Privacy Policy
Effective September 6, 2026
This policy explains what information American Service K9s ("we," "us," or "ASK9") collects through americanservicek9s.com and our mobile app, why we collect it, and how it's handled. It applies to clients who create an account and to visitors who use our website, including the "Let's Chat!" widget.
Information We Collect
Account & Booking Information
- Name, email address, phone number, and (optionally) home address
- Your password, stored only as a one-way cryptographic hash - we cannot see or recover your actual password
- Pet information you provide: name, type, breed, weight, color, a profile photo (optional), and vaccination documents you upload for our review
- Booking details: service requested, dates/times, notes, and status
Payment Information
Card and payment details are entered directly into and processed by Stripe, our payment processor - we never see or store your full card number. We keep a record of each transaction's amount, status, and date so we can show you your payment history and issue refunds when applicable.
Chat Conversations
If you use the "Let's Chat!" widget, your messages are sent to our AI assistant (built on Anthropic's Claude) to answer your questions. You don't need an account to use it - a random, anonymous identifier is stored in your browser to keep your conversation going if you come back. If you share your name, email, or phone number in the chat so we can follow up with you, we save that alongside the conversation.
Device & Push Notification Information
If you use our mobile app and enable push notifications, we store a device token used only to deliver notifications about your bookings (via Apple Push Notification service) - not for advertising or tracking.
Cookies & Local Storage
Our website uses one session cookie to keep you signed in - it doesn't track you across other sites and isn't used for advertising. The chat widget stores a small identifier in your browser's local storage (not a cookie) so your conversation persists between visits; this is cleared if you clear your browser data.
How We Use Your Information
- To create and manage your account and your pets' profiles
- To schedule, confirm, reschedule, and manage your bookings
- To process payments and deposits, and to issue refunds when applicable
- To review vaccination documents and confirm your pet meets our health requirements
- To send booking confirmations, reminders, and status updates by email and push notification
- To respond to questions asked through the chat widget or contact form
- To sync confirmed bookings to our own scheduling calendar (Google Calendar) so we don't double-book
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.
Who We Share It With
We share information only with the service providers that help us run this business, each only with what they need to do their job:
- Stripe - payment processing
- Resend - transactional emails (booking confirmations, password resets, verification codes)
- Anthropic - powers the AI chat widget
- Apple - delivers push notifications to our mobile app
- Google Calendar - our own internal appointment calendar
We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect the safety of our staff, clients, or animals in our care.
How Long We Keep Your Information
Your account, pet profiles, and active bookings are kept for as long as your account exists. Old bookings (confirmed or cancelled) and chat conversations are automatically and permanently deleted after a retention period we configure - typically a set number of days after the appointment date or last message. You can ask us to delete your account and associated data at any time; see below.
Your Rights
You can review and update most of your account and pet information directly from your account page at any time. To request a copy of your data, a correction, or full deletion of your account, contact us at [email protected]. We'll respond and complete verified requests within a reasonable time, consistent with any records we're required to keep (for example, payment records for tax or legal purposes).
Security
Passwords are stored as salted, one-way hashes, never in plain text. We offer optional two-factor authentication (an emailed code or an authenticator app) for extra account security, along with one-time backup codes in case you lose access to your usual method. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, but we follow standard industry practices to protect your information.
Children's Privacy
Our services are intended for adults booking on behalf of themselves and their pets. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children, and accounts must be created by an adult.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as our services change. The "Effective" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent version. Continuing to use our site or app after an update means you accept the revised policy.