Last updated 15th November 2022

We are the Progressive Veterinary Association (“PVA”, “we”, “us”, “our”), a Private Limited Company by guarantee without share capital and use of 'Limited' exemption, incorporated in England and Wales under registration No 13061868, whose registered office is at Woodberry House, 2 Woodberry Grove, North Finchley, London N12 0DR.

Access to and use of our website www.pva.vet (the “Website”) is provided by the PVA and is subject to the following terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”). Website users (“you, “your”) can print off the Terms and Conditions, or store them on your computer, for future reference. Please read them carefully. If you do not wish to accept the Terms and Conditions, then please do not use the Website. 

General

1. By using the Website, you agree to be legally bound by the Terms and Conditions, which shall take effect immediately on your first use of the Website. If you do not agree to be legally bound by all the Terms and Conditions, please do not access or use the Website.

2. We may change the Terms and Conditions at any time by posting changes online on the Website. Please review the Terms and Conditions regularly to ensure that you are aware of any changes made. Your continued use of the Website after changes are posted means you agree to be legally bound by the Terms and Conditions as updated or amended.

4. You agree to use the Website only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not infringe the rights of, restrict or inhibit anyone else's use and enjoyment of the Website. Prohibited behaviour includes harassing or causing distress or inconvenience to any person, transmitting obscene or offensive content, or disrupting the normal flow of dialogue within the Website.

5. The Terms and Conditions shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of England and Wales.

6. If any of the Terms and Conditions are determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of any state or country in which the Terms are Conditions are intended to be effective, then to the extent and within the jurisdiction in which that term is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed and deleted from the Terms and Conditions and the remaining Terms and Conditions shall survive, remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable.

7. The Website is hosted by GoDaddy and Squarespace. Payments are processed by Paypal and Stripe. For further information on how we collect and share information with third party service providers, please see our privacy policy here.

Liability

8. The PVA endeavours to ensure that all audio, video, text, photographs, graphics, trademarks, service marks, and logos on the Website (collectively, the “Content”) provided by us is accurate. However, the Content is for general guidance only and is provided without any representations or any kind of warranty made (whether express or implied by law), including the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.

9. The PVA is not liable for any Content provided by you within the Website.

10. The PVA will not be liable for any damages, including indirect or consequential damages, or any damages arising from use or loss of use, data or profits, whether in contract, negligence or other tortious action, arising from or in connection with use of the Website and Content.

11. The PVA does not warrant that the functionality of the Website will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that the Website, the server that makes the Website available, and any third party service providers are free of viruses or other forms of malware. You are responsible for protecting the security and integrity of your system and data.

12. We will not accept liability for any loss, damage or inconvenience arising as a consequence of any use of, or the inability to use, the Website and Content.

Intellectual property

13. The names, images and logos identifying the PVA or third parties are subject to copyright, design rights and trademarks of the PVA or third parties. Nothing contained in the Terms and Conditions shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any licence or right to use any trademark, patent, design right or copyright of the PVA or any third party.

14. You may not copy, reproduce, republish, download, post, transmit or otherwise use the Content in any way, except for permitted use. “Permitted Use” means use within the business included within your current PVA membership category (see “Membership”), and does not include disclosure to persons who are not members of the PVA or persons who subscribe to a different membership category of PVA. You also agree not to adapt, alter or create a derivative work from any Content except for permitted use. Any other use of Content requires the prior written permission of the Directors of the PVA.

15. Where you submit any Content to the Website you agree, by submitting this Content, to grant the PVA a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute and exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to the Content provided by you worldwide or to incorporate the Content provided by you in other works in any media throughout the universe now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in the Content provided by you, and in accordance with privacy restrictions set out in the PVA's privacy policy. If you do not want to grant to the PVA the rights set out above, please do not submit Content to the Website.

16. Further to paragraph 10, by submitting Content to the Website, you:

16.1 warrant that the Content; 

16.1.1 is your own original work and/or that you have the right to make it available to the PVA for all the purposes specified above; and   

16.1.2 is not defamatory; and

16.1.3 does not infringe any law; and       

16.2 agree to indemnify the PVA against all legal fees, damages and other expenses that may be incurred by the PVA as a result of your breach of the above warranty; and       

16.3 waive any moral rights in the Content for the purposes of its submission to and publication on this site and the purposes specified above.

