Privacy Policy

Thank you for choosing the AkoVet community to help you learn and share animal health information that can improve the lives of the animals we care about.  This Privacy Policy governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of Personal Information you may supply to AkoVet through your access to and/or use of any AkoVet service, software, application, product, or website (collectively, “AkoVet Services”). This includes the VetMark software platform.

What is not covered

Please note that any information you provide through the AkoVet Community Forums or Blogs becomes public information immediately upon its publication and is therefore not covered by this Privacy Policy.  Accordingly, please be careful about the personal information you choose to publish in these areas and read our Code of Conduct for registered AkoVet members.

The AkoVet Services may also contain links to other websites not operated or controlled by AkoVet (“Third-Party Sites”). The information that you share with Third-Party Sites will be governed by the specific privacy policies and terms of service of the Third-Party Sites and not by this Privacy Policy. By providing these links, we do not imply that we endorse or have reviewed these sites. Please contact the Third-Party Sites directly for information on their privacy practices and policies.

Instructions

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using AkoVet Services and/or otherwise providing us with your personal information, you authorize the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.  This Privacy Policy must also be read in addition to any other applicable terms and conditions that may apply to your relationship and/or engagement with us. If you do not agree with any term set out in this Privacy Policy, you must not use AkoVet Services.

1. Introduction

AkoVet is an online platform that allows animal owners, veterinary professionals, and industry experts exchange animal health and welfare information online.  Extension materials and educational modules are hosted through the AkoVet website while the interactive software tools are hosted through the VetMark platform. Led by registered veterinarians, AkoVet is committed to protecting your privacy to a high standard just as we do to protect client-patient confidentiality.  This is achieved through secure information technology services and strict adherence to applicable privacy laws and regulations.

2. Collection of Your Information

AkoVet may collect a variety of Personal Information and Technical Information from users in a variety of ways, including but not limited to when users visit our website, register on the site, subscribe to the newsletter, respond to a survey, fill out a form, utilise the VetMark software platform, enrol in an online course, and in connection with other activities, services, features, or resources we make available.

Personal Information

AkoVet may collect Personal Information about users when they create an account to use our Services and interact with the various tools and resources. This may include:

  • Account Information: When you create an account with us, you may be asked to provide your name, email address, and other relevant information depending on the Services you utilise.

 

  • Animal Information: If you choose to utilise tools within the VetMark software platform, we may collect information about your animals including their characteristics (including species, breed, sex, age, identification) and other health information such as medical history, symptoms, lab results, medication details, and clinical notes, only to the extent you choose to include this information in your records when using AkoVet Services.

 

  • User Content: When you use our Services, we collect Personal Information that is included in the input, file uploads, or feedback that you provide to our Services.

 

  • Communication Information: If you communicate with us, we collect your name, contact information, and the contents of any messages you send.

 

  • Social Media Information: We have pages on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. When you interact with our social media pages, we will collect Personal Information that you elect to provide to us, such as your contact details. In addition, the companies that host our social media pages may provide us with aggregate information and analytics about our social media activity.

 

  • Other Information You Provide: We collect other information that you may provide to us, such as when you participate in our events or surveys or provide us with information to establish your identity (collectively, “Other Information You Provide”).

 

We will collect Personal Information from users only if they voluntarily choose to submit the information to us. Users can always refuse to supply Personal Information. In general, we will let you know at the time of collection whether the provision of Personal Information to us is optional or whether it is required for us to provide you an AkoVet Service. If we have indicated that the requested personal information is required and you do not provide it, you may not be able to access AkoVet or the full range of AkoVet Services.

In some situations, we may collect someone else’s Personal Information from you, for example, when you add members to your Animal Care Teams in the VetMark software platform when that feature is made available. We may also collect your Personal Information from someone else where another individual manages your AkoVet or VetMark account on your behalf.

You can review and update your account information at any time. You can modify, add, or delete any optional account information by signing into either your AkoVet or VetMark account and editing your account profile.

Technical Information

AkoVet may collect Technical Information about users whenever they interact with our Services. This may include:

  • Log Data: Information that your browser or device automatically sends when you use our Services. Log data includes your Internet Protocol address, browser type and settings, the date and time of your request, and how you interact with our Services.

 

  • Usage Data: We may automatically collect information about your use of the Services, such as the types of content that you view or engage with, the features you use and the actions you take, as well as your time zone, country, the dates and times of access, user agent and version, type of computer or mobile device, and your computer connection.

 

  • Device Information: Includes name of the device, operating system, device identifiers, and browser you are using. Information collected may depend on the type of device you use and its settings.

 

  • Cookies: Our Services may use “cookies” to enhance user experience. Users’ web browsers place cookies on their hard drive for record-keeping purposes and sometimes to track information about them. Users may choose to set their web browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If they do so, note that some parts of the Services may not function properly.

 

  • Analytics: We may use a variety of online analytics products that use cookies to help us analyse how users use our Services and enhance your experience when you use the Services.

3. Use of Your Information

AkoVet may collect and use users’ Personal and Technical Information for the following purposes:

  • To improve customer service: Information you provide helps us respond to your customer service requests and support needs more efficiently.

 

  • To personalize user experience: We may use aggregated information to understand how our users as a group use the Services provided.

 

  • To improve our services: We continually strive to improve our offerings based on the information and feedback we receive from you.

 

  • To streamline data entry: We want to make AkoVet Services easier to use by eliminating the need for you to repeatedly enter the same information or to share information with third parties that you have already shared with AkoVet Services.

 

  • To display customised content: We may use your information to display content and promotions that are customised to your interests and preferences.

