Privacy Policy

Last updated: 28 June 2026

1. Introduction

Dogs of Essex is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and how we use it. We aim to keep things simple and honest - this policy reflects how the site actually works, in plain English.

2. Who We Are

3. What Information We Collect

Information you provide

When you use one of our forms or email us - for example, when you:

  • submit a community tip
  • suggest a new walk
  • recommend a dog-friendly place
  • report incorrect information
  • contact us

we may collect:

  • your name (if provided)
  • your email address (if provided)
  • the message or submission itself

Providing your name and email address is optional. You can submit a tip without giving either, though we won't be able to reply to you if you don't leave an email address.

Location (only when you ask for it)

Some pages let you find walks near you. If you use the “nearest” option, your browser will ask permission to share your location. We use this only in your browser to sort walks by distance - your location is not sent to us and is not stored.

If you instead search by typing a postcode or town, that text is sent to mapping services to look up the location (see Third-Party Services). We don't store what you search for.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information you provide to:

  • respond to enquiries
  • review community submissions
  • verify information before publishing
  • improve the website

Submissions may be edited for clarity before being published.

5. Publishing Community Tips

If you submit a community tip, we may publish all or part of your submission on Dogs of Essex. We will only display the name you choose to provide (for example, “Sarah & Luna”). Email addresses are never published.

6. Community Contributions

By submitting a tip, walk recommendation, or other contribution, you give Dogs of Essex permission to edit, publish, or decline your submission. We may make minor edits for spelling, grammar, length, or clarity while preserving the original meaning.

7. Email Addresses

If you provide an email address:

  • it is only used so we can contact you about your submission or enquiry
  • it is never sold
  • it is never shared with third parties

8. Cookies & Analytics

Analytics on Dogs of Essex is optional and switched off by default. We use Google Analytics, provided by Google, to understand how visitors use the site (for example, which walks are most popular and where people get stuck) so we can improve it. It sets first-party “_ga” cookies and collects anonymised usage data such as pages viewed, device type and approximate location. We do not use it to identify you personally, and we do not use any advertising or ad-personalisation cookies.

Nothing is loaded or sent to Google until you agree. On your first visit a banner asks you to Accept analytics or Reject analytics, with both choices given equal prominence. If you accept, Google Analytics loads with analytics permitted (advertising storage stays denied). If you reject, Google Analytics is never loaded.

You can change your decision at any time. Select (available here and in the footer of every page) to reopen the banner and accept or withdraw permission. If you withdraw, we stop Google Analytics and remove its “_ga” cookies from your browser where possible.

Your choice is saved on your device in your browser’s local storage. It has no expiry date, so it is remembered until you change it here or clear your browser’s site data. Because it is stored per browser and per device, you may be asked again if you visit from a different browser or device.

Aside from analytics, we only use essential cookies required for the website to function.

9. Third-Party Services

We use a small number of trusted third-party services to run the site. These may process limited data on our behalf:

  • GitHub Pages - website hosting
  • Google Analytics (Google) - optional, consent-based website usage statistics; only loaded if you accept analytics
  • FormSubmit - delivers form submissions (tips, suggestions, reports) to us by email
  • Google Workspace - our email accounts
  • Postcodes.io and OpenStreetMap (Nominatim) - look up a postcode or town you type into the “find walks near me” search

10. Your Rights

You can ask us to:

  • access the personal information we hold about you
  • correct it
  • delete it

To make a request, email privacy@dogsofessex.co.uk.

11. Data Retention

We only keep personal information for as long as necessary to manage submissions and operate the website.

12. Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

privacy@dogsofessex.co.uk