Privacy Policy

Merritt Veterinary Hospital

Effective Date: October 28, 2026
Last Updated: October 28, 2026

1. Introduction

Merritt Veterinary Hospital (“MVH,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the personal information entrusted to us by our clients and website visitors.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose personal information when you visit our website, contact us, request an appointment, or use our veterinary services.

We handle personal information in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), where applicable.

By using our website, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, as well as certain technical information collected when you visit our website.

Information you provide

Depending on how you interact with us, this information may include:

• Your name and contact information, including telephone number, email address, and mailing address.

• Information about your animal, including name, species, breed, age, medical history, and veterinary care requirements.

• Appointment requests, inquiries, and other communications you send to us.

• Billing, payment, and account information necessary to provide our services.

• Other information you choose to provide when communicating with our hospital.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically, depending on the website features and services in use. This may include:

• Your IP address and general location information.

• Browser type, device type, and operating system.

• Pages visited, links clicked, and the date and time of your visit.

• Website usage information collected through cookies or similar technologies, where enabled.

3. How We Use Your Information

We collect and use personal information for reasonable purposes related to operating our veterinary hospital and website, including to:

• Respond to questions, requests, and messages.

• Schedule and manage veterinary appointments.

• Provide veterinary care and maintain accurate client and animal medical records.

• Communicate with you about your animal’s care, treatment, medications, follow-up appointments, and related services.

• Process payments, manage accounts, and maintain business records.

• Operate, maintain, and improve our website and client services.

• Send clinic updates, service announcements, or promotional communications where permitted and appropriate.

• Meet applicable legal, regulatory, and professional obligations.

We will not use personal information for purposes unrelated to those for which it was collected unless we have obtained the required consent or are otherwise authorized or required by law.

4. Consent

By providing personal information to us, you consent to its collection, use, and disclosure for the purposes identified in this Privacy Policy or otherwise explained to you at the time of collection, subject to applicable law.

Where required, we will seek additional consent before using or disclosing your information for a new purpose.

You may withdraw your consent, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. Please understand that withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide certain services or respond to your request.

5. When We May Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may disclose personal information when reasonably necessary for our operations or when permitted or required by law, including:

• Service providers: Website hosting providers, appointment-booking platforms, payment processors, email providers, and other service providers who assist us in operating our business.

• Veterinary care: Other veterinary professionals, diagnostic laboratories, referral hospitals, or service providers involved in your animal’s care, where authorized or otherwise permitted by law.

• Legal requirements: Government authorities, regulators, courts, or other parties when disclosure is required or authorized by law.

• Business operations: Where necessary for legitimate business purposes and permitted by applicable privacy law.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that service providers handling personal information on our behalf protect it appropriately.

6. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand how visitors use the website, and improve the browsing experience.

Cookies are small files stored on your device by a website. Depending on the services enabled on our website, they may be used to remember preferences, measure website traffic, or support other website functions.

You can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. Some website features may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

If we use third-party analytics, advertising, or embedded content services, those providers may collect information about your interaction with our website in accordance with their own privacy policies.

7. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services, including social media platforms, online booking tools, or other external resources.

These third parties operate independently of MVH and have their own privacy practices. We are not responsible for the privacy policies, security, or content of websites that we do not control.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third-party websites before providing them with personal information.

8. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or loss.

Access to personal information is limited to individuals who require it for legitimate business or service-related purposes.

Although we take reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Please avoid sending highly sensitive personal, financial, or veterinary information through unsecured online forms or ordinary email unless we have advised you that the method is appropriate.

9. How Long We Keep Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, meet legal and regulatory requirements, maintain appropriate business records, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

Veterinary medical records and related client records may be retained for longer periods where required by applicable law, professional obligations, or legitimate recordkeeping needs.

When information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to securely destroy it or remove identifying details, as appropriate.

10. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law and certain exceptions, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you.

• Request corrections to information that is inaccurate or incomplete.

• Ask questions about how your personal information is collected, used, or disclosed.

• Withdraw consent to certain uses or disclosures of your information.

• Raise a concern or complaint about our privacy practices.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information in the Contact Us section below. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

Some information may not be accessible or eligible for correction or deletion where legal, professional, or other applicable obligations require us to retain it.

11. Children's Privacy

Our website is intended for general use and is not specifically directed at children. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information directly from children through our website without appropriate authorization.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact us so we can review the situation.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, website functionality, or applicable legal requirements.

The updated version will be posted on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please contact:

Merritt Veterinary Hospital
Merritt, British Columbia, Canada

Email: merrittvethospital@gmail.com
Telephone: (250) 378-2120
Mailing Address: PO Box 938, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8

Please address privacy-related requests to the person responsible for privacy matters at Merritt Veterinary Hospital.