 

  • To monitor population-level trends: We will gather and analyse data (in a form in which you cannot be identified) at local, regional, and national levels to monitor trends in animal ownership, welfare, and disease. This information is extremely valuable as it allows the limited veterinary services to be targeted to the needs of the population, which in turn potentially provides benefits to you and your animals.

 

  • To support research: We will use aggregated and de-identified data to support research studies into the prevention, diagnosis, and management of important medical and behavioural problems in animals.

 

  • To communicate with you: We will periodically send a newsletter to registered users to keep you informed of the latest developments in our resources and tools. By creating an account, you are deemed to have given us your implied consent to send you such newsletters. If you do not want to receive the newsletter, you can unsubscribe at any time.

 

  • To support national response: As part of our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of animal populations in New Zealand, we have an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to distribute communications to all registered users in the event of an exotic disease incursion, natural disaster, extreme weather event, or other emergency event. Please note that MPI will not have direct access to any of your identifying information or contact details and will not be able to communicate directly with individual users.

 

AkoVet does not use your individual account and record information from for marketing without first asking for and receiving your opt-in consent. We will not use personal information for purposes other than described above, unless we have your consent or we are permitted or required to do so by law.

4. Storage of Your Information

We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information that we hold is accurate, complete, up-to date, stored in a secure environment, and protected from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

When any information is uploaded to your VetMark account, it is sent over the Internet using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This method encrypts the information to help prevent others from reading it while it’s in transit from your computer to VetMark,

Any information or records you maintain with a VetMark account will be hosted on servers in a secure environment by a commercially reputable hosting vendor using best practice security techniques. VetMark is protected by a reputable network firewall and daily backups are performed to allow system restores to be performed in a disaster recovery situation.

AkoVet will only retain your personal information for as long as it is needed for the purposes for which it was collected (or any other purpose you have consented to) or for so long as we are required by law to retain it. If your account or access is terminated, we will delete your personal information.

Access to your account will be blocked following 5 failed attempts to logon. Your account is unblocked by using the forgotten password function on the website. If your account is blocked because you have abused your access privileges, you will be offered the opportunity to obtain a copy of any personal / animal health information you have entered.

If you’re using VetMark to upload sensitive data (such as animal health information), you should properly secure your computer. To help do this, you can use anti-spyware and virus protection software. You can also restrict access to your computer (for example, by using a strong password for your computer login and a network firewall).

AkoVet cannot be held liable in any way for events beyond our control or in any way for accidental or unauthorised access of your information.

5. Disclosure of Your Information

We will only disclose your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy, any law governing New Zealand, and your specific instructions or authorisations within the AkoVet or VetMark software platform.  This may include:

  • Your nominated Veterinary Service Provider(s) including other veterinarians and allied veterinary professionals (veterinary nurses and technicians) within your Veterinary Service Provider’s practice
  • Other nominated members of your Animal Care Team including household members, farm workers, pet sitters, and other individuals on your “trust list”
  • Emergency services personnel who may assist you in an emergency situation if you have opted in to this programme
  • Our service providers that are providing a service to you or us in relation to AkoVet for example, third party web site hosting; packaging, mailing; answering customer questions about products and services; and sending information about our products, special offers, and other new services

*Please note that some of these features are not yet available in the platform.

AkoVet may also disclose personal information if we believe on reasonable grounds that such disclosure is necessary to:

  • enforce this Privacy Policy or any other relevant terms and conditions
  • comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or legal processes served on AkoVet
  • protect and defend the rights or property of AkoVet Services
  • is otherwise required or permitted by law

Sharing Information with Third Parties

We will not “sell” Personal Information or “share” Personal Information with commercial companies who intend to use the information for advertising or marketing their products and services.

We may provide government, industry, and/or research organisations with data extracts from AkoVet Services that have been aggregated and de-identified to support various research, readiness, and response activities.  None of the data provided will allow the identification of individuals. We may charge a nominal fee for data access to help support the ongoing costs of maintaining the system.

We may provide you with information about third party applications or services that connect with, are referred through AkoVet Services.  You can view the third parties and applications and should examine their privacy policies and terms of use prior to using them or allowing them access to any of your personal information. In order to access AkoVet Services, the third party is required to protect the privacy of your personal information by complying with all applicable privacy laws.

No third party has access to your information through AkoVet Services unless and until you actively opt in through AkoVet Services to grant it access. You control what information you allow a third party to access and the length of time they can access the information. Once you authorise such third party application to access your information from AkoVet Services, such information will be subject to the third party’s privacy policies and AkoVet will not be liable or responsible for the privacy practices of any third party.

6. Your Rights

To the extent provided for by local law and subject to applicable exceptions, individuals may have the following privacy rights in relation to their Personal Information:

  • The right to know information about our processing of your Personal Information, including the specific pieces of Personal Information that we have collected from you;
  • The right to request deletion of your Personal Information;
  • The right to correct your Personal Information; and
  • The right to be free from discrimination relating to the exercise of any of your privacy rights.

 

You can close your account at any time by signing into your AkoVet or VetMark account and editing your account profile. We wait 90 days before permanently deleting your account information and all records. Please note that any information you provide through the AkoVet Community Forums or Blogs is public information and we may not be able to remove this content.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

AkoVet has the discretion to update this privacy policy at any time particularly as new services and features are added to the platform. When we do, we will revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review this privacy policy periodically and become aware of modifications.

8. Acceptance of These Terms

By using our Services, you signify your acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree to this policy, please do not use our Services. Your continued use of the Services following the posting of changes to this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.

9. Contacting Us

AkoVet must comply with any privacy legislations when handling your personal information. If you have any further questions, problems, or complaints relating to our Privacy Policy or our information handling practices in general, please contact us at:

info@akovet.org

This Privacy Policy was last updated on 01 May 2024.

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