Adopting a rescue animal in Portugal can be challenging due to the difficulty of locating available pets across various platforms. Addressing this issue, an American couple based in the Algarve has launched AdoptPets.pt, a free nationwide directory that consolidates listings of dogs and cats available for adoption across the country.
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Tami Cross and Craig Schreiber, who relocated from San Diego to the Algarve three years ago, have created a bilingual platform in Portuguese and English. AdoptPets.pt allows potential adopters to search for animals based on criteria such as location, age, size, breed, and gender, directing users to the relevant shelter or municipal kennel.
Currently, the website showcases around 2,400 animals available for adoption from 45 different shelters and municipal kennels throughout Portugal. The couple's initiative stemmed from their own experiences with animal rescue, highlighting the lack of a comprehensive resource for potential adopters to find available animals.
They noted that many municipal kennels do not provide photos, and several shelters lack websites or updated information about the animals they care for. Consequently, searching for adoptable pets could take hours, as many listings were posted sporadically on Facebook.
One of the challenges of creating a national directory was ensuring that shelter workers and volunteers were not overwhelmed with additional administrative tasks. To address this, AdoptPets.pt automatically updates listings from participating organizations' existing websites wherever possible. If a shelter lacks a suitable website, the initiative offers to create a free page for their animals, including assistance with photos and profiles.
The service is offered at no cost to registered charities, rescue organizations, and municipal kennels, while explicitly excluding breeders or individuals selling animals. The platform emphasizes its role as a facilitator, simply linking potential adopters to the responsible shelters.
Cross and Schreiber clarified that they do not operate a shelter nor are involved in the adoption decision-making process. Their primary goal is to improve the visibility of animals awaiting adoption in rescue organizations.
AdoptPets.pt features numerous organizations from across Portugal, including notable names from the Algarve such as Animal Rescue Algarve, Tiny Shelter, Cadela Carlota, and Carvoeiro Cat Charity. Users can search not only on a national scale but also refine their search to specific regions or categories, like puppies, senior animals, or different sizes.
Despite being in its early stages, the site receives over 400 daily visitors, with plans to expand its outreach as resources permit. The founders hope that increased visibility will lead to more adoptions and potentially attract volunteers and donors to support the organizations caring for these animals.
AdoptPets.pt is accessible in both Portuguese and English at www.adoptpets.pt.