About Us
Privacy Policy
The Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston deeply appreciates your support, while respecting your privacy and recognizing that you may wish to place limits on our communications with you. Please read this policy for details about how we handle personally identifiable information in both electronic and written formats.
Electronic Communications
We do not want to annoy you with unwanted intrusions, but we would like to be able to send you occasional emails to inform you of giving opportunities, or to update you regarding our news and events in a more timely and cost-effective manner than is currently possible via postal mail. If you choose not to receive any further electronic communications from us, you may opt out by emailing "remove@arlboston.org" with your full name and a sentence requesting removal from the ARL of Boston electronic mailing list, or by following the “unsubscribe” link we put in the footer at the bottom of each e-mail. You may also send a written request to: Animal Rescue League of Boston, ATTN: Advancement Records, 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116, or call (617) 226-5609, or send a fax to (617) 426-3028 ATTN: Advancement Records.
Postal Communications
The ARL of Boston does not share the names and addresses of any of our donors with other organizations regardless of whether the name and address was originally provided via phone, mail, in person, or on the web. You do not need to “opt-out” in order to prevent your name and contact information from being shared.
If you no longer wish to receive postal mail or solicitations from us, please send a written request to: Animal Rescue League of Boston, ATTN: Advancement Records, 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116, or call (617) 226-5609, or send a fax to (617) 426-3028 ATTN: Advancement Records. You may also put your request in an e-mail to sruderman@arlboston.org.
What Information We Collect and How We Use That Information
Our web site community registration forms require users to give us contact information that may include name, e-mail address, format preference (HTML vs. Text), address, interests, and similar information. We do not request or store sensitive information from our visitors, such as credit card or Social Security numbers, unless you specifically request us to keep that information on file for you.
Internet Protocol (IP) Address
We collect an IP address from all visitors to our web site. An IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer when you use the Internet. We use IP addresses to help diagnose problems with our server, administer our site, analyze trends, track users’ movement, gather broad demographic information for aggregate use in order for us to improve the site, and deliver customized, personalized content. IP addresses are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Use of "Cookies"
Our site may use cookies to help you while using our site. Cookies are pieces of record-keeping information that some web sites transfer to the computer that is browsing that web site. Use of cookies makes web-surfing easier by performing certain functions such as saving your passwords and your personal preferences regarding your use of a particular web site. Your browser is probably set to accept cookies. However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you can alter the configuration of your own browser to refuse cookies. If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of our site will not function properly when you view them.
Security
All personal information provided to ARL of Boston is transmitted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. SSL is a proven coding system that lets your browser automatically encrypt, or scramble, data before you send it to us. Donations processed on this web site are VeriSign Secured. We also protect account information by placing it on a secure portion of our site that is only accessible by certain qualified employees of ARL of Boston.
Unfortunately, however, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of such information. When necessary, personal information may be viewed by ARL of Boston employees who provide support for the internal operations of the web site, as well as our authorized agents (e.g., contractors who provide fulfillment services or technical support to the web site).
Safety of Children under Age 13
The ARL of Boston complies with the requirement of the Federal Trade Commission’s COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) by not knowingly collecting personally identifiable information from those under age 13. Only those over age 13 may register for our online community.
Tell-A-Friend Function
If a user elects to use our referral service for informing a friend about our site, we ask him or her for the friend's name and e-mail address. The ARL of Boston will automatically send the friend a one-time e-mail inviting the referred person to visit the site. The ARL of Boston stores this information for the sole purpose of sending this one-time e-mail.
Other Web Sites
Our site may contain links to other web sites. Please note that when you click on one of these links, you are entering another web site for which ARL of Boston has no responsibility. We encourage you to read the privacy statements on all such sites as their policies may be different from ours.
Contacting the Web Site
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this site, you can contact sruderman@arlboston.org. If you would like to review any personal information held by us, you may also contact sruderman@arlboston.org.
Updates
The ARL of Boston reserves the right to amend this policy at any time as needed. We will post changes here, so please check back periodically. Changes will take effect when posted and your continued use of the site will constitute your agreement to the changes. We appreciate your confidence in the ARL of Boston and thank you for all you do and help us do on behalf of animals.
