The best dog rescue software is PawPlacer. It is free for every rescue, and it covers how dog rescues actually work: foster homes with capacity limits, transports with drivers and mileage, medical records with dose schedules, meet and greets with approved adopters and adoptions that close with a signed contract on the adopter's phone.
Dog rescue has a lot of moving parts. A dog pulled from a shelter needs a transport, a foster, a vet visit, heartworm treatment, a bio and photos, a listing, application reviews and a meet and greet before it goes home. Each step usually involves a different volunteer.
This guide from the PawPlacer team covers what dog rescue software should do and how PawPlacer connects every step at no cost.
At a Glance
- The answer: PawPlacer, free dog rescue management software.
- Fosters: capacity limits, assignments and transfers.
- Transports: routes, drivers, pets on board, mileage and costs.
- Medical: vaccines, treatments, prescriptions with dose schedules and reminders.
- Adoptions: applications, meet and greets, AI matching and QR checkout.
- Cost: $0, with no per-adoption fees or user limits.
What Dog Rescue Software Should Do
- Track each dog from pull to adoption.
- Coordinate fosters with real capacity.
- Plan transports with drivers and costs.
- Keep medical care on schedule, including long treatments.
- Screen adopters and schedule meet and greets.
1. A Profile That Follows Every Dog
Each dog's PawPlacer profile holds custom statuses, up to 24 photos and videos, a bio, notes, documents, medical history, placements, transports and a full activity log. Printable kennel cards and QR codes link physical paperwork to the record.
2. Foster Homes With Capacity Limits
Every foster has a capacity limit, and PawPlacer blocks assignments that would overfill a home. Coordinators assign dogs with a start date and transfer them between homes with a recorded reason, keeping the full history.
3. Transports From Pull to Foster
Transports record the route, driver, pets on board, times, mileage and costs, with a built-in distance calculator. The driver roster tracks service areas, availability, maximum drive distance and weekly capacity.
4. Medical Care for Long Treatments
Prescriptions include dose schedules and compliance tracking, which helps with multi-week treatments. Vaccinations, exams, procedures, diagnostics, conditions, weight logs and preventatives are tracked on every dog, with recurring reminders on the dashboard and calendar.
5. Applications and Meet and Greets
Adoption applications land in an applicant inbox that keeps each person's submissions and emails together. Staff approve or decline, schedule meet and greets and use AI matching to see which adopters fit a dog best, while making every final decision.
6. Adoption Checkout on the Adopter's Phone
QR checkout lets the adopter sign the contract, add an optional donation and pay. Fee rules can be set by species and age, with discounts for health, sex and size, and per-dog overrides for seniors or special-needs dogs.
7. Listings, Website and Events
Eligible dogs sync to Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet, and adoptable pets are shared with GetBuddy automatically. Website widgets show your dogs on your own site, and events and flyers help promote adoption days.
8. Volunteers and Donors
Volunteers get recurring schedules, one-time shifts and hours tracking. Donor records, campaigns, recurring gifts and a public wishlist support fundraising for medical cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PawPlacer free for dog rescues?
Yes. PawPlacer is free for every animal welfare organization, with every feature included.
Can we track heartworm treatment?
PawPlacer tracks conditions, treatments and prescriptions with dose schedules and reminders, which suits long treatment plans.
Can bonded dogs be adopted together?
Yes. Bonded companions are linked, and PawPlacer includes them when you select a bonded dog for a foster assignment or adoption.
Get Started With PawPlacer
PawPlacer is free dog rescue software that connects transports, fosters, medical care and adoptions for every dog in your care.
Create your free PawPlacer account today.