receiving marketing from us and your communication preferences.
 
3. Methods of Data Collection
We collect personal data using various methods, primarily through forms on our website:
  • Direct Interactions: You provide your personal data when you adopt, reclaim, or surrender a pet, make a donation, register for an event, fill out forms, create an account, subscribe to our services, request marketing materials, or give us feedback.
  • Automated Technologies: As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect technical data about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns. We collect this data using cookies, server logs, and other similar technologies.
 
4. How We Use Your Personal Data
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
  • SMS Program: We may send you messages regarding our services, updates, policies, and promotional offers. You will receive messages about shelter updates, notifications, events, and special offers. You can opt-out at any time.
  • Service Provision: To perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you.
  • Marketing and Communications: To send you marketing materials and communicate with you about our services.
  • Prospecting: To analyze your data to understand your preferences and prospect for new clients.
  • Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries and provide support.
 
5. Data Storage, Maintenance, and Protection
We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal data from being accidentally lost, used, or accessed in an unauthorized way, altered, or disclosed. These measures include:
  • Data Encryption: Encrypting personal data to protect it from unauthorized access.
  • Access Controls: Limiting access to personal data to authorized personnel only.
  • Regular Security Assessments: Conducting regular security assessments to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
  • Personal checks are secured in a lock box until they are deposited, with bank deposits made weekly. Copies of checks from donations are stored securely for seven years as required by law and then shredded.
  • Signed service contracts in paper form are stored securely for seven years as required by law and then shredded.
 
6. How Long We Retain Your Information
Tri-County Humane Society retains personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Donation and adoption records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years. If you request to be removed from our database, we will retain only the minimum necessary data to ensure your preferences are respected and to comply with legal obligations.
 
7. Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
  • Access: You can request access to the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correction: You can request correction of any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you.
  • Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data where there is no good reason for us to continue processing it.
  • Objection: You can object to the processing of your personal data where we are relying on a legitimate interest (or those of a third party) and there is something about your particular situation that makes you want to object to processing on this ground.
  • Restriction: You can request restriction of processing of your personal data.
 
8. Opt-Out Options
You have the right to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any
time by:
  • SMS: Replying "STOP" to any SMS message you receive from us.
  • Email: Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email you receive from us or replying with “unsubscribe.”
  • Direct Mail: Calling 320.252.0896, emailing marketing@tricountyhumanesociety.org, or mailing your opt-out request to Tri-County Humane Society, P.O. Box 701, St. Cloud, MN 56302.
  • Account Settings: Updating your preferences in your account settings.
 
9. Data Breach Notification
TCHS takes data security seriously and uses appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information. In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you without unreasonable delay via the contact information you have provided. This notice will include a description of what happened, the type of information involved, and recommended steps you can take to protect yourself. TCHS will also take immediate steps to contain the breach, investigate its cause, and prevent future occurrences.
 
10. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may change this Privacy Statement from time to time when necessary to reflect
changes in our services, how we use personal information, or the applicable law. If we make changes, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the bottom of this policy. We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access our services or otherwise interact with us to stay informed about our privacy practices and the ways in which you can exercise choice over these practices. The practices described in this Privacy Policy are subject to applicable laws in the location in which we operate.
 
Privacy Policy 11.3 amended and approved by Tri-County Humane Society Board of Directors on 11/25/2025.