Privacy & Data Protection

Privacy Policy

Effective and last updated: 29 July 2026

Important: This Privacy Policy explains how K9 Elite Philippines collects, uses, stores, shares and protects personal data. It is intended to reflect the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and guidance issued by the National Privacy Commission. It is not a substitute for advice from Philippine legal counsel.

1. Scope and Identity of the Personal Information Controller

This Policy applies to information processed through the K9 Elite Philippines website, inquiry forms, consultations, program applications, assessments, training records, client communications, media activities and related private-sector services. For purposes of Philippine data protection law, K9 Elite Philippines acts as the personal information controller for personal data it determines how and why to process.

K9 Elite Philippines serves private clients, families, companion-dog owners, protection-dog clients and professional handlers. Personal information is processed only for legitimate service, safety, communication and legal purposes.

2. Personal Data We May Collect

Depending on your interaction with us, we may collect:

name, email address, telephone number, city or general location and preferred contact method;
information about your dog, including name, breed, age, sex, health, vaccination status, behavior, bite history, training history and suitability information;
service interests, training goals, household situation, lifestyle, security concerns and handler experience;
appointment, attendance, assessment, progress, incident and payment records;
messages, photographs, videos, testimonials and communications you choose to provide;
technical data such as browser type, device type, pages visited, referring page, approximate location derived from IP address, cookie preferences and security logs;
emergency contact details and information reasonably necessary to respond to an incident; and
other information required by law or reasonably necessary to provide the requested service.

We ask clients not to send unnecessary sensitive personal information through ordinary website forms. Medical or identification information should be provided only when specifically requested through an appropriate channel.

3. Purposes and Lawful Bases

We may process personal data to:

respond to inquiries and arrange consultations;
assess whether a dog, handler or household is suitable for a program;
prepare quotations, agreements, schedules, invoices and service records;
deliver training, transition, handler education and continuing support;
protect the health, safety and legal rights of clients, dogs, personnel and visitors;
document training progress, incidents, complaints and compliance;
operate, secure and improve the website and communications systems;
send service updates and, where permitted, marketing communications;
comply with legal obligations, lawful orders and regulatory requirements; and
establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

Processing may be based on consent, steps taken at your request before entering a contract, performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, protection of vital interests, or legitimate interests that do not override your rights.

4. Photographs, Videos and Testimonials

Training photographs and videos may contain personal data. We will seek an appropriate lawful basis before using identifiable client media for marketing, education or publication. A client may refuse optional promotional use without losing access to ordinary services. Operational recording for safety, incident documentation or training review may be handled separately under a service agreement or posted notice.

5. Children and Minors

Our services are directed to adults. A parent or legal guardian must communicate and provide consent where a minor participates. We do not knowingly collect unnecessary personal data from children through this website.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The website may use essential cookies or local browser storage to remember privacy choices, support navigation and maintain security. Analytics or third-party services will be described in the Cookie Policy when used. You can manage browser storage through your browser settings, but blocking essential technologies may affect site functionality.

7. Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell personal data. We may share information only as reasonably necessary with:

website hosting, email, communications, payment, IT, security and professional service providers;
veterinarians, emergency responders or other persons when necessary to protect life, health, safety or animal welfare;
trusted trainers, contractors, breeders, transport providers or service partners involved in a requested service and subject to appropriate confidentiality expectations;
government authorities, courts, regulators or law-enforcement bodies when disclosure is required or lawfully requested; and
advisers, insurers or representatives for claims, disputes, audits or business protection.

8. Cross-Border Processing

Some service providers may process information outside the Philippines. Where this occurs, we will take reasonable steps to require appropriate safeguards and lawful processing consistent with applicable Philippine requirements.

9. Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the stated purposes, contractual obligations, safety records, accounting, dispute resolution, legal claims and applicable retention requirements. When data is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, anonymized or disposed of where reasonably practicable.

10. Security

We use reasonable organizational, physical and technical safeguards proportionate to the nature of the data and the risks involved. No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Clients should avoid sending confidential information through unsecured channels.

11. Data Subject Rights

Subject to applicable law and valid exceptions, you may have rights to be informed, object, access, correct, erase or block data, obtain data portability, seek damages and lodge a complaint. We may request proof of identity before acting on a request and may retain information where legally permitted or required.

12. Privacy Requests and Complaints

Send privacy requests to k9elite.ph@gmail.com. Please include your name, contact details, the nature of the request and enough information for us to locate the relevant record. You may also contact the National Privacy Commission where appropriate.

13. Online Academy, Accounts and Course Data

This Privacy Policy also applies to the K9 Elite Philippines Online Academy, whether accessed through this website, an academy subdomain, or an integrated course area.

Account information: We may process your name, email address, account identifiers, authentication information and account status to register, secure and administer your academy account.
Course activity: We may process enrollments, lesson progress, completion status, certificate eligibility, certificate identifiers and related training records so that courses can function and progress can be restored.
Orders and payments: We may process order references, course purchased, amount, payment status and transaction references. Payment transactions may be handled by payment service providers such as PayMongo. We do not need to store full payment-card details where those details are processed directly by the payment provider.
Technology providers: We may use service providers such as Supabase for account/database functionality, hosting providers for website delivery, payment processors, and email providers for transactional communications. Such providers may process data on our behalf or under their own applicable terms and privacy notices.
Security and session data: Essential cookies, local storage, session tokens, device/browser information and security logs may be used for login, fraud prevention, account security and continuity of service.
Certificates: Information entered or generated for a course certificate may be stored or displayed to provide the certificate and verify course completion.

Online Academy records are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for account administration, course access, transaction records, certificates, security, dispute handling and applicable legal or accounting requirements. Users may submit applicable privacy-rights requests using the contact details in this Policy.

14. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.