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Pawthority Global
Legal & Compliance.
The policies below govern the use of pawthorityglobal.com and our services.
Pawthority Global
The policies below govern the use of pawthorityglobal.com and our services.
Section 1 of 4 · Version 2.0 · Effective Date: 24 July 2026
Pawthority Global Ltd ("Pawthority", "we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting personal data and respecting the privacy of every individual whose data we process. This Privacy Policy explains who we are, what personal data we collect, how and why we use it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and the rights individuals have in relation to their personal data.
This Policy applies to personal data we process as a controller in the course of: (a) operating our public website and any related microsites; (b) delivering our verification, certification and compliance services to business customers via our Verified Assistance Dog System ("VADS") platform and to charity partners via our Vera portal; (c) engaging with charity, regulatory, investor and professional stakeholders; and (d) operating as an employer and a buyer of services.
Where we process personal data on behalf of business customers, our role is governed by the relevant Data Processing Agreement between us and that customer, and this Policy is supplemental to that DPA.
The controller of personal data described in this Policy is Pawthority Global Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 17327091, whose registered office is at 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom. You can contact us at founder@pawthorityglobal.com.
We are not currently required to designate a statutory Data Protection Officer. We have appointed a Privacy Lead who is responsible for monitoring compliance with this Policy and applicable data protection law and who can be reached at the privacy address above. Where we are required to do so, we will appoint an EU Representative under Article 27 of the EU GDPR.
We collect personal data in the following categories, sourced directly from you, from your employer, from charity data partners, or from public sources:
We process personal data only where we have a lawful basis under UK or EU GDPR Article 6 (or equivalent in other jurisdictions). Principal processing purposes include: operating, maintaining and securing the website and VADS platform (legitimate interests); delivering verification and certification services (contract performance; legal obligation); engaging with stakeholders (legitimate interests); sending service notifications (contract; legitimate interests); sending marketing communications (consent, or soft opt-in for existing business contacts); recruitment and HR (contract; legal obligation; legitimate interests); and complying with legal, audit and accounting obligations (legal obligation). Legitimate interests assessments are available on request.
We share personal data only with categories of recipients listed below, and only to the extent necessary: our charity data partners (as authoritative sources of certification data); our business customers initiating verification requests; our processors and sub-processors providing IT, hosting and back-office services; our professional advisers; government, regulatory and law enforcement bodies where required by law; and any successor or acquirer in a corporate transaction subject to confidentiality protections. A current sub-processor list is available on request.
Personal data may be transferred into and out of the UK, the EEA, the United States and Australia in the ordinary course of our operations. Where data is transferred to a jurisdiction that is not the subject of an adequacy decision, we use the EU Standard Contractual Clauses 2021 (Module 2), the UK International Data Transfer Addendum to the EU SCCs, or the UK IDTA as appropriate, plus supplementary technical and organisational measures where a transfer risk assessment indicates they are required.
We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, regulatory and reporting obligations. Indicative retention periods are as follows. Verification records: contract duration plus six (6) years. Business correspondence: up to six (6) years from last contact. Marketing preferences: for as long as you remain subscribed, plus a reasonable suppression record. Recruitment data: as set out in the HR Privacy Notice.
Depending on your country of residence you may have rights to be informed, of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, data portability, to object, not to be subject to solely automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects, and to withdraw consent. Individuals in California, other US states, Australia and other jurisdictions may have additional rights including non-discrimination and opt-out of "sale" or "sharing". We do not sell personal information. To exercise any right, contact founder@pawthorityglobal.com. We respond within timeframes required by applicable law (one month under UK/EU GDPR, extendable in complex cases).
We maintain technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal data, including encryption in transit and at rest, role-based access controls, secrets management, multi-factor authentication for privileged access, vulnerability management, security logging, supplier due diligence, an information security policy framework and personnel training. Report vulnerabilities to founder@pawthorityglobal.com.
Our use of cookies and similar technologies is described in our separate Cookies Policy.
Our services are directed at businesses, regulators, charity partners and adult professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal data directly from children under 16. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, contact us at the privacy address above and we will delete it without delay.
We may update this Policy from time to time. The Effective Date will be updated whenever we make changes. Material changes will be brought to your attention through our website or by direct notification.
You have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority, including the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk), the relevant EEA lead supervisory authority, the relevant US Attorney General, or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au).
Section 3 of 4 · Version 1.1 · Statement Date: 24 July 2026
Pawthority Global is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships and operations. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour, debt bondage, child labour and human trafficking in any form, anywhere in our operations or in our supply chain.
