Privacy Policy

StadPaws Privacy Policy
Last updated: 26 November 2025

StadPaws (“we”, “us”, “our”) is an online-only brand for city pets in the Netherlands. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal information when you:

  • visit stadpaws.com (the “Site”)
  • create an account or make a purchase
  • sign up for newsletters or blog updates
  • contact us by email, via our contact page, or through Instagram DMs

We process personal data in line with:

  • the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – EU 2016/679)
  • the Dutch GDPR Implementation Act (Uitvoeringswet AVG)
  • applicable EU consumer protection laws and Dutch local regulations

By using our Site, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

1. Personal Information We Collect

We only collect the information that is necessary to run the shop, process your order, and communicate with you.

“Personal Information” means any information that identifies you or can be used to identify you, directly or indirectly.

1.1 Device and Usage Information

When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain technical information, for example:

  • browser type and version
  • IP address
  • time zone and approximate location
  • device type and operating system
  • pages and products you view
  • referring/exit pages
  • how you interact with the Site (clicks, scrolls, time on page)

Purpose

  • to load the Site correctly on your device
  • to keep the Site secure (e.g. fraud and abuse detection)
  • to understand how visitors use the Site so we can improve design, performance, and content

Source & method

  • collected automatically through cookies, pixels, log files and similar technologies (see “Cookies & Tracking” below)

1.2 Account Information

If you create an account on our Site, we collect:

  • name
  • email address
  • password (stored in encrypted form)

Purpose

  • to create and maintain your StadPaws account
  • to let you view order history and manage details
  • to make checkout faster on future purchases

1.3 Order and Payment Information

When you place an order, we collect:

  • name
  • email address
  • billing details
  • shipping details
  • phone number (if you choose to provide it)
  • products you ordered
  • payment method details (e.g. card type, payment status)

We do not store your full card number or security code. Payments are processed securely by third-party payment providers such as Stripe, PayPal, and Google Pay. They receive your payment details directly and process them on their own secure systems.

Purpose

  • to process and confirm your order
  • to take payment and issue refunds where needed
  • to arrange shipping and provide tracking
  • to send order and delivery updates
  • to prevent and detect fraud or misuse
  • to keep the financial records we are legally required to keep (for example under Dutch tax law, usually at least 7 years) (business.gov.nl)

1.4 Communication & Marketing Preferences

When you choose to sign up for our newsletter or other updates, we collect:

  • email address
  • preferred language (where available)
  • your marketing consent (opt-in / opt-out)

Purpose

  • to send optional newsletters, product updates, blog posts, and offers, but only if you have actively opted in
  • to tailor our communication to what seems relevant to you

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the email or by contacting us directly. Service emails (for example, order confirmation or shipping updates) are not marketing and will still be sent when needed.

1.5 Customer Support Information

When you contact us (for example via email, contact form on the Site, or Instagram DM), we may collect:

  • name or username
  • email address or social media handle
  • your message and any details you choose to share (for example order number, photos of a product, feedback)

Purpose

  • to answer your questions and solve issues
  • to manage returns, complaints, or warranty cases
  • to improve our products, content and customer experience over time

1.6 Social Media Interactions

When you interact with us on Instagram (e.g. likes, comments, DMs) we may see:

  • your public profile (username, profile photo and any public information)
  • content of your messages or comments

Purpose

  • to reply to questions and feedback
  • to engage with our community in a respectful way
  • to handle customer support queries raised via social media

1.7 Information We Prefer Not to Receive

We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal information such as:

  • health information
  • information about race or ethnic origin
  • political opinions or religious beliefs
  • sexual orientation

Please avoid sharing such information with us unless it is clearly necessary (for example, to report a product allergy risk). If we discover we hold such information without a clear legal basis, we will delete or anonymise it.

2. Minors & Children’s Privacy

Our Site and products are aimed at adults who buy for their pets.

  • We do not offer our services to children under the age of 13.
  • We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 16 without parental consent, in line with GDPR requirements for children’s data in the Netherlands. (DLA Piper Data Protection)

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at contact@stadpaws.com. We will review the situation and delete the data if required by law.

3. How We Use Personal Information (Purposes & Legal Bases)

Under the GDPR, we must have a lawful basis for each way we use your personal data. Depending on the situation, we rely on:

  • Performance of a contract – for example, when processing and delivering your order.
  • Compliance with a legal obligation – for example, retaining invoices for tax purposes. (business.gov.nl)
  • Your consent – for example, sending newsletters or using non-essential cookies.
  • Legitimate interests – for example, improving our Site, preventing fraud, and measuring the success of our marketing, as long as your rights and freedoms are not overridden.

In practice, we use your information to:

  • provide, operate and improve our Site
  • offer products for sale and process your orders
  • take and manage payments
  • arrange shipping and returns
  • provide customer support
  • send optional marketing communications (where you have consented)
  • manage our business administration, accounting and legal obligations
  • keep the Site secure (fraud detection, abuse prevention, system monitoring)

4. Cookies, Pixels & Tracking Technologies

Like most online shops, we use cookies and similar technologies (such as pixels and tags) to make the Site work and to understand how it is used.

4.1 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Strictly necessary cookies
    Required for basic functions like adding items to your cart, remembering your session, and processing checkout. These cannot be switched off in our systems.
  • Functional cookies
    Help remember your preferences (for example language) and improve your experience.
  • Performance & analytics cookies
    Help us understand how visitors use our Site so we can improve navigation, content, and design. This may include tools like Google Analytics.
  • Marketing & social media cookies
    Used to measure the performance of our campaigns and, where applicable, to show StadPaws ads on other platforms. This includes the Facebook/Meta Pixel installed on our Site.

We do not show third-party banner ads on our Site and we do not sell advertising space to other brands. Marketing cookies are used only in connection with StadPaws’ own campaigns and communications.

4.2 Facebook (Meta) Pixel

We use the Facebook/Meta Pixel to:

  • measure how effective our Instagram and Facebook campaigns are
  • understand which products people find interesting
  • (where marketing cookies are enabled) build audiences for StadPaws ads on Meta platforms

Processing through the Meta Pixel is based on your consent to marketing cookies, where required. You can control how Facebook uses your data for advertising in your Facebook/Instagram ad settings.

4.3 Managing Cookies

On your first visit, you will see a cookie notice or banner. Where required by law, you can:

  • accept all cookies
  • reject non-essential cookies
  • customise your cookie preferences

You can also manage cookies through your browser settings (for example to block or delete cookies). Please note that blocking some types of cookies may impact the functionality of the Site (for example cart and checkout).

5. Behavioural Advertising & Analytics

We use analytics data and the Facebook/Meta Pixel to understand how visitors use our Site and how well our marketing performs.

Even though we do not display third-party ads on the StadPaws website itself, some of this data may be used (with your consent where required) to:

  • measure conversions from ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook
  • show StadPaws ads to people who have visited our Site or purchased before

If you prefer not to receive interest-based ads from major ad networks, you can usually adjust your preferences in:

  • Facebook / Instagram Ad Settings
  • Google Ad Settings

You can also use industry tools that provide more general controls for online behavorial advertising (for example European “Your Online Choices” initiatives).

6. Sharing Your Personal Information

We do not sell your personal data.

We share your personal information only with trusted third parties where necessary to run our online shop, always under appropriate data protection and confidentiality obligations. Examples include:

  • Hosting and technical providers
    To host and maintain our Site, databases, and related infrastructure.
  • Payment service providers
    Such as Stripe, PayPal, and Google Pay, to process secure payments and fraud checks.
  • Logistics and shipping partners
    To deliver your order and provide tracking and returns.
  • Email and communication tools
    For sending order confirmations, service messages, and—if you have opted in—newsletters.
  • Analytics and marketing tools
    For understanding visitor behaviour and measuring our own campaigns (e.g. Google Analytics, Facebook/Meta Pixel).
  • Professional advisors and authorities
    Where necessary for bookkeeping, legal advice, tax obligations, or where we are legally required to share information (e.g. with tax authorities or law enforcement).

