Privacy Policy | The Barkside Trail
The Barkside Trail

Privacy Policy

What we collect, how we use it, and how we keep your information safe.

The Barkside Trail is a small, owner-operated dog hiking service. We collect only the information needed to provide safe, high-quality care for your dog. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.
1

Information We Collect

When you book or inquire about our services, we may collect:

  • Contact information — your name, phone number, email address, and home address for pickup and drop-off.
  • Emergency contact — a secondary contact in case we cannot reach you during a hike.
  • Dog information — your dog's name, breed, age, weight, veterinarian contact, health notes, and behavioral history.
  • Home access details — key codes, lockbox combinations, or entry instructions provided for unattended pickups.
  • Payment information — processed securely through our payment provider; we do not store card details.
2

How We Use Your Information

  • Scheduling, confirming, and coordinating hikes and pickups.
  • Providing safe care for your dog — including responding to health or behavioral needs on the trail.
  • Sending post-hike Adventure Cards (photos, GPS summary, and notes).
  • Contacting you or your emergency contact in case of an incident.
  • Processing payments and issuing refunds as applicable.
3

Photos & GPS Data

  • Photos taken during hikes are shared with you directly as part of the Adventure Card.
  • We may occasionally use trail photos for social media or marketing — only generic trail and dog photos, never anything that identifies your home, address, or personal details. We will ask before using any photo where your dog is clearly identifiable.
  • GPS tracking data is used for route summaries in your Adventure Card and is not stored long-term or shared.
4

Information Sharing

We do not sell or share your personal information. The only exceptions are:

  • Veterinary care — we may share your dog's health information with a veterinarian in an emergency.
  • Payment processors — your payment details are handled by our third-party payment provider under their own privacy and security standards.
  • Legal requirements — if required by law or to protect the safety of people or animals.
5

Data Retention

  • We retain your information for as long as you are an active client and for a reasonable period thereafter in case of follow-up needs.
  • You may request deletion of your information at any time by contacting us directly. We will honor such requests unless retention is required for legal or safety purposes.
6

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correct any inaccurate information.
  • Request deletion of your information.
  • Opt out of any non-essential communications.

To exercise any of these rights, reach out to us directly via the contact info used at booking.

7

Policy Updates

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page. Continued use of our services after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. Last updated: April 2026.