This policy sets out the steps we take to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place in any part of our business or in any of our supply chains, and to comply with our legal, regulatory and ethical obligations across the jurisdictions in which we operate.
This policy applies to all individuals working for, with or on behalf of Pawthority, regardless of location, including directors, officers, employees (permanent, fixed-term and temporary), contractors, consultants, agency workers, interns, volunteers, secondees, suppliers, sub-processors, charity data partners and other third parties. All parties listed are required to comply as a condition of their relationship with Pawthority.
Pawthority services customers and charity partners across the UK, the EU, the US and Australia. We comply with the legal framework applicable in each jurisdiction. Where standards diverge, we apply the higher standard. Primary instruments include: UK Modern Slavery Act 2015; EU Directive 2011/36/EU and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive 2024/1760; US Trafficking Victims Protection Act, UFLPA, and California Transparency in Supply Chains Act; Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018; and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, ILO Conventions 29, 105, 138 and 182, and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Pawthority does not currently meet the £36m turnover threshold under section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. We voluntarily adhere to its reporting principles and will publish an annual Modern Slavery Statement on our public website at the earliest of: (i) reaching the statutory threshold; (ii) being required by any commercial counterparty; or (iii) the next financial year.
Pawthority commits to: upholding the human rights of all individuals impacted by our business; not engaging in or tolerating any form of slavery, servitude, forced labour, child labour, debt bondage or human trafficking anywhere in the world; conducting risk-based due diligence on suppliers, charity partners, sub-processors and other third parties; requiring all suppliers and partners to make equivalent commitments through contractual clauses, supplier questionnaires and audits where proportionate; embedding modern slavery awareness into recruitment, onboarding and training; providing accessible, confidential and protected channels for reporting concerns; investigating every credible report and cooperating fully with law enforcement and regulatory authorities; publishing an annual Modern Slavery Statement; and reviewing and continuously improving this policy.
Ultimate responsibility for this policy sits with the Founder of Pawthority Global, who approves the annual Modern Slavery Statement before publication. The Founder is the executive owner of this policy, responsible for day-to-day implementation and enforcement, supplier engagement decisions where elevated risk has been identified, and escalation of reported concerns. All personnel, contractors and volunteers must read and comply with this policy, complete modern slavery awareness training within 30 days of joining and at least annually thereafter, report any actual or suspected breach immediately, and cooperate fully with any investigation. Suppliers and third parties must comply as a condition of contract, flow down equivalent obligations, respond to due-diligence questionnaires, permit audit and inspection, and notify Pawthority of any modern slavery risk or incident within five (5) business days.
Pawthority adopts a risk-based approach. We have assessed our exposure against sector (software development and B2B SaaS are generally low-to-moderate risk), geography (the UK and EU are low risk; pipeline activities in higher-risk jurisdictions trigger enhanced due diligence), workforce (contractor reliance creates indirect exposure mitigated through contractual controls), and supply chain depth (cloud infrastructure and hardware procurement extend our visibility into multiple tiers). A documented Modern Slavery Risk Register is maintained and reviewed at least annually.
Before engagement and periodically thereafter, suppliers are subject to due diligence proportionate to assessed risk: a Supplier Modern Slavery Questionnaire; verification of registered address, beneficial ownership and adverse media; contractual warranties and indemnities; an express right to terminate for material breach; and for elevated-risk engagements, review of the supplier's own modern slavery statement, evidence of training, and on-site or remote audit. Charity data partners are subject to a tailored module reflecting the safeguarding-sensitive nature of those organisations and their handler populations.
Induction training on this policy is completed by all new joiners within 30 days; refresher training is delivered at least annually; targeted training is provided to those involved in supplier selection, contracting, recruitment and field operations. Pawthority operates an open-door, no-retaliation reporting culture. Reports may be made to founder@pawthorityglobal.com or via national helplines (UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline 08000 121 700; US National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888; Australian Federal Police 131 AFP), or anonymously by post. No personnel will suffer detriment for raising a good-faith concern. Where modern slavery is confirmed, we prioritise the safety and welfare of any victim, notify and cooperate with law enforcement, take immediate action against the responsible party, and record the incident in the Modern Slavery Risk Register with lessons learned integrated into our controls.
This policy is reviewed at least annually by the Founder and Chief Executive. Interim reviews are triggered by material change in legislation, regulatory expectations, our operating footprint, supplier base or workforce composition.
Section 4 of 4 · Version 2.0 · Effective Date: 24 July 2026
This Service User Agreement (the "Agreement") is a contract between you and Pawthority Global Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 17327091, with its registered office at 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom. By accessing or using the Pawthority Global website at pawthorityglobal.com and any related microsites, products or online services (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by this Agreement. If you do not agree, you must not access or use the Services.
