How to Use Petfinder

Quck answer

Petfinder is an online platform that helps people find adoptable pets in their area. Users can search for pets based on their location, preferred species, breed, age, and other criteria. The platform also allows users to create an account, save their favorite pets, and receive notifications when new pets that match their search criteria become available. Petfinder partners with various animal shelters and rescue organizations across the United States and Canada to connect people with pets in need of a loving home. Adopting a pet through Petfinder can be a rewarding and life-changing experience, both for the pet and the adopter.

Pets

Adopting a pet is a way to help with the widespread problem of pet overpopulation. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), millions of animals die each year due to lack of adoptive homes. Although many people decide to buy a pet instead of adopting, Petfinder.com, the largest pet website on the Internet, is trying to change this by connecting homeless animals with people who want to adopt them. Similar to an Internet dating service, Petfinder allows prospective adopters to search a database of available pets based on criteria such as breed, age, size, and gender. This article will explore how Petfinder has become one of the fastest-growing sites on the Internet and how it has accomplished a social good.

The homepage of Petfinder.com
Image courtesy Petfinder

Petfinder.com has made animal shelters and rescue organizations more accessible to adopters across the country by using the Internet. The website allows both large and small animal groups to display their inventory of animals in a user-friendly format, and prospective adopters can easily find what they want. From mice to horses, affenpinschers to Yorkshire terriers, Petfinder has all kinds of animals available for adoption.

The History of Petfinder

In 1995, Jared and Betsy Saul created Petfinder as a way to use the Internet for social good. Betsy, who had previously volunteered with a local animal rescue, was aware of the plight of unwanted animals and wanted to create a website where shelters could list their animals for prospective adopters. Although most shelters were initially skeptical, some eventually signed on and the website grew. The Sauls paid close attention to their users and made sure the site was fast, user-friendly, and accessible. Petfinder went national in 1998 and became an international group in 2000 with the addition of Canada.

Petfinder operates on a business model that is similar to that of a nonprofit organization, but it is not a nonprofit group as its founders wanted to be able to seek corporate sponsorship. In 2003, Petfinder created the Petfinder.com Foundation, which is a public charity that offers assistance during natural disasters. Petfinder was acquired by Discovery Communications in late 2006. During Hurricane Katrina, Petfinder staff created a database of animals to help displaced owners locate their pets and reunited around 3,000 animals with their owners. Petfinder has over 262,200 animals listed, and it has been responsible for placing more than 12 million animals. It has over 11,440 groups with listings on the site, and over 1 million animals were adopted through the site in the past year. Petfinder has more than 50 servers located in Secaucus, N.J., all maintained by one systems administrator, and it has four major sponsors. The site receives more than 4.6 million site visitors and more than 180 million page views each month. Petfinder requires groups to have official nonprofit status or provide documentation proving their non-profit status and a veterinarian reference to create a site. Petfinder does not allow people who sell animals for profit to use the site.

County shelters may or may not offer medical care, and some require pets to be spayed or neutered within a certain timeframe after adoption. Foster-based rescues rely heavily on the internet for pet adoption and usually keep animals in private homes until they are adopted. Breed-specific rescues only accept animals of their designated breed and are usually “no kill.” Other groups, including veterinarians’ offices and vet schools, children’s groups, and special rescues for non-dog and cat animals, are also listed on Petfinder. Petfinder not only allows rescue groups to place pets but also enables them to communicate with each other and surf shelters for animals they can help. Breed enthusiasts often search Petfinder for their breed in municipal shelters, and rescue groups often take these animals. Effective spay/neuter programs have reduced the number of available animals needing homes, but Petfinder allows local groups to find adoptable homeless animals in areas that still need assistance.

Foster-based Rescues

Foster-based rescues rely heavily on the internet for pet adoption and usually keep animals in private homes until they are adopted. These groups are usually full because they do not euthanize animals except in cases of severe medical or behavioral problems. Prospective adopters usually schedule an appointment or come to an adoption day held at stores like Petco and Petsmart.

Groups on Petfinder

Grammy the sheep is just one of many animals listed in the “Barnyard” category on Petfinder.

Breed-specific Rescues

Breed-specific rescues only accept animals of their designated breed and are usually “no kill.” These groups take in animals of their breed from animal shelters and owner surrenders regardless of their age, physical condition, or veterinary needs.

