How Adoptions Start
Adoptions begin from adopter profiles. There's no separate adopter selection step - you work directly from the adopter's profile page.
Creating an Adopter Profile
Before you can process an adoption, you need an adopter profile:
For New Adopters
- Navigate to Adopters in the main menu
- Click "+ Add an Adopter" button
- Fill in the required information:
- Full name (required)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Address information
- Housing details
- Employment information (if applicable)
- References
- Click "Add Adopter" to save the profile
For Existing Customers
If someone is already in your system (as a volunteer, donor, etc.), you can still create a separate adopter profile for them. This keeps their different roles organized.
Finding Existing Adopters
To locate an adopter who's already in your system:
- Go to the Adopters page
- Use the search bar to find by name
- Or use filters to narrow down:
- All: Shows all adopters
- Active: Active adopters ready for adoptions
- Pending: New applications awaiting review
- On Hold: Temporarily paused adoptions
- Do Not Adopt: Restricted from adoptions
- Suspended: Account suspended
- Inactive: No longer active in system
Managing Adopter Profiles
Viewing an Adopter Profile
Click on any adopter's name to view their full profile, which includes:
- Contact information
- Housing and employment details
- Prospective Pets: Pets they're interested in
- Adopted Pets: Pets they've already adopted
- Notes and history
- Status indicators
Editing Adopter Information
- From the adopter's profile, click "Edit"
- Update any information as needed
- Click "Update Adopter" to save changes
Managing Adopter Status
You can change an adopter's status to control their ability to adopt:
- From the adopter's profile, click "Edit"
- Select the appropriate status:
- Active: Ready to adopt
- On Hold: Temporarily unable to adopt
- Do Not Adopt: Restricted from adoptions (requires a note)
- Inactive: No longer active (requires a note)
- Suspended: Account suspended (requires a note)
- Add a note if required for certain status changes
- Save the changes
Inactive adopters are hidden from the main list but their records remain in the system.
Assigning Pets to Adopters
This is a crucial step before processing an adoption:
Adding Prospective Pets
- From the adopter's profile, find the "Prospective Pets" section
- Click "+ Add Pet"
- In the modal:
- Search for available pets
- Select one or more pets
- Click "Add to Adopter"
Managing Pet Assignments
- View Pet: Click on the pet's name to see their full profile
- Remove Pet: Click the X button next to any prospective pet
- Pet Availability: Only pets with "Available" status can be added
Starting the Adoption Process
Once an adopter has prospective pets assigned:
- The "Adopt" button appears in the profile header
- Click this button to begin the adoption process
- Choose between:
- QR Code: Let the adopter complete on their device
- Continue Here: Process on your current device
External Applications
When someone applies through your public website:
Reviewing Applications
- External applications show as "Pending" status
- Open the adopter's profile
- You'll see an alert banner at the top
- Review all submitted information
Approving or Declining
- To Approve: Click "Approve Application"
- To Decline: Click "Decline Application"
Once approved, the adopter becomes active and you can add pets and process adoptions.
Quick Preview Feature
For a quick look without opening the full profile:
- Click the eye icon (👁️) in the adopters table
- A sidebar shows:
- Contact information
- Prospective pets
- Adopted pets
- Quick actions
Best Practices
Before Starting an Adoption
- Verify the adopter's information is complete
- Ensure they have prospective pets assigned
- Check for any notes or flags on their profile
- Confirm they're in "Active" status
Managing Multiple Adoptions
If an adopter wants multiple pets:
- Add all pets as prospective first
- The adoption process will include all prospective pets
- They can choose to adopt some or all during checkout
Tracking Adoption Interest
Use the notes section to track:
- Which pets they've shown interest in
- Any special requirements or preferences
- Communication history
- Home visit results
Related Topics
- Learn about Processing Adoptions directly from profiles
- Understand Adoption Fees configuration
- Review Payment Methods setup