Questions?Answers.

Every pet on Paaw is listed by a shelter or rescue organization, never by a breeder. In the United States, many listings come from listing services that rescues use to publish their adoptable pets. Shelters that post directly on Paaw create a shelter account first.

Adoption fees are paid to the shelter, as part of its own process. If a listing or a message asks you for money in a way that feels wrong, or anything else looks suspicious, write to us at [email protected] and we will look into it.

First of all, thank you for choosing to adopt.

Each shelter and rescue has its own adoption process, and Paaw doesn't tell them how to choose a family. They know their animals best and are in the best position to make that choice.

If you have been turned down, don't let it change your mind about adopting. Many other shelters and rescues list pets on Paaw, and plenty of other animals are waiting for a home.

Shelters and associations have fees to cover the medical care, food, and transportation that animals need while they wait for their new homes. In order to feed and keep all these animals healthy, shelters and associations ask for a contribution. This is why they charge adoption fees. But also to support these organizations, which fight every day to recover and save all these abandoned animals.

Most shelters and rescues charge an adoption fee to cover the care each animal received. Each one sets its own amount and conditions, and Paaw doesn't decide them. You can ask the shelter from the pet's page.

Adoption fees are separate from Paaw's contact fee. Contacting a shelter about a puppy or kitten has a small fee, and contacting a shelter about an adult or senior pet is free. See “Is Paaw free?” above.

Each organization that lists pets on Paaw has its own rules and requirements for adoptions. If you're interested in an animal, contact the organization or shelter to find out the requirements and criteria for adoption.

Paaw is a community of shelters and associations, and like all communities, every person and organization is different. Sometimes you can send a request and get a response within minutes, while other organizations may take days or a week to respond. Association volunteers are often very busy, so don't hesitate to call them back or call them when the number is posted on the animal's profile.

After you submit your adoption application, the shelter or association with the animal you are interested in will contact you. The volunteers of the associations are often very busy so don't hesitate to call them again or call them when the number is posted on the animal's profile.

No. The shelter or rescue runs the adoption and makes every decision. Paaw passes your message on to the shelter, and if you choose Express Contact, Paaw follows up with the shelter for you, but the adoption itself always happens with the shelter.

Unfortunately, we can't guarantee that the animal you're interested in is still available. To check, contact the shelter directly from the animal's page.

If it has already been adopted, it is surely happy with its new family, and plenty of other animals are waiting for a home.

In order to be sure that the animal you see is "the one", you'll probably want to meet it.

To do this you can go to the animal's profile and click on "Contact Shelter" to request all the information to make this meeting happen.

Paaw is a site containing a database of pets available for adoption that shelters and associations post online. We provide associations and shelters with this space to offer more visibility to animals and to facilitate their adoption. But we are not involved in the adoptions. Each adoption organization has its own selection criteria and its own adoption policies and procedures. To adopt an animal that is listed on Paaw, click on the "Contact Shelter" button on the animal's profile. You will then be able to speak with the shelter or association directly.

Shelters keep their own listings up to date. In the United States, many listings come from listing services that rescues use, and change on Paaw when the shelter updates its own list. Shelters that post directly on Paaw can update their pets at any time.

A pet can be adopted before its listing is removed, so ask the shelter whether the pet you like is still available.

Shelters and rescues are responsible for the animals they list on Paaw, so we can't guarantee that a pet hasn't already found a new home.

If you're interested in a particular animal, contact the shelter directly from the animal's page with the “Contact shelter” button. They can tell you whether it is still available.

Paaw lists dogs and cats from shelters and rescues in the United States, Canada, France and Belgium. Open Animals in the menu to search by location, species, age and size, or browse the adoption pages for your city and for each breed.

Not sure where to start? The quiz on the homepage suggests pets that fit your home and your routine.