See it in action:
Please leave any feedback in the comments section below.
Working Prototype
pet shelter
Wireframes
Wireframes, v.1
Wireframes, v.2
Survey: The Adoption Experience
https://www.murvey.com/s?55343d7ebf5948560531cff7&fill=true
Responses (All responses are unedited):
When choosing whether to adopt or purchase an animal — what effected your decision?
- Have done both. Money is factor one. Other big factor is wanting to help the animals in the shelter. On the buying side, knowing traits and temperament was influencing factor.
- I believe that all animals deserve a second chance. Therefore I would always get an animal from a rescue and if I can’t find the right one, I will wait until the right one for me becomes available.
- Ability to match needs
- The Sarah mclaughlin commercial had a big impact on me. In your face stuff gets to me.
- We had to buy due to allergies
What are your perceptions of animal shelters/rescues?
- Slightly depressing because you can’t save them all – and when you see them, that’s what you want to do. But at their soul, shelters/rescues are wonderful places with caring people.
- A lot of people won’t adopt an animal from a rescue because of the threat of ‘behaviour problems’ despite the fact that animals purchased from breeders or pet shops have the same chance of being badly behaved. I believe that all animals up for adoption have been carefully tested and checked to ensure they are safe and secure enough to put into a new family environment and all shelters will always check that your family is right for the animal.
- Most are sadly understaffed/funded, yet they continue to do great work.
- Amazing, in need of a forever home, loving, anxious
- many good animals but you have to be careful
Are shelter/rescue pets currently part of your family?
- No
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- No
If so, how many are currently part of your household?
- N/A
- 3
- 1
- 2
- N/A
If you purchased your pet from a dog-breeder or pet store — why did you decide to do so?
- See answer to #1. Also, at the time we purchased our puppy our very sweet, but our dog from a shelter was still alive, and we wanted her to have an influence on the puppy as she was such a good dog. And it worked
- N/A
- 14 yrs ago shelters were very different. I bought from a reputable breeder.
- N/A
- Allergies
If you’ve adopted animals before, what would you change about the process?
- i had a great experience. The only thing that would have been great was a follow up call. Just to make sure there were no issues or problems. Kinda like the nurse who calls/visits when you’ve had a baby.
- I wouldn’t change anything. i would like to change the stigma associated with rescue animals.
- What’s up with all the ‘no kids’ rules these days? Seems blanket and limits opportunities for these animals.
- More oversight into who gets to adopt a pet. I don’t like just anyone getting an animal
- easier application, more info
Abstract
There are tens of thousands of community animal shelters nationwide, which are independently run facilities. In those facilities, there are millions of healthy, lovable shelter animals who are not adopted each year, with approximately 30% of household pets in the United States coming from shelters/rescues. Why aren’t the other 70% of pet households turning to pet adoption for their animals? What can be done to help persuade them to rescue an animal from a shelter/rescue?
Research and surveys were conducted to see what potential pet adopters wanted/needed to make the adoption process easy to use and beneficial, along with being efficient. With the analysis of various shelter forms, it was clear that the application process varied sigificantly from shelter to shelter, which led the potential pet adopters to conduct a time-consuming investigation into each individual shelter/rescues policies and procedures — often creating an overwhelming and frustrating experience. The main complaint was the lack of consistency from site to site, and even within each site. Too many shelters have inconsistent, outdated websites which tend to make the adoption process daunting, overwhelming and confusing. Adopters want an easy-to-use system where they can keep track of their potential pets, along with a place to go for information. Many stated they felt after the adoption process, they were left on their own with no guidance or resources.
The Pet Project wishes to create a effective system for pet adopters to allow them to find their ideal pet; while at the same time relieving local shelters/rescues of the burden of maintaining a website, and ultimately providing them with a useful tool — allowing them to focus on the health and well-being of the animals.
Through the creation of a streamlined database, a simplified web presence and a complete branding campaign, users’ frustrations with the adoption/searching process will be eased and shelters/rescues will be able to worry less about the digital marketing component of their business. By developing an aggregated database, a cohesive digital presence and crafting a fun, playful brand identity, all of which will aid in communicating mass amounts of varied information, as well as help to counter the negative social stigma that shelter animals have received. In addition, by establishing a positive and playful brand campaign — pet adoption can be perceived with a much more positive outlook and help break into the additional 70% of pet-owning households in the United States who do not currently get their pets from a shelter/rescue.
Keywords: pet shelters, animals, pets, adopters, adoptees, abuse, stigma
Brainstorming Session // Mind-Mapping
Existing sites
Personas
Family
• 2–4 kids, parents
• Working professional (blue/white collar)
• 30’s–50’s
• Home-owners with a yard
• Kids (8–18 years old)
• Active life-style: playing with kids, active vacations, outdoor activities
Couple
• Newly married/ living together
• Working first job (full-time)
• 20’s–30’s
• Home-owners with a yard
• Active life-style: hiking, biking, camping, outdoor activities
Individual
• Male/Female
• Professional
• 20’s–?
• Apartment/Condo/ Small Home
• Semi-active life-style: walks, hiking, reading
Elderly
• Male/Female
• Retired
• 65–?
• Apartment/Condo/ Small Home
• Quiet life-style: neighborhood walks, relaxing
Survey of Literature
Websites
aspca.org
humanesociety.org
dosomething.org
statisticbrain.com
theshelterpetproject.org
paws.org
dogtime.com
blog.smartanimaltraining.com
petsmartcharities.org
idealist.org
communitywishlist.org
Forbes.com
Videos
Databases
Animal Shelters (Local and National)
Verona Street Animal Society
Rochester Animal Services
Animal Service League
Pet Adoption Network
Rochester Police Department
Habitat For Cats
Lollypop Farm Humane Society of Greater Rochester
Scottsville Veterinary Adoptions
Nuts For Mutts Rescue
Joyful Rescues
Another Chance Pet Rescue
Wooftown
PAWS of Rochester
Petango.com
RescueGroups.org
ASPCA Adoptable Local Dogs
We need your help choosing a name!
Please read our goals and characteristic list and provide an answer to our poll. We would like to see how the public may interpret these potential names before furthering developing them. We greatly appreciate your input!
Our Goals:
– Help animals find the right home faster, which in turn makes space for new incoming animals.
– Educate the public on the joy a shelter dog can bring to your family, and help break the social stigma shelter pets may have.
– Provide support and act as a resource to dog-owners when they may need help with behavior issues or finding affordable healthcare.
– Assist the thousands of non-profits shelters/rescues that exists by removing the burden of website and other forms of informational maintenance from their plates so they may worry solely about the care and health of the animals.
Below is a list of characteristics we wish to convey:
- Playful
- Professional
- Intriguing
- Sense of Urgency
- Sense of Support
- Homey
- Warm/Inviting
- Exciting and Fresh
- Bright
- Uplifting
- Cheery
the Pet Project 