We use apps for everything from ordering food to booking a ride, so why not use digital tools to find homes for your shelter animals? Animal shelter management software has features like pet profile management, task boards, and foster management to help animal welfare organizations save more lives and improve the well-being of countless animals.
Integrating tech-savvy pet adoption solutions geared toward potential pet parents, like diverse payment methods and QR codes, shelters can make the pet adoption experience easier and increase the chances of pets finding loving homes. A modern pet adoption tool, like PawPlacer, is an internal centralized hub for shelter workers, animals, fosters, and adopters, keeping your shelter up-to-date with the latest pet adoption trends.
Here's how you can boost pet adoption with easy-to-use digital tools.
How Animal Can Shelters Keep Up With Modern Times
Plenty of pet rescues nationwide still rely on outdated systems that can create barriers for staff, volunteers, and potential pet parents.
Here are five ways to use online pet adoption platforms to increase adoption rates.
1. Offer Flexible Payment Methods for Adopters
First, credit cards dethroned cash. Now, digital payment methods outshine credit cards. Most of us now expect multiple payment options, whether checking out online or shopping at the local farmer's market.
It's just as important to offer flexible payment options for adoptions. Accepting multiple payment methods, like credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and platforms like PayPal or Venmo, eliminates unnecessary hurdles from the adoption process.
2. Get More Donations with Mobile Payment Apps
Multiple payment options aren't limited to taking home a new furry family member. Donations play a crucial role in sustaining animal shelters. With PawPlacer, you can customize your suggested donation amounts. Select which payments you want to enable, including Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, Bitcoin, and more.
3. QR Code Integration
QR codes are popping up everywhere because they're convenient and contactless. QR codes for pet profiles can be linked to specific animals. Profiles should include information a potential foster or adopter will want to know, like photos, medical history, personality traits, and adoption procedures.
Tip: You can use QR codes in a couple of different ways. You can place them around your shelter on kennel cards, posters, and event displays or include them in social media posts to encourage your audience to engage with a pet's profile.
4. Contactless Payments via QR Codes
Contactless payment solutions make paying even more convenient. The option to pay from afar is the norm now. Make sure people understand your animal shelter offers quick, simple, and safe transactions.
Animal shelters can use QR codes for quick, secure, and easy adoption fees and donations. For example, a QR code at an adoption event or shelter can direct users to a secure payment portal where they can complete the transaction with just a few taps. You don't have to be in the same room or even the same state to make a payment. This lets adopters and donors know they can support your cause effortlessly, no matter where they are.
5. Create Engaging, Informative Pet Profiles
Now that you know how to use technology like QR codes to get people to click on a specific pet in your care, it's time to seal the deal with a great pet profile. You can create a detailed profile for each adoptable pet. Include clear photos, personality highlights, and any special needs, charms, or quirks that make the pet unique.
The goal is to turn that click into a heartfelt decision to adopt while giving away as much information as possible to reduce the chances of mismatches or returns.
How to Get Started
Like everything we'd expect in 2024 and beyond, modern pet owners and potential pet parents expect convenience, efficiency, and digital solutions that make our day-to-day lives more seamless and stress-free.
Adoption management software may be what your shelter needs to help more animals find loving forever homes. PawPlacer is an all-in-one animal shelter management software to manage pets, adoptions, staff, and more. Try PawPlacer today for free.