Public Applications
Visitors can submit adoption, foster, and volunteer applications directly from public application links; no account required. Surrender request forms are available as website embeds for collecting owner surrender requests.
How It Works
Each application type has its own public URL:
| Application | URL |
|---|---|
| Adoption | https://pawplacer.com/adopter/[your-organization-id] |
| Foster | https://pawplacer.com/foster/[your-organization-id] |
| Volunteer | https://pawplacer.com/volunteer/[your-organization-id] |
Adoption, foster, and volunteer links can also appear as action buttons on your public profile page or individual pet profiles when the corresponding profile visibility settings are enabled. Use the surrender embed when you want to publish an owner surrender form.
Pet-Specific Applications
When a visitor clicks "Adopt" or "Foster" from a specific pet's profile, the application form opens with that pet pre-selected:
https://pawplacer.com/adopter/[your-organization-id]?petId=[pet-id]
This saves the applicant time and makes it clear which animal they're interested in.
The Application Forms
Public applications use the same form templates you've configured in Settings > Forms. Any custom fields, sections, or questions you've added to your adoption, foster, volunteer, or surrender forms will appear in the public version.
What Happens After Submission
- The application is created with a Pending status
- Your team receives a notification (if email notifications are configured)
- The applicant sees a confirmation message
- The application or request appears in the matching PawPlacer list with a Pending badge
From there, your team can review the application or surrender request, contact the submitter, and update status, priority, notes, or pet links as needed.
Enabling and Disabling Applications
Toggle each application type independently in Settings > Profile Visibility:
- Enable Adoption Applications: shows the "Adopt" button and form
- Enable Foster Applications: shows the "Foster" button and form
- Enable Volunteer Applications: shows the "Volunteer" button and form
You can accept applications for some types while keeping others closed. For example, you might accept volunteer applications year-round but only open foster applications during kitten season.
Surrender request forms are shared through embed code rather than the public profile action button controls.