Peace for Paws Professional Corporation
09/04/2025

1. Introduction
Peace for Paws (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects the privacy of our clients. We are committed to handling your personal information in a professional, secure, and lawful manner. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and share personal information in providing at home animal euthanasia and related services, as well as the privacy rights you may have under applicable California law.

While the federal HIPAA statute was created to protect health information of **humans** (not animals), we adopt many of its principles — confidentiality, security, and limited disclosure — when handling any client-identifying data, to ensure best practices and build trust. ([LegalClarity][1])

Because we operate in California, we also respect the data privacy rights defined under the CCPA/CPRA (if applicable to our business), including giving clients clear notice of our data practices, and responding to certain requests regarding their personal information. ([California Dept of Justice][2])

By engaging our services, you acknowledge this Privacy Policy applies.
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2. What Information We Collect & Why

• We collect the following types of information for legitimate business purposes (service provision, record-keeping, billing, client communication, follow-up, and compliance with veterinary regulations).

 

2.1 Personal & Contact Information

• Client name, address, phone number, email address.

• Emergency contact or alternative contact (if provided).

• Billing/payment information (e.g., credit-card details or other payment method) when required for services.

Purpose: scheduling, confirming appointments, invoicing, sending receipts/invoices, followup
communications, record-keeping.

2.2 Pet & Veterinary Information

• Pet’s name, species, breed, age, sex, and health history or medical conditions (as provided by you or prior veterinary records).

• Medications, prior veterinary records (if you provide or authorize transfer), an euthanasia documentation.

Purpose: to safely and responsibly provide euthanasia services, maintain medical records, comply with legal or veterinary-board record-keeping.

2.3 Optional / Voluntary Information

• Notes for end-of-life planning (owner’s wishes, pet behavior, special care instructions, etc.)

• Grief-support preferences (if you request follow-up resources)

2.4 Website / Online Information (if applicable)

• If you visit our website or fill out a contact/booking form, we may collect:

• IP address, browser type, device type, and other standard “web logs.”

• Any information you voluntarily submit (e.g., email, phone number, pet info).

Purpose: to process contact requests, bookings, and communicate with you.
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3. How We Use and Store Information
We use the collected information for:

• Providing at-home euthanasia and related veterinary services

• Communicating appointment details, confirmations, follow-ups or support resources

• Maintaining accurate medical and business records, as may be required under applicable veterinary board or California regulations

• Processing payments, invoicing, and bookkeeping

• Internal business administration, quality control, and service improvement

 

We store records securely, using physical and/or electronic safeguards, and limit access to only authorized personnel.

Records — whether paper or electronic — are retained for the period required by applicable California laws or veterinary-board regulations. After that, records are securely destroyed or permanently anonymized.
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4. Disclosure & Sharing of Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

We may disclose information, with your explicit consent, to third parties only when necessary,
such as:

• Veterinary partners, referral veterinarians, or cremation/pet-memorial services you have requested or authorized.

• Payment processors or billing services (when required for payments).

• Legal or regulatory authorities, if required by law (e.g., subpoenas, mandatory reporting).

• We will only share the minimum necessary information needed to fulfill the purpose, and only with those who have a legitimate need to know.

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5. Your Privacy Rights (Under CCPA/CPRA & General Practice)
If CCPA/CPRA applies to us (depending on business size, data handling volume, and other thresholds), then California clients have the following rights: ([California Dept of Justice][2]) 

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• Right to Know: You may request disclosure of categories (or specific items) of personal information we have collected about you in the previous 12 months; the sources; why we collected it; and with whom we have disclosed or shared it.

• Right to Access: You may request a copy of your personal information (subject to reasonable verification).

• Right to Correct: You may request correction of inaccuracies.

• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information we hold about you — subject to any legal or regulatory retention requirements (for example, medical or business records).

• Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: If we were to sell or share personal data, you have the right to opt out. (Currently, we do not sell or share your data; we disclose that fact.)

• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: If we collect certain sensitive categories of data, you may request that we limit their use and disclosure to only what is necessary. To exercise any of these rights, you may contact us via [email, phone, or mailing address]. We will respond within the time frames required by law (if applicable). We will not discriminate or treat you unfairly for exercising any of these rights.

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6. Data Security & Confidentiality
We implement reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards, such as: locked filing cabinets (for paper records), password-protected electronic files, encryption when transmitting sensitive data (e.g., payment processing or emails), restricted access to records, and staff training on confidentiality and privacy practices.

Even though veterinary practices are not “covered entities” under HIPAA, we treat client identifying and pet medical information with the same care we would if HIPAA applied — to protect your privacy and maintain trust. ([LegalClarity][1])
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7. Retention of Records
We retain records (medical, billing, communications) for as long as required by California veterinary regulations — or for a minimum period of [insert number] years after service, unless you request earlier deletion, and unless we are legally obligated to retain them.

After the retention period, we securely dispose of physical records (shredding) and permanently delete or anonymize electronic records.
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8. Consent & Authorization
Before providing at-home euthanasia or any services, we will obtain your informed consent via a written agreement containing: client details, pet details, services to be provided, aftercare/disposition instructions (cremation, burial, memorial), payment terms, and agreement to this Privacy Policy.

You may also be asked to sign a release authorizing transfer of any prior veterinary records (if applicable).
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9. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally — for example, if laws change, or our data  practices change. We will post the updated policy on our website (or provide a copy upon request), and include the revision date at the top.

Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
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10. Contact Information
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at:

 

Peace for Paws Professional Corporation

213-640-6906

aarriola@peaceforpaws.com

PO Box 13351 Torrance, CA 90503

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11. Important Legal Notes

• Federal HIPAA protections do not automatically apply to veterinary practices or pet medical records. The reason is that HIPAA defines “individuals” as humans, and animals are generally considered property under U.S. law. ([LegalClarity][1])

• Confidentiality of veterinary/pet medical records is typically regulated under state law and professional-ethics standards (e.g., veterinary medical board rules). You should confirm retention periods, record-sharing rules, and any mandatory disclosures under California law. This policy attempts to reflect reasonable practices, but is not a guarantee of compliance with every statute or regulation.

• If you handle particularly sensitive personal information (e.g., financial account numbers, payment data, or data about owners that might be considered “sensitive personal information” under CPRA), you may need additional security and consent practices.