Privacy Policy

Effective Date: October 18, 2025

Controller Information

Website: Slinko.org
Email: contact@slinko.org
Location: Washington, United States
Data Protection Officer: Not appointed (not required for this operation)
EU/UK Representative: Not applicable

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share your information when you use our Service and explains your privacy rights and legal protections.​

Information We Collect Information You Provide

  • Email address and name when contacting us or subscribing

  • Comments and user-generated content

  • Survey responses and feedback

  • Contest or giveaway entries

Information Collected Automatically

  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, referral sources, click patterns

  • Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address

  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: As detailed in our Cookie section below

Information from Third Parties

  • Social Media Platforms: When you interact with our social media content or share our pages, we may receive limited information from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube per their privacy policies​

  • Affiliate Networks: Transaction data when you purchase through our affiliate links

  • Analytics Providers: Google Analytics, social media analytics, and other measurement services

Google AdSense and Advertising

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your activity on this site and other sites across the Internet. Google’s advertising cookies enable personalized ads based on your interests and browsing behavior.​

You can control ad personalization by:

  • Using our “Your Privacy Choices” link in the footer to modify consent settings

  • Visiting Google Ads Settings to opt out of personalized ads

  • Visiting aboutads.info for industry-wide opt-outs

  • Adjusting your browser cookie settings

In regulated regions (EU/UK/CH), we use a Google-certified Consent Management Platform with Consent Mode v2 to transmit your consent choices. When you deny consent, we serve non-personalized ads and limit data processing while maintaining basic ad functionality.​

Social Media Integrations

We use social media plugins and sharing buttons from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. When you interact with these features:​

  • Social media platforms may collect information about your visit to our site and associate it with your social media account

  • Embedded content (videos, posts) may load tracking technologies from these platforms

  • Social sharing sends information about the shared content to the respective platform

  • Social login features (if used) share basic profile information per your platform settings

Each platform’s privacy policy governs their data collection:

  • Facebook: facebook.com/privacy

  • Instagram: instagram.com/legal/privacy

  • Twitter: twitter.com/privacy

  • Pinterest: pinterest.com/privacy

  • YouTube: youtube.com/privacy

Affiliate Marketing Disclosure

This website participates in affiliate marketing programs. When you purchase products through our affiliate links, we earn commissions at no additional cost to you.​

Affiliate partners may include:

  • Amazon Associates

  • Pet supply retailers

  • Product manufacturers

  • Service providers

Information shared with affiliates:

  • Click data and referral information

  • Purchase confirmation (not personal details)

  • General analytics for commission tracking

All product recommendations reflect our independent opinions and experience. Affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed in relevant content.​

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies for the following purposes :​

Cookie Categories

Strictly Necessary Cookies

  • Essential for site functionality and security

  • Cannot be disabled without affecting site operation

  • Include authentication, consent preferences, and basic functionality

Analytics Cookies

  • Google Analytics for site performance measurement

  • Social media analytics for content engagement

  • User behavior analysis for site improvement

Advertising Cookies

  • Google AdSense for ad delivery and measurement

  • Personalization based on interests and behavior

  • Frequency capping and conversion tracking

Functional Cookies

  • User preferences and settings

  • Social media sharing functionality

  • Enhanced user experience features

You can control cookies through:

  • Our consent banner and “Your Privacy Choices” link

  • Browser settings to block or delete cookies

  • Platform-specific opt-out tools for advertising cookies

How We Use Your Information

Legal bases for processing (EU/UK/CH users):

  • Consent: Personalized advertising, optional analytics, marketing communications

  • Legitimate Interests: Site security, fraud prevention, basic analytics, content improvement

  • Legal Obligations: Compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Purposes include:

  • Providing and maintaining our service

  • Responding to inquiries and support requests

  • Delivering relevant content and advertisements

  • Analyzing site usage and improving user experience

  • Preventing fraud and ensuring security

  • Complying with legal obligations

  • Managing affiliate partnerships and commissions

Information Sharing

We share information with:

Service Providers:

  • Hosting and content delivery networks

  • Email service providers

  • Analytics and measurement services

  • Security and fraud prevention services

Advertising Partners:

  • Google AdSense and certified ad partners

  • Social media advertising platforms

  • Affiliate networks and tracking services

Legal Requirements:

  • Government authorities when required by law

  • Legal proceedings and regulatory compliance

  • Protection of rights, property, and safety

Business Transfers:

  • In connection with mergers, acquisitions, or asset sales

  • With appropriate notice and privacy protections

Your Privacy Rights EU/UK/CH Residents

Under GDPR/UK GDPR, you have the right to :​

  • Access your personal data and processing information

  • Rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Erasure (“right to be forgotten”) in certain circumstances

  • Restriction of processing in specific situations

  • Data portability in a structured, machine-readable format

  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests

  • Withdraw consent at any time without affecting prior processing

US Residents

Under applicable state privacy laws (CCPA/CPRA), you may have rights to :​

  • Know what personal information we collect and how it’s used

  • Delete personal information we’ve collected

  • Correct inaccurate personal information

  • Opt-out of “sale” or “sharing” of personal information

  • Opt-out of targeted advertising

  • Non-discrimination for exercising your rights

To exercise your rights: Contact us at contact@slinko.org or use our “Your Privacy Choices” link.​

Children’s Privacy

Our Service is intended for adults and responsible caregivers. We do not:​

  • Knowingly collect personal information from children under 16

  • Serve personalized ads to users we know are minors

  • Target content to children under 13

If we learn we’ve collected information from a child without proper consent, we will delete it promptly. Parents may contact us at contact@slinko.org regarding children’s information.​

International Transfers

Your information may be processed outside your country of residence. We use appropriate safeguards including:​

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for EU transfers

  • Adequacy decisions where available

  • Platform-specific data protection frameworks

Data Retention

We retain information only as long as necessary for:

  • Providing our services and user support

  • Legal compliance and regulatory requirements

  • Security, fraud prevention, and dispute resolution

  • Analytics and business optimization (in aggregated form)

Retention periods vary by data type:

  • Account information: Until account deletion

  • Analytics data: Up to 26 months (Google Analytics default)

  • Advertising data: Per advertiser retention policies

  • Legal compliance: As required by applicable law

Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.​

Third-Party Links

Our Service contains links to external websites not controlled by us. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. We encourage reviewing their privacy policies before providing information.​

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will:​

  • Post the updated version on this page with a new “Effective Date”

  • Provide prominent notice for material changes

  • Obtain consent where required by law

Continued use after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.​

Contact Us

For privacy questions, requests, or concerns:

Email:  contact@slinko.org
Subject Line: Privacy Request – [Your Request Type]

For US residents: You may submit requests exclusively via email as we operate primarily online.​

Response timeframe: We aim to respond within 30 days (45 days for complex requests).