If you haven’t heard of Petfinder, it’s a search engine for adoptable pets in North America. Many rescues and shelters regularly upload available pet profiles to Petfinder as well as their own website or Facebook page. Petfinder then categorizes these pets so you can easily use specific search criteria such as breed, age, size and gender to find compatible matches.
A very common question amongst Googlers right now is “Is Petfinder a scam?”
Petfinder is a great resource for pet adopters BUT it's not foolproof.
I myself have used this tool to find my own rescue pets and to assist in my search for clients. It's not all encompassing so I also use a spreadsheet of 50+ rescues to make sure I see as many available pets as possible. This spreadsheet of Southern Ontario rescues will be available to all members when the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience launches in 2022!
Some helpful tips on how to use Petfinder:
> Start specific with filters
> Use the desktop version
> Be flexible with your location
> Avoid out-of-town or out-of-country dogs
This tool is being abused by illegitimate rescues and puppy brokers, at no fault of Petfinder. So here is how I avoid scams with this resource.
Consider These 4 Questions Every Time You Use Petfinder:
Does the rescue or shelter have a quality website or a long-standing Facebook page with an active following?
Is the rescue or shelter a registered charity or have not-for-profit status?
What is the rescue or shelter’s process?
Is the animal currently in your country?
Here’s a friendly reminder for you, if it seems too good to be true it probably is!
Employ these 4 questions with every search to ensure you’re using the tool and it’s not using you!
Have you found some questionable rescues on Petfinder? Message me @pawdoptionguide on Instagram or Facebook to tell me more.
Of course you can’t start your search unless you’ve narrowed down what you’re looking for! Grab my FREE Are You Ready to Get a Dog? checklist today and be prepared to start your dog adoption search tomorrow.