LEGAL
Cookie Policy
Effective date: May 15, 2026 · Last updated: May 15, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how PetAdoptNow uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on petadoptnow.com. It should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how the information collected through these technologies is processed.
1. What are cookies and similar technologies?
A “cookie” is a small text file stored on your device when you visit a website. “Similar technologies” include local storage, session storage, pixel tags (also called web beacons), JavaScript-based identifiers, and device fingerprints. We refer to all of these collectively as “cookies” in this Policy for readability.
Cookies can be “first-party” (set by the site you are visiting) or “third-party” (set by another domain whose content is embedded on the page, such as an ad or an analytics tag).
2. The categories of cookies we use
2.1 Strictly necessary
These are required for the Site to function. They cannot be disabled through our consent banner because the Site would not work without them.
| Name | Storage | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| petadoptnow_favorites | localStorage | Remembers the pets and names you tap the heart on so you can review them on the Favorites page. | Until you clear it or clear browser storage |
| Consent-state cookies | Set by our consent management platform | Records your cookie choices (accept / reject / customize) so we do not ask you again on every page. The exact cookie names depend on the consent platform in use; the purpose is the same. | Up to 13 months |
2.2 Analytics
These help us understand how visitors use the Site so we can prioritize what to improve. They are set only after you grant consent (where consent is required by law) or after your first dismissal of the cookie banner elsewhere.
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | Distinguishes unique visitors and stores session metadata for aggregate reporting. | Up to 24 months |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users for short-window reporting. | 24 hours |
Google Tag Manager loads the Google Analytics tag. Google Tag Manager itself does not set tracking cookies; it only manages tag delivery.
2.3 Advertising
We display advertising through Google AdSense. AdSense and its partners set cookies to deliver ads, to measure ad performance, to limit the number of times you see the same ad (“frequency capping”), and to detect invalid clicks. In the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, advertising cookies are set only after you grant consent through our cookie banner.
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| __gads, __gpi | Google AdSense | Measures the number of times an ad is displayed and enables frequency capping. | Up to 13 months |
| IDE, NID, ANID, DSID | Google and Google’s advertising partners (DoubleClick domain) | Used for ad targeting, ad measurement, and limiting fraud and abuse. | Up to 24 months |
| Third-party DSP/SSP cookies | Other Google advertising partners | See Google’s vendor list for the full set. | Varies |
3. Region-specific consent rules
The Site uses a consent management platform (CMP) that is certified by Google for use with Google AdSense and that automatically adapts the consent experience to your location, derived from your IP address at the network edge:
- European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland.A consent banner blocks non-essential cookies until you choose. “Reject All” and “Accept All” are visually equivalent. Analytics and advertising cookies are loaded only if you explicitly consent. Where AdSense is loaded without consent for personalization, it serves non-personalized ads only.
- California (and other US states with similar laws).A notice is displayed with a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” option. We honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal as an opt-out of advertising-related “sharing” under those laws.
- Other regions. A notice is displayed with an opportunity to learn more or to change your choices. Non- essential cookies are loaded after the first interaction with the notice.
4. Changing your choices
You can re-open the consent banner at any time to update your choices (look for the “Cookie Settings” or “Privacy Settings” control in the Site footer or in the bottom-left corner of the page). You can also clear or block cookies through your browser settings — see your browser’s help page for instructions:
Note that blocking strictly-necessary cookies may break Site features such as your saved favorites list.
5. Network-wide ad opt-outs
You can opt out of personalized advertising network-wide:
- Google Ads Settings: adssettings.google.com
- Digital Advertising Alliance (US): optout.aboutads.info
- European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance: youronlinechoices.com
- Network Advertising Initiative: optout.networkadvertising.org
6. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use or in applicable law. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page indicates when changes were last made.
7. Contact
Email [email protected] with cookie or tracking questions.