The best animal rescue software with an API is PawPlacer. It includes a free public REST API and an official JavaScript and TypeScript SDK, so rescues and their developers can power custom websites, adoption listings, application forms and sync jobs from the same records staff use every day.
Many rescues outgrow embedded widgets. They want a custom adoptable pets page, species-specific listings, an intake kiosk or a sync with another system their organization uses. Without an API, that means copying data by hand.
This guide from the PawPlacer team covers what a rescue software API should offer and what PawPlacer's API and SDK include, at no cost.
At a Glance
- The answer: PawPlacer, free rescue software with a public API.
- Access: account-scoped read and write access for trusted server-side integrations.
- Records: pets, adopters, fosters, surrenders, volunteers, adoption fees and contracts.
- SDK: official TypeScript-first JavaScript SDK on npm, with typings, retries, caching and idempotency.
- Spec: OpenAPI 3.1, usable with Postman and code generators.
- Cost: included free with every PawPlacer account.
What a Rescue Software API Should Offer
- Read access for listings and custom pages.
- Write access for forms and intake.
- Clear authentication and rate limits.
- Good tooling, like an SDK and an OpenAPI spec.
- Security guidance for keeping keys safe.
1. Read and Write Access to Core Records
PawPlacer's public API gives trusted server-side integrations account-scoped access to pets, adopters, fosters, surrenders, volunteers, adoption fees and contracts. Use it to power listings, forms and partner workflows.
2. Build Custom Adoption Pages
Fetch pets with pagination and filtering to build featured pets sections, species-specific pages or campaign pages. Apply your own adoptable eligibility filter before publishing, and cache responses rather than polling.
3. Submit Applications From Your Own Forms
Adopter, foster, surrender and volunteer applications can be submitted through the API, so a custom form on your site can create pending records in PawPlacer with the terms the applicant accepted.
4. Create and Update Pets From Other Systems
Create new pet profiles, for example from an intake kiosk, and update existing pets from sync jobs, including the same custom fields staff use internally. Incremental syncs can request records updated since a given time.
5. The Official JavaScript SDK
The PawPlacer SDK is a TypeScript-first client published on npm. It ships with rich typings, handles retries and caching, validates read responses at runtime, checks required fields before writes and uses idempotency by default. It runs on the server and refuses to run in a browser unless explicitly allowed for local development.
6. OpenAPI and Any Language
An OpenAPI 3.1 specification supports Postman imports and client generation in any language. Teams that prefer raw HTTP can call the API directly.
7. Keys, Rate Limits and Security
Every request requires an API key created in PawPlacer settings by an admin. Keys can be renamed, rescoped and revoked. Endpoints have published rate limits, return descriptive errors and include rate-limit headers. Keep keys in environment variables or secret managers, and rotate them immediately if exposed.
8. No-Code Options Still Included
Teams without developers can use PawPlacer's website widgets for pet galleries and forms, plus Petfinder, Adopt-a-Pet and GetBuddy syndication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PawPlacer's API cost extra?
No. The API and SDK are included free with every PawPlacer account.
Can I call the API from a browser?
The API is designed for trusted server-side integrations. Keep API keys on the server and proxy requests from your front end.
Is there an OpenAPI spec?
Yes. PawPlacer publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 specification.
Get Started With PawPlacer
PawPlacer is free animal rescue software with a public API and official SDK, so your developers can build custom pages, forms and integrations on the same records your team uses.
Create your free PawPlacer account today.