Links to other sites

17. The Website may contain links to other related internet sites and reference materials. You might find these links useful, though as they are outside of our control, we cannot take responsibility for their content nor should links be taken as an endorsement of any kind. We have no control over linked pages’ availability or content. We do not endorse any other organisations, websites or services mentioned on this site unless otherwise stated. We cannot be held responsible for any advice or recommendations contained in these links and anyone accessing these links from our Website does so on this understanding.

Membership

18. Membership means your membership of the PVA, according to membership category, as described below and on the Website at www.pva.vet/joinus.

19. By subscribing for membership on the Website at www.pva.vet/joinus you are confirming that you would like to become a member of the PVA and agree to abide by its rules. You are also agreeing to pay your membership subscription fee on the due date (see Monthly subscription and Annual subscription below) and to notify us in writing by email to membership@pva.vet before your renewal date if you wish to cancel your membership subscription (see Cancellation policy below).

20. Membership categories are professional membership (which includes the sub-categories veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse, veterinary student and student/trainee veterinary nurse memberships) and associate membership. Associate membership is for supporters of the PVA, including allied professionals and lay members.

21. Professional members will be provided with regular updates on PVA campaigns and issues of interest; a quarterly electronic bulletin of the PVA; access to events, including a reduced fee for the PVA annual conference and discussion forum; a ‘safe’ environment to raise animal welfare-related concerns in a veterinary context, and the opportunity to voice concerns with the support of like-minded colleagues; and opportunities to initiate, shape and participate in joint advocacy and campaign work on key animal welfare issues; join steering committees and sub-groups in order to develop PVA policy; and create and participate in free online workshops, which contribute to veterinary CPD.

22. Associate members will be provided with electronic bulletins about PVA progress and campaigns.

23. Where a vote is opened to PVA members, only professional membership entitles respective voting rights.

24. The membership subscription fees can be found on the Website at www.pva.vet/joinus. You can opt for a monthly subscription or an annual subscription, as described below.

25. Monthly subscription: By purchasing a monthly subscription, you agree to an initial and recurring monthly subscription fee at the then-current monthly subscription fee rate, and you accept responsibility for all recurring charges until you cancel your subscription. You may cancel your monthly subscription at any time by emailing us at membership@pva.vet (see Cancellation policy below).

26. Annual subscription: By purchasing an annual subscription, you agree to an initial pre-payment for one full year of service. After one year, and annually thereafter, you will be billed a recurring annual subscription renewal fee at the then-current annual subscription fee rate. You may cancel your annual subscription at any time before the next billing cycle by emailing us at membership@pva.vet (see Cancellation policy below).

27. If you are applying for membership as a veterinary surgeon, or as a veterinary nurse, you will be asked to provide your Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) registration number as part of the membership application process, or equivalent evidence of your status as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse if you are not registered with the RCVS.

28. If you are applying for membership as a veterinary student or student/trainee veterinary nurse, you must provide evidence of your course enrolment for entitlement to free membership.

29. Discounted membership subscription fees are available according to regional economic circumstances, but solely at the discretion of the PVA Directors.

30. When we have received your membership subscription fee, we will send you an email confirming receipt of your membership subscription fee, and a further email confirming your membership of the PVA.

Cancellation policy

31. If in the first 14 days of joining the PVA you change your mind, you can cancel your membership subscription and receive a full refund of your membership subscription fee. To cancel your membership in this period you must notify us in writing by email to membership@pva.vet. This right does not apply if you have previously been a member.

32. You may terminate your membership subscription at any time and for any reason. To terminate your membership subscription, please notify us in writing by email to membership@pva.vet. No refunds of any subscription fee already paid will be given, except if you have changed your mind in the first 14 days of joining PVA and you have not previously been a member, as described above.

33. The PVA reserves the right to cancel membership at any time and for any reason, as determined by Directors of the PVA. The practice or promotion of animal abuse is not compatible with PVA membership; should such concerns emerge in relation to a member, Directors of the PVA will be charged with collating evidence, including testimony from the specific member, and may canvas opinion among the wider membership, before arriving at a decision on whether to cancel or suspend the individual’s membership.

Privacy

34. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy when you use the Website. Please see our privacy policy here for further information.