Best Friends knows its visitors to this Network web site care about the privacy of their personal information they may provide to us. This privacy policy, which is part of our Terms and Conditions of Use, is designed to provide our visitors with information about how we collect, store and use personal information we obtain about visitors through our Network web site. Best Friends reserves the right to modify this privacy policy from time to time, and by entering the Network web site, you are agreeing to the terms of the privacy policy then in effect.

Please remember this privacy statement applies only to the Best Friends Network web site. Visitors can through the Network web site access links to web sites and services provided by other companies. Best Friends is not, however, responsible for the privacy policies, terms and conditions of use, or content of any linked web sites except the Best Friends web site, www.bestfriends.org. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the privacy policies and terms and conditions of use of linked web sites. Places where we link to sites hosted by other providers include member bulletin boards, No More Homeless Pets forum, Best Friends Shopping/Pet Club, and other partner and affiliate web sites.

Personal information that is collected

Visitors to the Network web site may browse the site without providing us any information that identifies them personally. We do require usernames or email addresses from those visitors who choose to participate in forums or blogs or sign up to receive the Best Friends weekly newsletter email. Personally identifiable information is collected from those visitors who decide to create an online profile containing information such as name, location, interests, a photo. "Personally identifiable information" refers to information that would allow someone to contact you like your name, address, email address, or phone number.

Like most web sites, the Best Friends Network website uses cookies. A "cookie" is a text file created to enable our systems to allow you to navigate the Network web site and log in to participate on forums and blogs. Only one cookie is used. It contains a unique identifier to represent your session. No other identifying information is tracked unless you volunteer that information.

Use of personal information

If you choose to provide us with personally identifiable information, we may use information such as names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers to circulate news and information consistent with the Network's purpose; acquire new Best Friends members or subscribers, send updates and notices, promote events and programs, raise funds, respond to your questions or comments sent to us, allow you to navigate the Network web site, its forums and blogs without having to re-enter information; and administer the Network web site.

If you create an online profile, interested visitors will be allowed to retrieve detailed information about you such as your experience, areas of interest and contact information.

For those visitors who choose to participate in forums or blogs, a username is revealed to other participants. When participating in forums or blogs, visitors are not, however, required to reveal to third parties any other personally identifiable information.

Best Friends will not rent, lease or sell personally identifiable information to any third party unless we have received your permission. We may distribute personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers to other groups involved in events or programs with Best Friends.

We may disclose your personal information when we have reason to believe disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact, or bring legal action against someone who may be violating our Terms and Conditions of Use or protect the safety, property or other rights of our visitors or the public and counter any attempted breach of security of the Network and its forums and blogs. Also, we may reveal personally identifiable information if we believe in good faith we are required to do so to comply with a search warrant, subpoena, court order or other valid legal process.

Security used to protect your information

We store all user information in databases protected by passwords, electronic firewalls, and data encryption. Though we take precautions to protect your information, please remember the internet is not secure.

Use of our web site by children

We do not knowingly collect any personal information from children under age 13. Any section of the web site directed at children under age 13 will not request personal information.

If you have any questions about our privacy policy, please email us at nettech@bestfriends.org