Last updated: April 6, 2026
At Couch Paws, we collect only the information we genuinely need to run this blog and serve our readers well. We do not sell your personal data, ever. We use standard tools like analytics and cookies to understand how our content performs, and we are transparent about every bit of it.
1. Who we are
Couch Paws is a personal blog about animal nutrition and pet care, owned and operated by Samina Laliwala. The Website is accessible at couchpaws.com. When this Privacy Policy refers to “we,” “us,” or “our,” it refers to Samina Laliwala as the sole owner and operator of Couch Paws.
This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through the Website, including through any contact forms, comment sections, newsletter sign-ups, or other interactive features that may be available on the site from time to time.
2. Information we collect
We collect information in two ways information you provide to us directly, and information collected automatically when you visit our Website.
Information you provide
Name, email address, and any message content submitted through contact forms, comment sections, or newsletter sign-ups.
Automatically collected
IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, time spent on site, and referring URLs collected via analytics tools.
Cookies & similar tech
Small data files placed on your device by our Website or third-party services to remember preferences and track usage patterns.
What we never collect
Sensitive personal data such as financial information, government IDs, health records, or passwords. We have no need for such data.
We collect only the minimum information necessary for the purposes described in this policy. We do not purchase, rent, or obtain personal data from third-party data brokers.
3. How we use your information
The information we collect is used solely to operate and improve Couch Paws and to communicate with our readers. Specifically, we may use your information to:
Respond to messages, enquiries, or feedback you send us via our contact form or email.
Send you newsletters or blog updates if you have opted in to receive them. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link included in every email.
Analyse how visitors use and interact with our Website so we can improve the quality and usefulness of our content.
Detect and prevent spam, abuse, or fraudulent activity on the Website.
Comply with any legal obligations that may apply to us.
We do not use your personal data for automated decision-making or profiling. We do not sell, rent, lease, or trade your personal information to any third party, under any circumstances.
4. Cookies & tracking technologies
Like most websites, Couch Paws uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and gather usage data. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device when you visit a website. Cookies allow us and our service providers to recognise your browser and remember certain information across sessions.
The types of cookies we may use include:
Essential cookies, which are necessary for the Website to function correctly and cannot be switched off.
Analytics cookies, which help us understand how visitors interact with our content for example, which pages are most read and how long visitors spend on the site. This data is aggregated and anonymous.
Third-party cookies, placed by services such as Google Analytics or advertising networks integrated into the site.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some features on this Website. Most browsers also offer the ability to browse in private or incognito mode, which limits cookie storage.
5. Third-party services
To operate Couch Paws efficiently, we use a number of trusted third-party tools and platforms. These services may collect or process certain data on our behalf, and each has its own privacy policy governing how it handles that data. Third-party services we may use include:
Web hosting and content management platforms (such as WordPress or similar services) that store and deliver our Website content.
Analytics platforms such as Google Analytics, which help us understand visitor behaviour using anonymised, aggregated data.
Email marketing services (such as Mailchimp or similar) if you have subscribed to our newsletter, used to send and manage email communications.
Comment management systems that allow readers to leave feedback or questions on our blog posts.
We take care to work only with reputable service providers and we encourage you to review their respective privacy policies for full details on how your data is handled within their platforms.
6. Affiliate links & data
Couch Paws participates in affiliate marketing programmes. When you click an affiliate link on our Website, you will be taken to a third-party retailer or brand’s website. That website may collect information about your visit and purchase independently, in accordance with their own privacy policy.
We do not receive or store any personal financial information such as payment details or billing addresses when you make a purchase through an affiliate link. We may receive anonymised, aggregated information about clicks and conversions for the purpose of tracking affiliate earnings. Please refer to each retailer’s privacy policy for details on how they handle your data.
7. Data retention
We retain personal data only for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, or as required by applicable law.
Email addresses collected through our newsletter sign-up are retained until you choose to unsubscribe, at which point they are removed from our mailing list promptly. Messages sent through our contact form are retained for a reasonable period in order to manage ongoing correspondence, then deleted when no longer needed. Analytics data is typically retained in aggregated, anonymous form for a period consistent with the retention settings of the relevant analytics platform.
If you would like us to delete your personal data at any time, please contact us and we will honour your request to the extent permitted by law.
8. Your rights
Depending on where you are located, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data. We are committed to honouring these rights wherever they apply. These may include:
- The right to access the personal data we hold about you and to receive a copy of it.
- The right to correct or update any inaccurate or incomplete information we hold.
- The right to request deletion of your personal data, subject to any legal obligations we may have to retain certain information.
- The right to withdraw consent for data processing at any time, where consent is the basis on which we process your data.
- The right to opt out of marketing communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send.
- The right to lodge a complaint with a relevant data protection authority if you believe your rights have not been respected.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@couchpaws.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.
9. Children’s privacy
Couch Paws is intended for a general adult audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at contact@couchpaws.com and we will take prompt steps to delete that information.
If you are under 13 years of age, please do not submit any personal information through this Website.
10. Data security
We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect it from unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. These measures include secure hosting environments, encrypted data transmission where applicable, and limiting access to personal data to only those who genuinely need it.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is entirely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. We encourage you to take your own precautions when sharing personal information online, including using secure and updated browsers.
11. Changes to this privacy policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our practices change, as new features are added to the Website, or in response to legal or regulatory requirements. When we make changes, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. Your continued use of Couch Paws after any changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. If the changes are significant, we may notify you more prominently for example, via a notice on the Website or through our newsletter.
12. Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, we warmly invite you to get in touch. We believe privacy should be simple and transparent, and we are always happy to clarify anything that is unclear.
You can reach Samina Laliwala, the owner of Couch Paws, at the address below. We aim to respond to all enquiries within a few business days.
Privacy enquiries
For any privacy-related questions or data requests, please write to us at contact@couchpaws.com. We take every enquiry seriously and will do our best to respond promptly and helpfully.