This Agreement applies to public visitors, charity and partner contacts engaging with us, and any other user that is not a paying business customer. Paying business customers are subject to a separate Master Services Agreement, Order Form and Data Processing Agreement, which prevail to the extent of any conflict.
Pawthority operates verification, certification and compliance infrastructure for the assistance dog sector through the Verified Assistance Dog System ("VADS") and the Vera charity portal. The public-facing Services include our website, content, contact and enquiry forms, the Pawthority Rating Tool, and any other features we make available without a paid contract. Information published is for general information only and is not legal, regulatory, medical or financial advice.
You may use the Services only if you are at least 16 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement. We may suspend, restrict or terminate your access at any time, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe you have breached this Agreement or applicable law, or that your access creates a security, legal, regulatory or commercial risk.
Where you submit information through a contact form, charity enquiry form, the Rating Tool, or by email, you confirm: the information is accurate to the best of your knowledge; you are entitled to provide it; it does not infringe any third-party right or breach any law or contract; and it contains no malware or harmful code.
When using the Services you must not: use them for any unlawful, fraudulent or harmful purpose; infringe intellectual property or privacy rights; upload defamatory, obscene, threatening, harassing or discriminatory content; impersonate any person or entity; attempt unauthorised access; transmit viruses or malicious code; use bots, scrapers or harvesters except where expressly authorised; reverse-engineer the Services except where permitted by law; or interfere with our infrastructure or other users' experience.
The Services, and all content other than User Submissions, including text, graphics, software, logos, trademarks ("Pawthority Content"), are owned by or licensed to Pawthority and are protected by intellectual property laws. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access and view the Services for your personal, non-commercial reference. All other rights are reserved. No licence is granted to use any Pawthority trademark including "Pawthority", "Vera", "VADS" or the Pawthority Kite Mark without our prior written consent.
"User Submissions" means any content you submit through the Services. You retain ownership. You grant Pawthority a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use, store, adapt, publish and display your User Submissions for the purpose of operating, developing and improving the Services, subject to our Privacy Policy.
Where you contact us in a representative capacity, you confirm that you are authorised. Non-binding statements made during enquiries (including indicative pricing or proposed timelines) are subject to formal contract and may be changed or withdrawn before signature.
The Services may include links to or interoperate with third-party services including Webflow, payment processors, analytics, charity registry partners and government portals. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, availability, security or practices of any third-party service. Your use is at your own risk and governed by that third party's own terms.
Subject to Section 11, the Services are provided "as is" and "as available". To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, accuracy, completeness, timeliness and uninterrupted operation. The Pawthority Rating Tool provides an indicative, automated risk assessment for general informational purposes only. It is not a regulatory determination or a guarantee of compliance with any law.
Subject to Section 11, and to the maximum extent permitted by law: we shall not be liable for any loss of profits, revenue, business, opportunity, goodwill, savings or data, or for any indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages. Our total aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with the Services shall not exceed one hundred pounds sterling (£100).
Nothing in this Agreement excludes or limits any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other non-excludable liability under applicable law.
You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pawthority and its directors, officers, employees, contractors and agents against losses, liabilities, damages, claims and reasonable legal fees arising from your breach of this Agreement, your misuse of the Services, or your violation of any third-party right or law.
This Agreement applies from your first access and continues until terminated. You may terminate by ceasing to access. We may terminate or suspend at any time for any reason. Sections 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 survive termination.
Our processing of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy. Our use of cookies is described in our Cookies Policy. Both are incorporated by reference.
We may amend this Agreement from time to time. The Effective Date will be updated. Material changes will be brought to your attention. Continued use after the Effective Date of any amendment constitutes acceptance.
This Agreement is governed by the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, save that we may bring proceedings for breach in any court of competent jurisdiction where you reside or where the breach occurred, and either party may seek urgent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing affects any non-waivable consumer rights in your country of habitual residence.
This Agreement together with the Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy is the entire agreement between us. If any provision is found invalid, it shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary, with the rest in full force. No failure to exercise any right is a waiver. You may not assign without our consent; we may assign to any affiliate, acquirer or successor. We are not liable for failure caused by events beyond our reasonable control. No third party has rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term. Notices to us must be sent to founder@pawthorityglobal.com.
Questions about this Agreement, including privacy and security matters, can be sent to founder@pawthorityglobal.com.
Pawthority Global Ltd, registered in England and Wales under company number 17327091. Registered office: 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom.
If you have a question about any of the policies above, contact us at founder@pawthorityglobal.com.
© 2026 Pawthority Global Ltd. All rights reserved.
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