Friends of Russell County Animals

Privacy Policy

Effective date: August 15, 2026

Friends of Russell County Animals ("FRCA," "we," "us," or "our") is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization serving Russell County, Virginia. We help local pet owners access spay/neuter services, vaccinations, and other veterinary assistance. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and how you can request that your information be deleted.

This policy applies to information collected through our website (frcva.org), our client application and assistance programs, and our communications with you by email, text message (SMS), and Facebook Messenger.






Information We Collect

Information you provide to us. When you apply for assistance, book an appointment, or communicate with us, we may collect:

  • Your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
  • Your preferred contact method (text, email, Facebook Messenger, or phone)
  • Information about your pet(s), such as name, species, breed, age, and medical or vaccination history
  • Household and income information you submit to establish eligibility for assistance programs
  • Appointment details, including dates, locations, and the services provided
  • Survey responses you choose to submit before or after services
  • Receipts, invoices, and related records connected to services we help fund

Information collected automatically. Like most websites, our site and the online tools we use may automatically collect limited technical information such as browser type, device information, IP address, and basic usage information (for example, which pages are visited). We use this information only to operate and secure our services.

Information from Facebook Messenger. If you contact us or choose to receive messages through our Facebook page, we receive your public Facebook profile name and the content of your messages. Your use of Facebook is also governed by Meta's own Privacy Policy.


How We Use Your Information

We collect and process this information for the following purposes:

  • To provide services: reviewing assistance applications, verifying program eligibility, scheduling appointments, and coordinating veterinary care for your pet
  • To communicate with you: sending application status updates, appointment confirmations, appointment reminders, and follow-up messages through your preferred contact method
  • To gather feedback: sending brief surveys before and after services so we can improve our programs
  • To keep records and report to funders: tracking the services provided (such as spay/neuter, vaccines, and microchipping) so we can report program results to grant funders. Reporting to funders is done in summary form and does not identify individual clients.
  • To operate our organization: maintaining accurate records, processing payments to veterinary partners, and complying with legal obligations

Eligibility documents you submit are reviewed by our volunteers. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising.




How We Share Information

We do not sell or rent personal information. We share information only in these limited circumstances:

  • Veterinary partners: We share the information needed to schedule and confirm your pet's appointment with the participating veterinary clinic.
  • Service providers: We use trusted third-party tools to run our programs, including a secure online database, workflow automation, text messaging, Facebook Messenger delivery, email, form/survey tools, and file storage. These providers process information on our behalf and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.
  • Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our organization, volunteers, clients, or animals.

Text Messages (SMS) and Messaging Choices

We only send you text messages, emails, or Facebook Messenger messages related to your application, appointments, and services — based on the contact preference you gave us.

SMS consent and terms. If you provide your phone number and select text messaging as your preferred contact method, you consent to receive informational text messages from Friends of Russell County Animals about your application, appointments, reminders, and follow-up surveys. Message frequency varies based on your services with us. Message and data rates may apply. Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of receiving assistance — you may choose email or another contact method instead. Reply HELP for help or STOP to cancel at any time.

No sharing of mobile information. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, excluding the messaging platform providers we use solely to deliver our messages to you.

You can opt out of any channel at any time:

  • Text messages: reply STOP to any message from us; reply HELP for assistance
  • Email: reply and ask to be removed, or use the unsubscribe link where provided
  • Facebook Messenger: reply and ask us to stop messaging you

If you opt out of automated messages, we may still contact you directly when necessary to coordinate services you have requested.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep personal information only as long as needed to provide services, meet grant reporting and record-keeping requirements, and comply with the law. Records that are no longer needed are deleted or de-identified.

How to Request Deletion of Your Data

You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information at any time. To make a request, contact us using the information below. We will respond as promptly as we can and will delete your information unless we are required to keep certain records for legal or grant-compliance purposes (in which case we will tell you).


Friends of Russell County Animals

Email: friendsofrussellcountyanimals@gmail.com

Website: frcva.org

Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your information, including using reputable service providers with access controls and limiting access to volunteers who need it to do their work. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect the information you share with us.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated version on this page and revise the effective date above. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please email us at friendsofrussellcountyanimals@gmail.com.