petfinder.com
What Petfinder.com Is and How It Works
Petfinder.com is one of the most widely used online platforms for pet adoption, built around a searchable database of animals looking for homes. You can search dogs, cats, and other types of pets from thousands of animal shelters and rescue organizations across North America. The main goal of the site is connecting animals in need with people who want to adopt them.
The core idea is straightforward: shelters and rescues upload profiles of adoptable pets — photo, age, breed, location, health details, behavior notes — and Petfinder makes that database searchable by anyone with an internet connection. Users can filter results by criteria like location, breed, age, size, gender, and sometimes more specific preferences. That makes the experience feel somewhat like a search engine for adoptable animals rather than a standard e-commerce site.
Petfinder itself doesn’t adopt pets out directly. It functions as a listing service. When you find an animal you’re interested in, you contact the shelter or rescue listed on that pet’s profile. Those local groups handle the adoption process, fees, home visits, and all the other steps involved in welcoming a new animal into your life.
History and Background
Petfinder began in 1996 as a response to a clear need: connecting homeless pets with people looking to adopt them using the emerging power of the internet. The founders, Betsy Banks Saul and Jared Saul, built the site to allow shelters of all sizes to list available pets in a central place.
Early partnerships helped Petfinder grow rapidly. For example, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, collaborations with groups like the ASPCA expanded shelter participation and increased visibility. Over time the database expanded from a few hundred shelters to tens of thousands.
Ownership has changed hands over the years. Discovery Communications once owned the site, and in 2013 Nestlé Purina PetCare Company — a major pet food and wellness brand — acquired Petfinder to integrate its digital tools and resources into the broader Purina ecosystem.
How Users Search for Pets
When you land on Petfinder.com, the interface makes it easy to start looking right away. You can pick a type of animal — dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, birds, horses, and more — and set filters to refine results based on what matters to you.
For basic searching, you enter your location (usually a zip code or postal code), then choose parameters like species, breed, age range, and size. Petfinder shows you current listings that match. Because new pets are added constantly, it’s often recommended to check back regularly or save your search and get alerts when new matches appear.
Some mobile versions of the platform let you view images and even use visual search tools or filters based on specific lifestyle needs, making it easier to narrow in on suitable candidates. The apps extend this by allowing photo browsing, detailed pet info, and contacting shelters directly through mobile devices.
The Adoption Process Through Petfinder
Finding a pet on Petfinder is only the first step. Once you click on a pet profile that interests you, you’ll be directed to contact the shelter or rescue group caring for that animal. Those organizations manage their own adoption processes.
Adoption steps vary by group, but generally include:
- Submitting an application – Shelters often want to know about your experience with pets, home environment, and expectations.
- Communication – You’ll usually talk with staff or volunteers to learn more about the pet’s personality and needs.
- Home checks or visits – Some groups require a home visit or references to make sure the match will work.
- Meet-and-greet – Meeting the pet in person is common before adoption is finalized.
- Adoption fees – These vary widely. Fees often cover basic veterinary care completed by the shelter, like vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and microchips.
Because Petfinder is essentially a directory, it doesn’t control these processes — you’ll need to coordinate with the listed organization. That’s why the site encourages contacting shelters directly if you have questions about a specific pet’s health, behavior, or adoption requirements.
Resources Beyond Listings
Petfinder isn’t just about searching for pets. Many of its pages include educational resources on how to adopt responsibly — things like preparing your home, what to expect with a new pet, and guidance on long-term care. These resources aim to help adopters make smart, lasting decisions.
The platform also provides access to shelter and rescue organization information, so people interested in volunteering or fostering can connect with local groups. There are articles and guides on fostering, helping animals in your community, and how to support shelters beyond adopting.
Shelter and Rescue Participation
Animal shelters, rescues, and humane societies participate in Petfinder by creating member accounts and uploading profiles of pets that are available for adoption. The listings are updated daily as pets find homes or new animals are added.
Only nonprofit shelters and rescue organizations are typically included. They maintain their own pages and manage their own databases of adoptable animals, while Petfinder provides the central platform where adopters can find them.
Because the information comes from the shelters themselves, Petfinder always recommends double-checking details with the organization before making decisions — availability and specific information can change.
Petfinder Foundation
Alongside the main website, there’s the Petfinder Foundation, a separate nonprofit that provides financial grants and support to animal welfare organizations. The foundation’s work includes helping groups with programs designed to reduce euthanasia and improve animal welfare practices.
The foundation has its own initiatives and partnerships, often focused on emergency support for shelters, rescue transport, and funding welfare programs that might otherwise struggle with resources.
Limitations and Recent Issues
While Petfinder remains a go-to destination for many people looking to adopt, it’s not perfect. Because it’s tied to data provided by a huge network of independent organizations, inconsistencies can exist in how complete or up-to-date listings are. That’s why users are advised to follow up directly with shelters.
In late 2025, the platform experienced some technical problems that disrupted services for certain shelters and users, leading to frustrations among some participants in the network. The situation underscored how dependent many organizations have become on Petfinder’s infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Petfinder.com is a major online database for adoptable pets from thousands of shelters and rescues.
- Users can search for pets using filters like location, breed, age, and size.
- Adoption happens through the shelter or rescue listed on the pet’s profile, not directly through Petfinder.
- The platform includes resources to support responsible adoption and pet care.
- Petfinder has been operating since 1996 and is now owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.
FAQ
Is Petfinder free to use?
Yes. Searching for pets and browsing listings on Petfinder.com is free for adopters. Shelters and rescue groups list their pets without cost to adopters.
Can I adopt a pet directly through the website?
Not exactly. You find the pet on Petfinder, but the actual adoption process — applications, interviews, meeting the pet, handling fees — happens with the shelter or rescue.
Does Petfinder list all types of animals?
Yes. While most listings are dogs and cats, Petfinder’s database includes birds, rabbits, reptiles, farm animals, and more, depending on what the participating organizations list.
How often is the database updated?
Listings are updated daily as shelters and rescues add new pets or mark pets as adopted.
Can shelters outside North America use Petfinder?
Petfinder’s main service focuses on the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. There are other similar platforms in other regions (like PetFinder.my in Malaysia), but the core Petfinder.com listings are North America-centered.
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