Other Groups

Petfinder lists not only formal rescue groups and shelters but also veterinarians’ offices and vet schools that routinely rescue unwanted animals, as well as a few small groups started and run by children.

Beyond Dogs and Cats

Special rescues for non-dog and cat animals, including horse, ferret, bird, and reptile rescue groups, are also listed on Petfinder. These groups are fewer in number but growing.

How Groups Use Petfinder

Petfinder not only allows rescue groups to place pets but also enables them to communicate with each other and surf shelters for animals they can help. Breed enthusiasts often search Petfinder for their breed in municipal shelters, and rescue groups often take these animals. Petfinder also allows local groups to find adoptable homeless animals in areas that still need assistance.

Thanks to Petfinder Vice President Kim Saunders, the volunteers of the rescue group LIFE for Pets, and the members of the Germanshepherds.com discussion forum for their assistance with this article.

Adding a description for your pet is an essential step on the “Add New Pet” page on Petfinder. The page includes dropdown menus for breed, age, size, and gender, and checkboxes for veterinary and training status and adoption restrictions. While Petfinder allows a maximum of two breeds, three pictures, and one video for each pet, the narrative portion can include a more elaborate biography, adoption, and contact information for the group. Rescue workers can efficiently upload a new pet in just a few minutes, which is crucial because time is usually of the essence for the animals.

Petfinder’s “Add New Pet” page is user-friendly and requires no knowledge of HTML or programming. Rescue groups can keep track of the number of hits each animal gets or can break down interest by breed. They can also search for new volunteers or edit their homepage. Administrators can change the status of the animal to “adopted” once adopted, adding it to their list of “Happy Tails.”

The Petfinder Classifieds

Nonmembers and private individuals can list pets in need of a new home on the Petfinder Classified section, even without pictures. It can be an excellent way to publicize the animal that needs help. Another option is to approach a local rescue or breed rescue about doing a “courtesy post” on their site. Many groups are happy to list animals, even if they do not have foster space to take them in physically. Some groups will even help screen prospective homes for the pets. The Petfinder classified section also has a place where anyone can post lost and found pets.

Next, we’ll look at how you can find a pet on Petfinder.com.

The Price of Popularity

It should not come as a surprise that the most popular breeds of dogs also have the highest number of Petfinder listings. Labrador retrievers and German shepherds are at the top of the list, with thousands of animals regularly featured for each breed.

When an animal becomes popular, unscrupulous breeders begin to produce dogs to meet the demand, often with little attention to genetic screening, health, or temperament. Each release of “101 Dalmatians” has been followed by a surge of Dalmatians needing homes. The popularity spike of the golden retriever has been matched by an increase in such hereditary disorders as hip dysplasia, heart defects, and epilepsy. The recent interest in “designer dogs,” especially those billed as “hypoallergenic,” is already resulting in the surrender and abandonment of many of these animals when they fail to deliver. Sometimes, being unpopular can be good.

Learn More

When you’re in search of a pet, it’s important to note that each group has its own policies for adoption. It’s crucial for potential adopters to understand these policies before working with a group. Some groups may require a fence or prohibit adoptions to homes with small children, while others may not have any such restrictions. Reference checks and first-come, first-served policies are also factors that vary between groups.

Adoption fees can also vary greatly depending on the shelter or rescue group. Some shelters have low adoption fees but may not provide any veterinary care, while others offer fully vetted animals. Some rescue groups may require a contract or deposit before veterinary care is provided. Adoption fees can range from $15 to $350, with fees typically reflecting the amount of veterinary care an animal has received.

Petfinder is a free service that doesn’t charge any portion of the adoption fees. Members are responsible for setting their own adoption fees and policies, as well as providing humane treatment to animals. While Petfinder staff try to screen and get to know their members, it’s impossible to personally check every rescue. For this reason, it’s important for both adopters and rescue groups to be cautious when using Petfinder.

Search categories on Petfinder can be subjective, so it’s helpful to expand your search to increase success. Before starting a search, consider your schedule and preferences for colors and coat textures. With so many animals in need of homes, it’s possible to locate your dream pet with some effort.

For a visual guide to using Petfinder, follow the story of “Jane Doe.”

