1. What are cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device when you visit them. They help websites remember your preferences, understand how visitors interact with the site, and deliver a smoother experience.

Global Pet Index Inc uses cookies and similar technologies (such as local storage and pixels) to keep our platform secure, understand usage and provide the features you rely on.

2. Types of cookies we use

We use the following categories of cookies:

Essential cookies: required for the platform to function, including authentication, security and load balancing.
Geolocation (optional, required for this feature): when you press "Use my location" on the Find Suppliers page, your browser asks whether we may read your position. We do not store your coordinates in cookies, local storage, or anywhere else. They are used once, for the search you asked for, to work out which companies are nearby, and the request is logged in our ordinary web server access log. If you refuse permission, the page falls back to a city or postcode search. This is a browser permission, not a cookie, so it cannot be switched off in the cookie settings below — your browser controls it.
Preference cookies: remember your settings such as language, filters and display preferences.
Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors use GlobalPetIndex so we can improve navigation and content.
Marketing cookies: used to deliver relevant promotions and measure advertising performance.

2a. Location data (not a cookie)

The "Find Suppliers" page can show you pet suppliers near your current position. This works either by you typing a city or postcode, or by pressing "Use my location".

When you press the button, your browser will ask you to allow this site to know your position. We only receive your coordinates if you explicitly grant that permission. If you decline, the feature simply does not run and you can still search by city or postcode.

We do not store your coordinates in cookies, in local storage, or on our servers as a user record. They are used for that one search, to calculate which companies are within the distance you selected. Because the coordinates travel in the page address, they do appear in our web server's ordinary request log alongside your IP address, which is kept only for the limited period described in our Privacy Policy.

Map tiles: the page shows an interactive map whose tiles are served by OpenFreeMap using OpenStreetMap data. Viewing the map sends tile requests to those providers, and those requests necessarily contain the coordinates of the map area being displayed. This is standard behaviour for any interactive map, and those providers operate under their own privacy policies.

Your control: this is a browser permission rather than a cookie, so it is not affected by the cookie settings below. Your browser will normally ask again each time, and you can change your decision at any time in your browser's site-permission settings for this site.

3. Third-party cookies

We may allow trusted third-party services to place cookies on your device for analytics, advertising and social features. These providers include, but are not limited to, analytics platforms and advertising networks. Their use of cookies is governed by their own privacy and cookie policies.

4. Managing cookies

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that blocking essential cookies may prevent some features of GlobalPetIndex from working correctly.

Most browsers allow you to clear cookies, block all cookies or prompt you before a cookie is stored. Visit your browser’s help section for specific instructions.

5. Changes to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, law or our services. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised date. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

6. Contact us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, please contact us at hello@globalpetindex.com or through our Contact page.