Payment and Completion

The payment step is the final screen of the PawPlacer Checkout flow. It shows the adopter every available checkout payment method and a summary of what they owe. This page covers how the payment experience works for public QR-code checkout and same-device checkout, with details on how each payment method behaves.

For the separate Complete In Person path, staff record the adoption date, payment method, adoption fee, and optional donation directly in a completion dialog instead of sending the adopter through the checkout screens.

Payment Summary

The payment screen displays a breakdown of everything involved in the transaction:

• Each pet being adopted, with a thumbnail and individual fee
• The total adoption fee (sum of all pet fees)
• The donation amount, if the adopter chose one in the previous step
• The Stripe processing fee, if Stripe is selected (2.9% + $0.30 on the combined fee + donation)
• The grand total

Payment Methods

Payment methods are organized into collapsible categories: Traditional, Digital Wallets, and Cryptocurrency. Cash is always available. Other configured methods come from Settings > Payment Methods, and Stripe appears when your Stripe Connect account is active for checkout.

Cash

Cash is always available for in-person adoption recording and checkout. In the checkout flow, the user checks a confirmation box and clicks Confirm Payment. No external service is involved, and PawPlacer does not independently verify that cash changed hands.

Stripe (Credit/Debit Card)

Stripe is available during public adoptions (QR code flow) and when an adoption token is present. It requires your shelter to have a connected and active Stripe Connect account (set up in Settings > Payment Methods).

When the adopter selects Stripe:

1. The processing fee (2.9% + $0.30) appears in the payment summary so the adopter knows the exact total before proceeding.
2. They click Pay with Stripe, which opens a secure Stripe Checkout page in a new tab.
3. The Stripe Checkout page shows three line items: the adoption fee, the donation (if any), and the processing fee (each labeled clearly).
4. The adopter enters their card information and completes payment.
5. PawPlacer receives confirmation from Stripe automatically via a webhook. The adoption is marked complete as soon as Stripe confirms the payment succeeded; no manual confirmation is needed.
6. The adopter is redirected to a success page.

If the adopter closes the Stripe Checkout tab without paying, the checkout session will expire. When they return to PawPlacer, they'll see a message that the session expired and can start a new payment attempt by clicking Pay with Stripe again.

If a payment fails (e.g., a declined card), PawPlacer detects this automatically and shows an error toast. The adopter can retry.

PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle

These methods use a reference-assisted external-payment flow. Checkout can display a QR code, a direct Open in PayPal / Open in Venmo style button, or both depending on the device and payment method.

PawPlacer includes the full adoption total and a PawPlacer reference in the payment note where the provider supports it. PayPal and Cash App support amount-based links. Venmo opens the pay flow with recipient, amount, and note. Zelle is best-effort because banks do not provide a single universal payment URL, so the adopter should copy the reference if their banking app does not prefill it.

After the adopter completes the payment externally, they return to PawPlacer and check the "I have completed payment" confirmation box, then click Confirm Payment to finalize the adoption. PawPlacer records the chosen method and reference, but it does not receive automatic confirmation from PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle.

Cryptocurrency

PawPlacer supports Bitcoin and Ethereum wallet addresses. When a crypto method is selected, PawPlacer fetches live exchange rates when available and displays the estimated equivalent amount alongside the USD total. A QR code and the wallet address are shown so the adopter can send funds from their wallet app. After sending, the adopter checks the confirmation box and clicks Confirm Payment. PawPlacer does not automatically verify blockchain transactions.

Completion Method Differences

Complete In Person (staff device): The staff member records the adoption immediately from the adopter profile. They choose the adoption date, payment method, adoption fee, and donation amount, then click Complete Adoption. This path does not show QR codes or require a payment confirmation checkbox.

PawPlacer Checkout (QR code/adopter's device or same device): The adopter or staff member goes through terms, donation, and payment screens. For digital wallets, the checkout can show payment links or QR codes. For Stripe, the adopter clicks Pay with Stripe and is sent to the Stripe Checkout page. For cash, they see a cash instruction and must check the confirmation box before completing.

What Happens After Payment

Once payment is confirmed in checkout, or once staff saves the Complete In Person dialog:

• The pet's status changes to "Adopted."
• The pet moves from the adopter's prospective list to their adopted pets.
• An adoption record is created with all payment details.
• If the pet was in foster care, the foster assignment is completed.
• If the adopter has an email address on file and the relevant email template is enabled, a confirmation email can be sent with adoption details and a payment summary.

The screen redirects to the adoption record page.

Adoption Record

The adoption record includes the adopter's information, linked pets, adoption date, payment summary, payment ledger, follow-up tracking, receipt notes, documents, and team notes. From the record page you can print the receipt, download a text summary, review payment, send enabled adoption emails, or process a return.

Confirmation Email

If the adopter's profile includes an email address and your adoption confirmation template is enabled, PawPlacer can send an email with a thank-you message, adoption details (date, ID, pet names), the payment summary, and your organization's contact information.

Related

• Payment Methods Settings: Configure which payment options are available
• Adoption Fees During Checkout: How fees are calculated
• Processing Donations: The optional donation step
• Managing Adoption Records: Working with completed adoptions