Jane is in search of a dog that can provide her with companionship. She wants a dog that can keep her safe when she’s alone, but friendly to visitors. She also wants a dog that can accompany her when she goes jogging. Since Jane works full-time, she doesn’t have much time to train a new puppy. She’s also looking for a dog that doesn’t require too much grooming. After going through some dog books, Jane decides that she likes greyhounds but wants something more rugged. She visits Petfinder.com to find the perfect dog for her. On the website, she uses the search bar to find greyhounds in her area. She also uses the “advanced search” feature to narrow down her search to exact breed matches. After browsing through different listings, Jane finds a dog named Danny Boy who is a year-old greyhound mix. She likes him because he’s good with other dogs and enjoys both playtime and quiet time. She puts in an application to adopt Danny Boy and later meets him after the shelter screens her application and decides that she would be a good match for him. Pet adoption policies vary by group, and Jane could find them on the group’s home page.

The Impact of Petfinder

Petfinder’s message boards
Image courtesy of Petfinder

Since Petfinder’s inception, other websites have started offering similar services. However, Petfinder does not require its members to limit their listings to its site. Petfinder’s Vice President, Kim Saunders, notes that rescuers have a responsibility to use any resources that will help animals find homes. Petfinder users argue that a listing service is most effective when everything is listed in one place, thus having multiple registries may dilute the effectiveness of any individual site.

One of Petfinder’s strengths is its willingness to listen to its members and respond with new and improved services. Petfinder regularly surveys its members to identify areas to improve and address new needs.

Kim Saunders points out that the shelter world is like a constant disaster in many ways. It is highly stressful, especially for those who are most involved and affected. Shelter staff and rescue volunteers are susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder and have high burnout rates.

Petfinder has developed a library of articles and resources for animal professionals and message boards for people to discuss rescue and animal issues. Additionally, Petfinder brings animal behavior and shelter care seminars to its members across the country, recognizing that many are unable to travel far.

Petfinder’s impact extends beyond the number of animals saved. The site highlights the severity of pet overpopulation and the plight of shelter animals. A visit to Petfinder dispels myths that all shelter animals are old, sick, or unadoptable. The number of animals listed emphasizes the importance of spaying, neutering, and responsible pet care.

For more information on Petfinder and related topics, visit the links on the next page.

More Information

Sources

Fromm, Emily. Marketing Manager, Petfinder.com. Personal correspondence, 5/22/2008.
Saunders, Kim. Vice President, Shelter Outreach & Public Relations. Petfinder.com. Personal interview.

FAQ

1. What is Petfinder?

Petfinder is an online database that helps connect people with adoptable pets from various animal shelters and rescue organizations across the United States and Canada. It allows potential adopters to search for pets by location, breed, age, gender, and other criteria to find the perfect match for their household.

2. How does Petfinder work?

Animal shelters and rescue organizations upload their adoptable pets to Petfinder’s database, which can then be accessed by potential adopters through the website or mobile app. Adopters can search for pets based on various criteria, view their photos and descriptions, and contact the shelter or rescue organization to start the adoption process.

3. Is Petfinder free to use?

Yes, Petfinder is completely free to use for both adopters and animal shelters/rescue organizations. However, donations to Petfinder’s parent company, NestlГ© Purina PetCare, are appreciated to help support the website’s operations.

4. Can I adopt a pet directly from Petfinder?

No, Petfinder is not a pet adoption agency itself. It is a platform that connects adopters with animal shelters and rescue organizations that have adoptable pets. To adopt a pet, you must contact the shelter or rescue organization directly.

5. How do I know if a pet listed on Petfinder is still available?

Animal shelters and rescue organizations are responsible for keeping their Petfinder listings up-to-date. However, it’s always a good idea to contact the shelter or rescue organization directly to confirm the availability of a pet before making any plans to visit or adopt.

6. Can I search for specific breeds on Petfinder?

Yes, Petfinder allows users to search for adoptable pets by breed, as well as other criteria such as age, gender, and location. However, keep in mind that breed labels may not always be accurate, especially for mixed-breed dogs and cats.

7. Can I set up alerts for new pets that match my search criteria?

Yes, Petfinder allows users to set up email alerts for new pets that match their search criteria. To do so, simply create a free account on the Petfinder website and save your search criteria. You will then receive email notifications when new pets that match your criteria are added to the database.

8. How can I support Petfinder’s mission?

One way to support Petfinder is to donate to its parent company, NestlГ© Purina PetCare, which helps fund the website’s operations and support animal welfare organizations. Additionally, if you’re looking to adopt a new pet, consider adopting from an animal shelter or rescue organization listed on Petfinder to help give a homeless pet a second chance at a loving home.