Effective September 27, 2026 · v1.0
Cookie Policy
Which cookies and browser storage FoundRadar uses, why, how long they last, and how to turn optional analytics and advertising off.
This document was prepared for review by a qualified attorney and may change before launch.
What this policy covers
FoundRadar is a free, volunteer-run lost pet network. This policy explains the cookies and similar browser storage our website uses. It adds to our Privacy Policy.
A cookie is a small text file a website saves in your browser. Browser storage (localStorage and sessionStorage) is a similar space in your browser where a site can keep information. Information in browser storage stays on your device and is not sent to us automatically with each page request, the way cookies are.
Our approach
- Only strictly necessary items run by default. They make the site work and keep it secure. They do not track you across other websites.
- Analytics and advertising are off until you opt in. Google Analytics 4 and the Google Ads conversion tag do not load unless you choose to allow them in our cookie banner or on Your Privacy Choices.
- We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC). If your browser sends a GPC signal, we treat it as an opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information and keep advertising turned off.
- You can change your mind at any time.
Cookies and storage we use
| Name | Provider | Purpose | Category | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
fr_consent |
FoundRadar | Remembers your cookie choices (analytics on or off, advertising on or off) | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
fr_admin |
FoundRadar | Keeps staff signed in to the admin area. Set only for staff, never for the public | Strictly necessary | Up to 12 hours |
| Report draft (localStorage) | FoundRadar | Saves your unfinished report form in your browser so you do not lose it. Photos are not saved in the draft | Strictly necessary (browser storage) | Until you submit, clear it, or clear your browser data |
| Ad attribution (sessionStorage) | FoundRadar | Keeps the campaign tags and Google click ID from the ad link you clicked, so they can be saved with a report you post | Strictly necessary (browser storage) | Until you close the browser tab |
_ga |
Google (Google Analytics 4) | Tells visits apart to count visitors and measure how the site is used | Analytics (opt-in) | 13 months |
_ga_<id> |
Google (Google Analytics 4) | Keeps the state of your current visit for analytics | Analytics (opt-in) | 13 months |
_gcl_au |
Google (Google Ads) | Measures whether a visit that came from a Google ad led to a report (a "conversion") | Advertising (opt-in) | 90 days |
The <id> in _ga_<id> is our Google Analytics property ID. Google may change the names or lifetimes of its cookies. We will update this table when we learn of changes.
Strictly necessary items
These items are needed for the site to work, so they do not require consent. You can block them in your browser settings, but parts of the site may stop working. For example, if you block browser storage, your report draft will not be saved.
Analytics (opt-in)
If you allow analytics, Google Analytics 4 helps us understand which pages are useful and where people get stuck in the report form. We send events such as "report started" or "photo added." We do not send your report text, name, email, phone, or exact location to Google Analytics.
Advertising (opt-in)
We run ads on Google Search so that people who just lost a pet can find us. If you allow advertising, the Google Ads conversion tag tells Google when someone who clicked one of our ads goes on to post a report. This helps us see which ads work.
We do not sell personal information for money. However, under California law, sending this information to Google may count as "sharing" for cross-context behavioral advertising. You can opt out on Your Privacy Choices or by turning on GPC. Learn how Google uses this data at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
Maps
Our maps load tiles from OpenFreeMap, using OpenStreetMap data. When a map loads, your browser requests images and data from their servers, which see your IP address like any website you visit. We do not set cookies for the map.
How to change your choices
- On our site: open Your Privacy Choices, linked in the footer of every page, and switch analytics or advertising on or off.
- With GPC: turn on Global Privacy Control in a browser or extension that supports it.
- In your browser: most browsers let you block or delete cookies and site data in their settings.
- With Google: you can use the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on and your Google ad settings.
If you turn analytics or advertising off, we stop loading those tools. Cookies they already set may remain until they expire or you delete them.
Changes and contact
We may update this policy when our tools change. The effective date at the top shows the latest version. Questions: the contact form at /contact.