Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 20, 2026

Animal’s Care Association Rajpura (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Association”) is a registered society/non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to the treatment, rehabilitation, and care of animals, including dogs, cows, and other animals. Operating as a Animal’s NGO located at ICL Road, Near Electricity Road, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India, our primary objectives include providing medical treatment, shelter, and nourishment to animals in need. Our website, animalscareassociation.org (the “Website”), serves as a platform to raise awareness, facilitate community engagement, and accept voluntary donations to support our mission. We utilize Razorpay as our payment gateway to process donations securely.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information in compliance with applicable laws, including but not limited to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), the Information Technology Act, 2000 (as amended), and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your personal data. By accessing or using our Website, you consent to the practices described herein. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website.

This Policy applies to all visitors, users, donors, and others who interact with the Website. We may update this Policy from time to time; please review it periodically. Continued use of the Website after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information to operate effectively, process donations, communicate with you, and improve our services. The types of information we may collect include:

a. Personal Information

  • Contact Details: Name, email address (e.g., when you subscribe to newsletters, contact us, or make a donation).
  • Demographic Information: Address, phone number (e.g., 9988847779 for inquiries), and location data (if voluntarily provided).
  • Donation-Related Information: Details such as donation amount, payment method preferences, and transaction history. Note: We do not collect or store sensitive payment information like credit/debit card numbers, CVV, or bank account details. All such data is handled directly by our third-party payment gateway, Razorpay, in compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).

b. Non-Personal Information

  • Device and Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, time spent on the Website, and clickstream data.
  • Cookies and Tracking Data: Information collected via cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies (see Section 9 for details).

c. Sensitive Personal Data

We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data (e.g., racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, health data, or biometric data) unless voluntarily provided and necessary for our services (e.g., in volunteer applications). If collected, it will be handled with heightened security measures as required under the DPDP Act and IT Rules.

We do not collect information from children under 18 without verifiable parental consent (see Section 11).

2. How We Collect Information

  • Directly from You: When you fill out forms (e.g., donation forms, contact forms, newsletter sign-ups), make donations, or communicate with us via email (contact@animalscareassociation.org) or phone.
  • Automatically: Through Website interactions, such as cookies, server logs, and analytics tools.
  • From Third Parties: From payment processors like Razorpay (e.g., transaction confirmations) or social media platforms if you link accounts. We ensure third-party data collection complies with applicable laws.

3. Use of Information

We use your information solely for legitimate purposes aligned with our NGO objectives:

  • To process and acknowledge donations, issue receipts, and comply with tax and regulatory requirements (e.g., under the Income Tax Act, 1961, for 80G deductions where and when applicable).
  • To communicate with you about our activities, events, animal care updates, and donation impacts.
  • To improve the Website’s functionality, user experience, and security.
  • To analyze trends and usage for internal reporting and mission enhancement.
  • To comply with legal obligations, such as audits, anti-money laundering checks, or responses to government authorities.
  • For marketing purposes (with your consent), such as sending newsletters or appeals for support.

We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects or similarly significant impacts without your explicit consent.

4. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share it only in the following limited circumstances:

  • With Service Providers: Third parties like Razorpay for payment processing, IT service providers for Website maintenance, or email platforms for communications. All such providers are bound by contractual obligations to protect your data and comply with applicable laws.
  • For Legal Compliance: If required by law, court order, or regulatory authority (e.g., under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, or Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, if foreign donations are involved).
  • In Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your data may be transferred with appropriate safeguards.
  • With Your Consent: For any other purpose, only with your explicit prior consent.

We ensure that any international data transfers (if applicable) comply with DPDP Act requirements, such as adequacy decisions or standard contractual clauses.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration, in line with IT Rules and DPDP Act standards. These include:

  • Encryption of data in transit (e.g., SSL/TLS for Website communications).
  • Access controls, firewalls, and regular security audits.
  • Secure servers hosted in compliance with Indian data localization requirements where applicable.

For donations, Razorpay handles payment data securely; we do not store it. Despite these measures, no system is infallible. In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected individuals and authorities as required by law (e.g., within 72 hours under DPDP Act).

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined herein, or as required by law (e.g., 7 years for financial records under tax laws). After this period, data is securely deleted or anonymized.

7. Your Rights

Under the DPDP Act and other applicable laws, you have rights regarding your personal data, including:

  • Access: Request details of your data we hold.
  • Correction: Update inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Erasure: Request deletion (subject to legal obligations).
  • Withdrawal of Consent: Opt out of processing where consent is the basis.
  • Portability: Receive your data in a structured format.
  • Objection: Object to processing for certain purposes.
  • Complaint: Lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Board of India.

To exercise these rights, contact us at contact@animalscareassociation.org. We will respond within the timelines prescribed by law (e.g., 30 days under DPDP Act). Proof of identity may be required.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Website may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., Razorpay’s portal). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Review their policies separately. For donations, Razorpay’s privacy policy applies to payment processing.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies to enhance functionality (e.g., session management) and analytics (e.g., Google Analytics). You can manage cookies via browser settings. Essential cookies are required for Website operation; others require consent. We do not use cookies for targeted advertising without consent.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from minors without parental consent. If we discover such data, it will be deleted promptly.

11. International Users

If you access the Website from outside India, your data may be processed in India. By using the Website, you consent to this transfer and processing in accordance with Indian laws.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may amend this Policy to reflect legal, operational, or technological changes. Updates will be posted on the Website with the new effective date. Significant changes will be notified via email or prominent notice.

13. Contact Us

For questions, complaints, or rights exercises, contact our Data Protection Officer:

  • Email: contact@animalscareassociation.org
  • Phone: +91-9988847779
  • Address: Animal’s Care Association Rajpura, ICL Road, Near Electricity Road, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India

We aim to resolve inquiries promptly and in good faith.

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India, with exclusive jurisdiction in the courts of Rajpura, Punjab.