We require service providers who act as our processors to use your data only on our instructions and for agreed purposes, and to protect it appropriately.

7. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers are located outside the European Economic Area (EEA), for example in the United States. When your personal data is transferred outside the EEA, we ensure that:

  • there is an adequacy decision in place (for example, to organisations certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework), or (Eur-Lex)
  • we use Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other appropriate safeguards approved under GDPR.

You can contact us if you would like more information about the specific safeguards used for a particular service.

8. Retention: How Long We Keep Your Data

We keep personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, and to comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

In particular:

  • Order and invoice data
    Kept for at least 7 years to comply with Dutch tax and accounting obligations. (business.gov.nl)
  • Account data
    Kept while your account is active. If you request deletion, we will remove or anonymise your account data, unless we still need some information for legal obligations (for example linked invoices).
  • Newsletter and marketing data
    Kept until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent, unless we must keep limited data to document your consent or opt-out.
  • Customer support data
    Kept for as long as needed to resolve your issue and for a reasonable period afterwards (for example to follow up or handle potential disputes), usually not longer than 2–3 years unless required by law.

Once data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it in line with our data retention procedures.

9. Your Rights (GDPR / EU & Dutch Law)

If you are in the EEA (including the Netherlands), you have several rights in relation to your personal data under the GDPR:

  • Right of access – to know whether we process your data and to request a copy.
  • Right to rectification – to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) – to ask us to delete your data in certain situations.
  • Right to restriction of processing – to limit how we use your data in specific cases.
  • Right to data portability – to receive certain data in a structured, commonly used format and/or have it transferred to another controller.
  • Right to object – to object at any time to processing based on our legitimate interests, including profiling, and to object to direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent – where processing is based on consent (for example newsletters or non-essential cookies), you can withdraw your consent at any time. This does not affect processing that has already happened.

To exercise your rights, please contact us at contact@stadpaws.com. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.

9.1 Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you are not satisfied with how we process your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

In the Netherlands, this is the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP), the Dutch Data Protection Authority. More information is available on their website.

10. Emails, Newsletters & Other Communications

10.1 Service Emails

We send essential service emails when necessary to perform our contract with you, for example:

  • order confirmation
  • shipping updates
  • information about returns or issues with your order

You cannot opt out of these emails while still using our order services, because they are part of the core transaction.

10.2 Newsletters & Marketing

We send newsletters, blog updates and promotional emails only if you have expressly opted in.

You can:

  • unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails, or
  • contact us directly and ask us to remove you from the mailing list.

Unsubscribing from newsletters does not affect your ability to order or receive service messages.

11. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure, or access.

Examples include:

  • encrypted connections (HTTPS) on our Site
  • secure payment processing via Stripe, PayPal and Google Pay
  • access controls and authentication for systems that handle personal data
  • limiting access to personal data to staff or service providers who need it for their role

No online service can guarantee 100% security, but we work to keep your data as safe as reasonably possible for a small, modern e-commerce business.

12. Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (DNT) signal. There is currently no industry-wide standard for how websites should respond to these signals, so our Site does not specifically respond to DNT at this time.

You can still manage cookies and tracking through:

  • our cookie banner (where applicable)
  • your browser settings
  • your social media and ad network preferences

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example when we add new features, change our service providers, or when laws and guidance change.

When we make changes:

  • we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page
  • where appropriate, we will also inform you via email or a notice on the Site

We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we handle your personal data.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, you can contact us via:

StadPaws operates fully online and does not use a physical postal address for customer contact.

— StadPaws