June 2026Last Updated: [Insert Date, e.g., June 2026]

Privacy of personal information is an important principle to St. Charles Animal Hospital. We are committed to collecting, using, and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the services we provide. We also try to be open and transparent as to how we handle information. This document describes our privacy policies, including our digital and SMS communication practices.  

What is Personal Information?

Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. Personal information includes information that relates to the person’s characteristics (e.g., gender, age, income, home address or phone number, ethnic background, family status), health (e.g., health history, health conditions, health services received by them) or their activities and views (e.g., religion, politics, opinions expressed by an individual, an opinion or evaluation of an individual). Personal information is to be contrasted with business information (e.g., an individual’s business address and telephone number), which is not protected by privacy legislation.  

What Information is Protected?

St. Charles Animal Hospital is responsible for protecting any of your personal information that it has in its possession. This includes all personal information collected for or submitted to a third party to which you have consented (example – laboratory samples).  

We collect and use your personal information to:

• Verify your identity
• Comply with federal, state, local law, and by-law requirements
• Bill goods and services and collect unpaid accounts
• Send out health care reminders, appointment confirmations, and clinic updates
• Make referrals to veterinary specialists and/or laboratories  

• Verify information with grooming or boarding facilities  

Your personal information may be collected, used, or disclosed for any of the purposes identified above. If your personal information is not required for one of these purposes, we will not use or disclose it without your prior consent.  

Text Messaging (SMS) Terms, Consent & Privacy

As part of our commitment to providing exceptional veterinary care, St. Charles Animal Hospital offers an interactive text messaging (SMS) system to communicate with our clients.

• How Information is Collected for SMS: When you become a client, fill out our intake forms, or sign up for our texting service online, we collect personal information such as your name, mobile phone number, and preferences.
• How We Use SMS: We use this text messaging service to deliver appointment reminders, answering questions you may ask our staff, providing post-operative updates, sending customer care follow-ups, and sharing health tips. Message frequency varies based on your pet's appointments and ongoing medical needs.
• Strict Privacy Disclosure & Third-Party Sharing: St. Charles Animal Hospital highly values your data privacy. Mobile information and phone numbers will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes under any circumstances. All of the information sharing categories outlined elsewhere in this privacy policy strictly exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
• Rates and Disclaimers: Message and data rates may apply.
• Your Choices (Opt-Out): You are never required to receive text messages as a condition of receiving veterinary care. You can opt out of receiving text messages from us at any time. To unsubscribe, simply reply STOP to any text message received from us. To get help, reply HELP or contact our office directly.

How Do We Gather Your Personal Information?

• From you directly when you become a client at our clinic, fill out digital forms, or use our website.
• From reporting agencies (i.e., local humane societies, public health authorities).

Your Consent

We require your consent before we may collect, use, or disclose any of your personal information, except under special circumstances, including police and/or cruelty investigations or other situations permitted by law.

Accuracy

St. Charles Animal Hospital will make every reasonable effort to ensure that the personal information collected will be as accurate, complete, and as up-to-date as possible for the purposes for which the information is to be used.

Safeguards

• St. Charles Animal Hospital shall safeguard and protect all personal information under its control by implementing appropriate technical and organizational security measures based on the sensitivity of the information.
• St. Charles Animal Hospital shall ensure that its employees keep all personal information confidential and comply with the security standards established by this veterinary facility.
• St. Charles Animal Hospital shall require that third parties to whom personal information is disclosed (excluding SMS data as noted above) have committed to an appropriate level of security (which may include execution of a confidentiality covenant) in protection of such information.
• On the disposal or destruction of personal information, St. Charles Animal Hospital shall take the necessary precautions to prevent third parties from accessing such information and to maintain the confidentiality of this personal information.

Transparency & Individual Access to Personal Information

St. Charles Animal Hospital will make specific information about our privacy policies and procedures available to any interested individual. An individual providing personal information to St. Charles Animal Hospital will be informed of our personal information policy. This individual can access the information in order to ensure its accuracy and completeness, and shall be permitted to have it amended if it is inaccurate or incomplete.  

St. Charles Animal Hospital will respond promptly to any request made by an individual to access his or her personal information. We will maintain a full record of all third parties to whom personal information has been disclosed, and will make this record available to an individual whose personal information has been so disclosed.  

Questions and Concerns Regarding Compliance with this Policy

An individual providing personal information to St. Charles Animal Hospital may address any questions, concerns, or complaints to our Privacy Officer. St. Charles Animal Hospital has established a procedure for processing any complaint about this personal information policy to ensure that all complaints are dealt with in an objective, fair, and effective manner.  

Privacy Officer Contact Information:

‍St. Charles Animal Hospital
2360 North Blvd. West,
Davenport, Fl. 33837
(863) 438-6600