Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 5 May 2026

1. Introduction and Company Information

This Privacy Policy explains how Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore collects, uses, discloses, stores, and protects personal data in connection with its cat-shelter operations, including adoption enquiries, volunteer coordination, foster arrangements, donations, event participation, website use, and general communications.

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore is committed to handling personal data in accordance with the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (“PDPA”) and other applicable laws in Singapore.

Company Name: Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore
Address: 18 Jalan Besar, #02-11, Singapore 208786
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +65 6123 7849

2. Data Collection and Processing

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore may collect and process the following categories of personal data, depending on your interaction with us:

• Identity and contact information: name, address, email address, phone number, and emergency contact details.
• Adoption-related information: household composition, living arrangements, pet ownership history, preferences, suitability assessments, references, and communications relating to adoption applications.
• Volunteer and foster information: availability, skills, experience, background information, and relevant references.
• Donation and payment information: donor details, transaction records, billing information, and payment confirmations.
• Website and communication data: IP address, browser type, device information, cookies, enquiry forms, messages, and records of correspondence.
• Photographs and video: images captured during events, shelter visits, adoption activities, or submitted by you.
• Special categories of data: where necessary and with appropriate safeguards, we may process information that reveals health-related details, for example where relevant to foster care, accessibility needs, or animal-related incidents involving you.

We generally collect personal data directly from you, but may also receive it from third parties such as referees, payment processors, event partners, or publicly available sources where permitted by law.

3. Purpose of Data Processing

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore processes personal data for the following purposes:

• to assess and manage cat adoption applications;
• to coordinate volunteer, foster, and rescue activities;
• to communicate with you regarding enquiries, appointments, events, and shelter updates;
• to process donations, issue acknowledgements, and maintain financial records;
• to provide animal welfare services and support shelter operations;
• to maintain safety, security, and incident records at our premises and events;
• to comply with legal, regulatory, accounting, and reporting obligations;
• to improve our website, services, outreach, and fundraising efforts;
• to send marketing or informational communications where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent;
• to prevent fraud, misuse, or unlawful activity; and
• to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the PDPA, Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore will only collect, use, or disclose personal data where permitted by law. Depending on the circumstances, our legal bases may include:

• Consent: where you have given clear consent for a specific purpose.
• Deemed consent: where permitted under the PDPA based on your voluntary provision of data for a reasonable purpose.
• Contractual necessity: where processing is necessary to enter into or perform a contract or pre-contractual steps, such as adoption or foster arrangements.
• Legitimate interests: where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests and does not override your interests or rights, such as safeguarding shelter operations, preventing fraud, or improving services.
• Legal obligation: where processing is required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or lawful requests by authorities.

5. Data Sharing and Third Parties

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore may disclose personal data to third parties only where necessary and lawful, including:

• payment processors and banks;
• cloud hosting, IT support, website, and communications service providers;
• veterinary clinics, animal welfare partners, transport providers, and foster/adoption collaborators;
• event organisers, venue operators, and fundraising partners;
• professional advisers such as lawyers, auditors, and accountants;
• government authorities, regulators, law enforcement agencies, or courts, where required by law; and
• other third parties with your consent or as otherwise permitted under the PDPA.

We require third parties processing personal data on our behalf to implement appropriate confidentiality, security, and data protection measures.

6. Data Transfer to Third Countries

Where personal data is transferred outside Singapore, Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient provides a standard of protection comparable to that required under the PDPA. This may include contractual safeguards, data transfer agreements, and due diligence on overseas service providers.

Cross-border transfers may occur where we use international cloud services, email platforms, analytics tools, or other service providers located outside Singapore.

7. Storage Duration

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore retains personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by applicable law, contractual obligations, or legitimate business needs.

• Adoption and foster records: retained for a reasonable period after completion of the relevant arrangement, unless longer retention is required for legal or operational reasons.
• Donation and accounting records: retained in accordance with applicable accounting and tax requirements.
• Volunteer and enquiry records: retained for as long as needed to manage the relationship and any follow-up obligations.
• Website logs and technical data: retained for a limited period for security, troubleshooting, and analytics purposes.

When personal data is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymise, or securely dispose of it.

8. User Rights

Subject to the PDPA and any applicable exceptions, you may have the following rights in relation to your personal data held by Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore:

• Access: to request access to your personal data and information about how it has been used or disclosed.
• Rectification: to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Erasure: to request deletion of personal data where it is no longer necessary or where deletion is otherwise permitted by law.
• Restriction: to request that we limit certain processing in appropriate circumstances.
• Data portability: where applicable and technically feasible, to request a copy of your personal data in a commonly used format.
• Objection: to object to certain processing activities, including direct marketing where applicable.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request. We may also decline requests where permitted or required by law.

9. Withdrawal of Consent

Where we rely on your consent to process personal data, you may withdraw that consent at any time by contacting Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore using the contact details below. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.

Please note that if you withdraw consent, we may no longer be able to provide certain services or continue certain arrangements, such as adoption processing, volunteer coordination, or marketing communications.

10. Right to Complain

If you have concerns about how Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore handles your personal data, please contact us first so that we may address your concern promptly.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Commission (“PDPC”) in Singapore if you believe your data protection rights have been infringed.

11. Data Security

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore implements reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal data against unauthorised access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, disposal, or similar risks.

• access controls and role-based permissions;
• secure storage and password protection;
• encryption or other security measures where appropriate;
• staff confidentiality obligations and training;
• monitoring and incident response procedures; and
• regular review of security practices.

However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal data, please contact:

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore
18 Jalan Besar, #02-11, Singapore 208786
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +65 6123 7849

13. Changes to Privacy Policy

Paws & Whiskers Haven Singapore may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. The updated version will be posted on our website or otherwise made available to you, and the “Effective Date” will be revised accordingly.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal data.