Cookie Policy

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Cookie Policy

Last Updated: 2/19/2020

Like most websites, we use cookies to help create a better experience for our visitors and members. While giving out actual cookies would certainly be a way of improving member experience (in a very Fear Free way, we might add), the cookies we are talking about are actually small snippets of data that are placed within your browser as you navigate the web.

So that you can make full use of the features on our websites, your computer, mobile phone, or other device (all referred to here as “device“) will need to accept cookies. By accessing and using Fear Free, LLC’s (“we” or “our”) websites (currently located at www.fearfreepets.com, www.fearfreehappyhomes.com, and fearfreeshelters.com) (“Sites”), you accept our use of cookies and are agreeing to the terms of this Cookie Policy and our Privacy Notice.

Cookies can be used in a lot of ways for a lot of different purposes, but before we tell you how we use them, we thought we would be clear about how we DON’T. We do not use cookies to:

  • Collect any sensitive information
  • Pass or sell personally identifiable data to third parties

As for how we do use cookies on our Sites, the rest of this Cookie Policy includes everything you need to know about:

  • How cookies are used across our Sites
  • The different types of cookies used and why they are needed
  • How to change, update, turn off (or on) the various types of first- and third-party cookies that could potentially get used on our Sites

Here’s how it all works:

What Are Cookies?

A cookie is a small data file that is placed on your device by your web browser when you visit a website or other service that uses cookies. Cookies are commonly used to collect information about your browsing activities in order to provide you with more relevant content and promotional materials on our Sites and help us understand your interests and improve the Sites.

When Do Cookies Expire and Who Places Them?

Cookies can be persistent by remaining on your device until you delete them or be based on your browsing session where they delete once you close your browser.

We use and control first-party cookies to provide functionality, content and marketing on our Sites. You may encounter cookies from third-party service providers and advertising networks, that we have allowed on our Sites that assist us with various aspects of our Sites’ operations and content and to provide advertising that may be relevant to your interests.

We do not control third-party cookies or other technologies. Their use is governed by the privacy policies of third parties using such technologies. You should make sure you are aware of how third parties will use cookies by checking the third-party’s privacy notice and/or cookie policy.

Categories of Cookies

Strictly necessary purposes

As is the case for most websites, many basic features of our Sites would simply not work without cookies. This includes functionality like logging in, using the cart, keeping our Sites secure, and other basic functionality. These cookies are also necessary to allow us to remember what choices you make and provide content and features specific to those choices. This includes features like allowing the Sites to remember if you have already filled out a form, checked a box, added a certain product quantity to your cart, or mark where you left off in one of our educational modules. Like most websites, we include functionality on certain parts of our Sites provided by embedded content from third parties, which rely on cookies for their basic functionality.

Website Performance

These cookies allow us to see trends around how anonymously tracked visitors use and navigate our Sites. For example, this can help us see which parts of certain pages get the most attention or which buttons get clicked more.

Advertising/Tracking

This is the one that scares people, but cookies are actually very common when it comes to online advertising. We utilize the relatively small list of advertising-related cookies outlined below to help get relevant information about our educational programs in front of the right people. However, we do not serve advertising on our website, and we do not collect any personally identifiable information from these cookies. These ads are anonymously displayed to users as they visit the channels associated with each.

Cookies are used by almost all social media services to allow you to share content across different sites and networks. These cookies may stick with you across other sites and many build a profile of your interests, potentially impacting the content and messages you see on other websites that you visit. As third-party cookies, we do not manage these, but we do allow users to share and engage with content (‘Likes’, ‘Pins’, etc.) that could be used by the networks below. Privacy features will vary from social network to social network and will be dependent on the privacy settings you have chosen on these networks.

How Do We Use Cookies?

In addition to the uses already identified above, we use cookies on our Sites to:

  • permit your connection to our Sites and distinguish you from other users, including collecting information about your computer, device, and browser, including your IP address, browser type, other software or hardware information, and your geographic location (if you have authorized it);
  • provide some of the functionality of our Sites and, potentially adjust content on our Sites and in our communications with you based upon what we know about the content that you like;
  • analyze user interaction, including collecting information about your usage of our Sites, such as pages you have visited, content you have viewed, search queries you have run, and advertisements you have seen or interacted with to assess how our Sites and content are used;
  • identify and prevent threats to our Sites;
  • tailor our marketing to what we believe may be relevant to you; or
  • allow you to share content using third-party services, such as social networks.

Social media cookies

Managing Cookies in Your Browser

In addition to following the resources and links included throughout this Cookie Policy, you can also change, block, and manage your browser’s cookies within your browser’s cookie settings. Each browser is different so check the ‘Help’ menu of your particular browser or the browser settings for your mobile device to learn how to change your cookie preferences. You can find instructions for nearly every version of every browser that has existed and how to access the cookies settings for each here: https://www.aboutcookies.org/how-to-control-cookies/.

If you block cookies from our Sites, however, certain features of our Sites may not work correctly or cannot be provided to you.

Most browsers will allow you to see what cookies have been stored on your device and delete them all or each one individually, block third-party cookies, block cookies from particular websites, block all cookies from being stored, or delete all cookies when you close your browser.

You should be aware that any preferences will be lost if you delete cookies. If you have opted out from any cookies, your opt-out will be lost as this functionality utilizes cookies on your device to keep track of your preference. Also, if you block cookies completely many websites will not work properly and some functionality on these websites will not work at all.

If you are primarily concerned about third-party cookies generated by advertisers, you can turn opt-out of these separately as discussed below. Just a small bit of objective advice though—opting out of cookies from almost any site or advertising service doesn’t mean you will no longer see ads. Rather, it turns off the ability for those sites to tailor ad content based on your interests. Think of it this way—instead of those tasty looking cat treats that have been “coincidentally” popping up on sites you navigate to, it’s probably back to ads for miracle weight loss pills and penny auction sites that will be decorating your browser. Your call.

Third-Party Cookie Providers

Third parties who use cookies on our Site and the links to privacy notices and opt-outs (where applicable) are identified below by category of cookie.

Strictly Necessary (no opt-out as these types of cookies are necessary for our Sites’ operation)

  • YouTube (Google): Embedded video
  • Vimeo: Embedded video
  • Google Maps (Google): Map functionality
  • SoundCloud: Audio functionality

Website Performance

Advertising/Tracking

Action Required! Your Membership has expired

Renew yourself by clicking Renew on My Homepage

Team Members, please tell your Team Admin

Students, apply here to renew your membership

Why?
Renewing and keeping an active membership is one of the requirements to maintaining your certification as well as access to member benefits.

Need help? Please contact our Customer Experience team at wags@fearfreepets.com or call us at 303.952.0585 and we will be happy to assist!

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Action Required: You Were Removed from Your Fear Free Team

Update account information by clicking here to go to your account info.

Please note: If you were recently removed from your Fear Free team, your membership will either expire 90 days from the removal date or expire at your current membership renewal date, whichever comes first. Already renewed? Update your account information through the link above. You will continue to receive this notice until your company information has been updated.

Need to join a different Fear Free team or have questions?
Please contact our Customer Experience team at wags@fearfreepets.com or call us at 303.952.0585 and we will be happy to assist!

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