Cookie Policy

PetPals sets one cookie, and only once you sign in. It keeps you signed in. We do not use analytics cookies, advertising cookies, or third-party trackers, and we do not sell or share anything about your browsing.

Because that single cookie is strictly necessary to provide a service you asked for, it does not require consent under the ePrivacy Directive. That is why you are not asked to agree to anything — there is nothing optional to agree to yet.

A cookie is a small text file a website asks your browser to store and send back on your next visit. It lets a site recognise the same browser across page loads — which is how staying signed in works at all, since each page request is otherwise anonymous.

petpals_session

Keeps you signed in. Contains a random token — no name, email, or other personal data is stored in the cookie itself. Set only when you sign in, and deleted when you sign out.

Type

Strictly necessary. The site cannot keep you signed in without it.

Lifetime

30 days, or until you sign out.

Who can read it

PetPals only. It is marked HttpOnly, so scripts running in your browser cannot read it, and SameSite=Lax, so it is not sent from other sites.

For the avoidance of doubt, PetPals currently sets none of the following:

• Analytics or measurement cookies (no Google Analytics, Plausible, or similar)
• Advertising, retargeting, or profiling cookies
• Social media embeds that track you across sites
• Third-party cookies of any kind

If we ever add any of these, we will ask for your consent before setting them, update this page, and give you a working way to refuse — refusing will never cost you access to the service.

Every browser lets you view, block, and delete cookies in its settings. You are free to block ours — but blocking the session cookie means you will not be able to stay signed in, so signing in, booking, and messaging will not work.

You can also use PetPals signed out. Browsing sitters and reading these pages sets no cookies at all.

When you pay for a booking, the payment itself happens on Stripe's own pages, and Stripe sets its own cookies under its own policy — including cookies it uses to detect fraud. PetPals never sees your card details. Stripe's cookie notice covers what it sets and why.

If we change what cookies we set, we will update the date at the top of this page. For anything unclear here, contact us using the details in our Privacy Policy.