Privacy Policy

Introduction

Fernwood Veterinary Clinic (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our clients, website visitors, and their families. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

Our clinic is located at 955 North Park Street, Victoria, BC. If you have questions about this policy, please contact us at [email protected] or call 250-940-7387.

Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Contact information: name, address, email address, phone number
• Pet information: pet name, species, breed, date of birth, medical history
• Appointment information: preferred appointment dates, reason for visit
• Emergency contacts: spouse or alternate contact details
• Website usage data: pages visited, browser type, and general location (city-level) collected through standard analytics tools

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide veterinary care and services to your pet
• Schedule and confirm appointments
• Communicate with you about your pet's health and treatment
• Send appointment reminders and follow-up care instructions
• Process new client registration forms
• Improve our website and services
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We will not use your personal information for purposes beyond what is described here without obtaining your consent.

How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure storage of physical and electronic records
• Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Encrypted transmission of data submitted through our website
• Regular review of our information handling practices

Disclosure of Information

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

• Referrals: with other veterinary professionals or emergency hospitals when your pet requires specialised or urgent care
• Service providers: with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website or clinic (e.g., appointment scheduling software), subject to confidentiality agreements
• Legal requirements: when required by law, regulation, or court order

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and to collect aggregate usage data. This information is anonymised and does not personally identify you. You may disable cookies in your browser settings, though some website features may not function as intended.

Your Rights

Under British Columbia's PIPA, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
• Withdraw your consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of your information (subject to legal or contractual restrictions)
• File a complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected].

Retention of Information

We retain personal information for as long as it is needed to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Veterinary medical records are retained in accordance with the requirements of the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (CVBC).

Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us so we can promptly remove it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our information handling practices, please contact: