Petfinder

The Petfinder Settings page is where you configure and manage your Petfinder.com integration, which syncs your adoptable pets over automatically so more people see them.

Accessing Petfinder

1. Open Settings
2. Make sure the settings sidebar is showing Organization Settings
3. Click Petfinder

Overview

With the Petfinder integration you can:

• Upload pet data to Petfinder automatically
• Keep information consistent across platforms
• Reach millions of potential adopters
• Skip the duplicate data entry

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before configuring the integration, you need:

1. An active Petfinder account for your organization
2. FTP credentials specifically for PawPlacer (different from your login credentials)
3. Your Petfinder shelter ID

Requesting FTP Access

If you don't have FTP credentials yet:

1. Go to Settings > Petfinder
2. In the "Get Started" section, click Request Petfinder Access
3. Enter your Petfinder ID when prompted
4. Choose whether to preserve existing listings:
   • Yes: Keep your current Petfinder listings when first syncing
   • No: Replace all listings with PawPlacer data
5. Click Open Email Draft
6. Send the generated email to Petfinder

The email template includes all required information for Petfinder to process your request. Expect credentials within 1-3 business days.

Configuring Your Integration

Once you receive FTP credentials from Petfinder:

1. Return to Settings > Petfinder
2. If shown the welcome screen, click I already have credentials
3. Enter your FTP credentials:
   • Username: The FTP username from Petfinder
   • Password: The FTP password from Petfinder
4. Toggle Enable Integration to ON
5. Click Save Settings

Integration Settings

Enable/Disable Toggle

The integration toggle allows you to:

• ON: Actively sync data to Petfinder
• OFF: Temporarily pause synchronization

Use this to pause syncing during:

• Major data updates
• System maintenance
• Seasonal closures

Preserve Existing Listings

This option (available during initial setup) determines whether:

• Enabled: Your current Petfinder listings remain untouched during first sync
• Disabled: All Petfinder listings are replaced with PawPlacer data

This setting only affects your first synchronization.

Using the Sync Tab

After configuration, access the Sync tab to:

1. Preview pets that will be synced
2. Validate data against Petfinder requirements
3. Fix any validation issues
4. Perform manual synchronizations

For detailed sync instructions, see the comprehensive Petfinder Integration Guide.

Security Considerations

FTP Credentials

• Store credentials securely
• Never share FTP credentials with others
• These are different from your Petfinder login
• Only administrators should have access

Data Protection

• All transfers use secure FTP protocols
• Credentials are encrypted in our database
• Only public pet information is synchronized

Troubleshooting

Cannot Save Settings

Ensure you have:

• Valid FTP credentials (not your Petfinder login)
• Administrator permissions in PawPlacer
• Completed both username and password fields

Connection Failed

If you see connection errors:

1. Verify credentials are exactly as provided by Petfinder
2. Check for extra spaces before/after credentials
3. Ensure your shelter's Petfinder account is active
4. Contact Petfinder support if credentials were recently changed

Missing Get Started Screen

If you don't see the initial setup screen:

• You may have already configured the integration
• Check if credentials are already saved
• Try disabling and re-enabling the integration

Best Practices

1. Test First - Sync a few pets initially to verify setup
2. Regular Syncs - Establish a routine synchronization schedule
3. Monitor Results - Check Petfinder after syncing to confirm updates
4. Keep Credentials Updated - Update immediately if Petfinder changes your credentials
5. Document Process - Note your sync schedule for team awareness

Support

For integration issues:

1. Verify your Petfinder account is active
2. Confirm you're using FTP credentials (not login credentials)
3. Check the Sync tab for specific validation errors
4. Contact PawPlacer support with your Organization ID

For Petfinder-specific questions:

• Contact Petfinder support directly
• Reference your shelter ID and FTP access request

Permissions

Only users with administrative privileges can:

• Configure Petfinder settings
• View FTP credentials
• Enable/disable the integration

All team members with appropriate permissions can:

• View sync status
• Access the sync interface
• Fix validation issues