Privacy notice

Last updated 8 October 2026

Sock Thief Society is run by Clare Dalton, who is responsible for how your personal information is used. For privacy questions or requests, email clare@sockthiefsociety.com.

Information we collect and why

When you enquire, we collect your name, email address, any puppy details you provide and your message so Clare can respond. Our legal basis is taking steps at your request before entering a contract, or our legitimate interest in answering other enquiries.

When you book, we use your contact details, appointment information, booking-form answers and payment status to arrange and provide your service. This includes your recorded request for services to begin during the cooling-off period. Our legal basis is taking steps before, and performing, our contract with you.

During training, we use relevant information about your puppy, goals and home routine, session notes, personal plans, messages and any clips you send to analyse behaviour and provide individual client support. Our legal basis is performing our contract. We may retain relevant training records for continuity if you return for adolescent support, based on our legitimate interest in providing consistent follow-up care.

Necessary financial records are kept to meet accounting and tax obligations. We may also keep relevant records to resolve complaints or establish, exercise or defend legal claims, based on our legitimate interest in handling those matters.

Your contact and booking details are needed to arrange services. Relevant puppy information helps Clare tailor the support. If essential information is not supplied, we may be unable to provide the service. Please avoid sending unrelated sensitive personal information or including other people in clips where possible.

Sessions and owner videos

Sessions take place on Google Meet. Sock Thief Society does not record them.

You may send clips by WhatsApp or email. They are used only for behavioural analysis and your client support, including follow-up support if you return. They will not be published, used in marketing, shared as teaching examples or used for another purpose without separate, explicit permission from the owners and any identifiable people concerned. Where consent is used, you can withdraw it by contacting Clare, without affecting earlier lawful use.

Services that handle information

Calendly handles appointment scheduling and booking-form responses. Stripe processes payments; Sock Thief Society does not receive or store your full card details. If you choose Klarna, Klarna handles the payment plan and may make its own automated eligibility or credit decisions under its privacy notice. Sock Thief Society does not make automated decisions about you with legal or similarly significant effects.

Google Meet provides online sessions, Google Drive stores client records, and WhatsApp provides messaging when you choose that channel. Email is handled through our Titan email service and website email-delivery provider Resend. The website and its private enquiry inbox use Sites hosting and its underlying infrastructure providers. These providers handle information needed to operate their services.

Client plans, notes and clips are stored on Clare’s computer and in Google Drive. Messages and clips may also remain in the relevant email or WhatsApp conversation until deleted. Necessary information may be shared with an accountant or professional adviser, or with authorities where legally required.

Some providers also use information for their own payment, security, legal or service purposes. Their notices explain those uses: Calendly, Stripe, Klarna, Google, and WhatsApp.

International processing

Some service providers process information outside the European Economic Area, including in the United States. Depending on the provider and transfer, safeguards include European Commission adequacy decisions, the EU–US Data Privacy Framework where applicable, or approved Standard Contractual Clauses. Provider privacy notices and data-processing terms explain their arrangements. Contact Clare for information about safeguards relevant to your records.

How long information is kept

• Routine enquiries that do not become bookings: six months after the last correspondence.
• Owner videos: 12 months after support ends, to allow continuity if you return for adolescent support, then deleted from the copies controlled by Sock Thief Society.
• Client plans, session notes and relevant booking and support correspondence: two years after the last session.
• Financial and tax records: six years, or longer where required by law.

If you return for further support, relevant retained records become part of that service and the retention period runs from its end or last session, as appropriate. Records needed for an ongoing complaint or legal matter may be retained until that matter is resolved. Provider-controlled records and backup copies may follow the provider’s own retention arrangements.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, you can request access to your information, correction, deletion, restriction of use or a portable copy, and object to processing based on legitimate interests. You can also withdraw consent where it is the basis for a particular use. Some information must be retained to meet legal obligations.

Contact clare@sockthiefsociety.com to exercise your rights. You can complain to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission.

Marketing and updates

Enquiry and client information is not used for a mailing list or advertising without separate permission. This notice will be updated if our services or information practices change.