Why Pet Adoption Is So Hard—And What We’re Doing About It

Our founder was recently quoted in Newsweek on the challenges of adopting a pet. Here's what she said—and why it matters.

Liz and her adopted dog Dexter

Adopting a pet should feel hopeful and exciting. But for many would-be adopters, the process feels confusing, frustrating, or even discouraging.

In a recent article from Newsweek, the spotlight was on exactly that—why “adopt, don’t shop” is much easier said than done. The piece explored the hurdles adopters face when working with shelters and rescues, from long applications to unclear timelines. And our founder, Liz Adams, had the chance to weigh in.

“Rescues want pets to go to the best home—and not end up harmed or in bad situations. People with the wrong intentions do know how to work the system,” Liz shared.

As a volunteer, adopter, foster, and founder, Liz understands all sides of the adoption equation. While rescue organizations are doing everything they can to protect the animals in their care, the adoption process can unintentionally push away well-meaning people who want to give a pet a loving home.

That’s where Pet Protect & Connect comes in.

We built our platform to help shelters and rescues make better, faster adoption decisions—without sacrificing safety or screening. Pet Protect & Connect helps:

• Pre-qualify adopters in a consistent, unbiased way

• Match pets with people who meet their needs and can offer long-term care

• Give rescues time back by reducing manual application review

• Expand access to adopters who may be overlooked but are more than capable of providing great homes

We believe that by giving rescue teams better tools, we can help more pets get adopted—and stay in their forever homes. Because it shouldn’t be harder to adopt a pet than to buy one.

Read the full Newsweek article here:

Making Adoption More Accessible Could Have Huge Benefits, but Shelters Still Need To Be Careful