1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Fetch Veterinary Ltd ("Fetch", "we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar browser storage technologies on our website at fetchvet.co and our web portal. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.
Fetch takes a minimal approach to browser storage. We do not use third-party tracking cookies or advertising cookies. We use essential browser storage for authentication, and — if you grant consent via our cookie banner — we also record anonymised product analytics to help us improve the platform. No analytics data is collected before you accept the banner.
2. What Are Cookies and Local Storage?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently and to provide information to site operators.
Local storage (also known as Web Storage or DOM Storage) is a browser feature that allows websites to store data locally on your device. Unlike cookies, local storage data is not automatically sent to the server with every request. It provides a larger storage capacity and persists until explicitly cleared.
Fetch primarily uses local storage rather than traditional cookies for its essential functionality.
3. What We Store and Why
The following table describes all browser storage used by the Fetch web application:
| Storage Item | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
accessToken | Local Storage | Stores your authentication access token to keep you signed in. This token is short-lived and is automatically refreshed. | 15 minutes (auto-refreshed) |
refreshToken | Local Storage | Stores your refresh token, used to obtain a new access token when the current one expires, without requiring you to sign in again. | 30 days |
cookie-consent-accepted | Local Storage | Records your decision to accept or reject analytics via the cookie banner. Value is "true" if you accepted, "false" if you rejected, and absent if you have not yet chosen. Analytics are initialised only when the value is "true". | Until cleared or changed via the "Cookie settings" link in the footer |
ph_* (PostHog) | Local Storage | Product analytics identifiers and event queue (page views and feature-usage events) set only after you accept the cookie banner. PostHog is hosted in the European Union, configured to use localStorage rather than cookies, and configured for "identified profiles only" — anonymous visitors do not have a profile created until they sign in. | Until cleared |
accessToken, refreshToken, and cookie-consent-accepted are classified as strictly necessary for the operation of the platform. Without these, you would be unable to remain signed in or record your cookie preferences. Under UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), strictly necessary storage does not require consent.
PostHog analytics storage is classified as non-essential and is set only with your consent via our cookie banner. You may change your mind at any time by clicking the "Cookie settings" link in the footer of any page, which reopens the consent banner. Choosing "Reject non-essential" opts the PostHog client out of further capture (posthog.opt_out_capturing()) and clears its in-memory state.
4. Third-Party Services
Fetch does not use advertising cookies, marketing cookies, or cross-site tracking. We do not use services such as Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel.
We use PostHog (hosted in the European Union) for anonymised product analytics. PostHog is configured to use browser local storage rather than cookies, and is initialised only after you accept our cookie banner. See PostHog's Privacy Policy.
When you interact with third-party services embedded in or redirected from our platform, those services may set their own cookies subject to their own cookie policies. We encourage you to review:
- Stripe: Used for subscription payment processing and the Stripe Billing Portal. See Stripe's Cookie Policy.
5. Service Worker
Our web application uses a service worker (sw.js) to enable web push notifications. The service worker runs in the background of your browser and:
- Receives and displays push notifications when you are not actively viewing the application
- Suppresses duplicate notifications when you have the relevant conversation open
- Does not track your browsing activity or collect personal data
You can disable the service worker at any time by unregistering it in your browser's developer tools, or by revoking notification permissions in your browser settings.
6. Managing Browser Storage
You can manage and clear browser storage through your browser settings. Below are instructions for common browsers:
Clearing Local Storage
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data > select "Cookies and other site data" (this includes local storage). Alternatively, open Developer Tools (F12) > Application tab > Local Storage.
- Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data. Alternatively, open Developer Tools (F12) > Storage tab > Local Storage.
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > find fetchvet.co > Remove.
- Edge: Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Clear Browsing Data > select "Cookies and other site data."
Please note that clearing local storage for the Fetch website will sign you out of your account, and you will need to sign in again.
Blocking Cookies and Storage
Most browsers allow you to block cookies and restrict local storage access. However, if you block storage for the Fetch website, you will be unable to sign in or use authenticated features of the platform.
7. Mobile Application
The Fetch mobile application (available for iOS and Android) does not use browser cookies. Authentication tokens on mobile devices are stored in encrypted platform-specific secure storage:
- iOS: Keychain Services (hardware-encrypted)
- Android: Android Keystore system
You can clear this data by signing out of the app or by uninstalling the application.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. If we introduce any non-essential cookies or storage technologies in the future, we will update this policy and, where required by law, obtain your consent before using them.
Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date.
9. Contact
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Company: Fetch Veterinary Ltd
For more details about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy.