What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help the site function, remember your preferences, and measure how it's used. This policy explains the cookies we use and how you can control them.
Types of cookies we use
We group the cookies and similar technologies on this website into three categories:
Necessary
Essential cookies required for the website, booking system, login session and security to work. These can't be turned off — they don't require consent and they don't track you for advertising.
Analytics
Cookies that help us understand how visitors use our website (for example which pages are popular) so we can improve it. These are only set if you allow them.
Marketing & advertising measurement
We use the Meta Pixel (Facebook/Meta advertising technology) to measure how our advertising performs, count conversions, and show our ads to people who may be interested after they've visited our site. This includes a cookie set by Meta. Marketing cookies only activate if you give consent, and we only send Meta information needed for advertising measurement — never your name, your dog's name, your enquiry message, address or payment details.
Your consent
When you first visit our website you'll see a cookie banner giving you an equal choice to accept all cookies or reject non-essential cookies. You can also open "Manage cookie preferences" to switch analytics and marketing cookies on or off individually.
Your choice is remembered so you aren't asked on every page. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time:
The Meta Pixel
The Meta Pixel is a piece of code provided by Meta Platforms Inc. that lets us measure the effectiveness of our Facebook and Instagram advertising. When activated (only with your marketing consent) it can:
- count views of key pages (PageView and ViewContent);
- count genuine enquiry submissions (Lead);
- count when a booking checkout is started (InitiateCheckout);
- count a successful payment and its value in GBP (Purchase).
To prevent over-counting, each of these events is only sent once per action — for example a Purchase is only counted for a Stripe checkout session that payment has been confirmed on, and never again for the same session.
Meta may set its own cookie on your device when the Pixel is active. Meta's use of data is governed by Meta's own privacy policy and terms; we don't control how Meta processes data once it has been shared.
What we don't send
We never send personally identifying or sensitive information to Meta through the Pixel — this includes your name, your dog's name, enquiry messages, addresses, vet details, booking notes or any payment or card information. Only standard advertising-measurement parameters (such as the page viewed, the service type, and the transaction value) are included.
Managing cookies in your browser
You can also control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers let you refuse cookies or alert you before they're set. Note that blocking all cookies (including necessary ones) may stop the booking system and your account login from working properly.
Changes to this policy
If we add or change the cookies we use, we'll update this page and the "last updated" date. Significant changes that affect how your information is used will be made clear on the site.
Contact
Questions about cookies or your privacy? Email hello@houseofpaws.co.uk or call 07896 473295.