Best Pet Adoption Websites: Safe Pet Adoption Online

If you've ever heard the term "adopt, don't shop" in the context of getting a pet, there's a reason for it. Each year, an astounding 6.5 million dogs, cats, and other pets wind up in shelters, according to the World Animal Foundation.

Adopting a pet is a great way to provide a loving home for an animal in need. And while you could visit a local shelter, there are also plenty of options if you’re looking to adopt a pet online. Here, we’ll review some of the best pet adoption websites and walk you through the process of how to adopt a dog or cat online.

Why Online Pet Adoption Is on the Rise

People these days tend to shop online and date online, so it only makes sense that they'd also look to adopt a pet online. Online pet adoption platforms make it easy to find the type of pet you're looking for.

At your local shelter, you're limited to the animals who have been surrendered in your area and are in need of a home. If you use a pet adoption website, you can browse through a wider selection of pets. It's convenient and easy. And if you're willing to travel to adopt a pet, you may find that you have a lot more options.

How to Spot a Legitimate Adoption Website

If you're going to look for your next pet online, it's important to make sure you're sticking to legitimate pet adoption sites. Pet adoption scams are, unfortunately, all too common these days, so it's important to know what to look for.

When seeking out pet adoption websites, be on the lookout for:

• Detailed contact information (ideally, with a physical address you can verify)
• Testimonials and reviews from pet parents who have used the site
• A clear yet thorough adoption process
• A 501(c)(3) registration, which tells you that you're dealing with a registered charity (you'll commonly find this on pet rescue sites)

You may want to steer clear of a pet adoption website if:

• There's no contact information listed
• There are no photos of the actual pets that are up for adoption
• There's no formal adoption process or application
• You're asked to send money before speaking to someone or getting matched with a pet
• You're told you can adopt a pet without first doing a meet and greet or being vetted yourself

Do keep in mind that a classified pet adoption ad is not the same thing as a pet adoption website. It's common for people to use social media and sites like Craigslist to list a pet they need to rehome. You're generally better off going through a legitimate pet adoption site instead of dealing directly with a random individual.

Best Pet Adoption Platforms to Explore

If you’re looking to adopt a dog or cat online, here are some websites you may want to check out.

PetPlace

PetPlace lets you search for adoptable pets based on your location and other criteria such as breed, age, and size. Once you find a pet you're interested in, you complete a pet matching survey and schedule a time to meet them. PetPlace does a great job of spelling out the adoption process. However, you won’t really know if a pet is a good match for your household until you meet them yourself.

Petfinder

Petfinder lets you search by location to find pets based on different criteria, including age, size, breed, gender, and temperament. You can also set your search parameters based on how far you're willing to travel. Petfinder’s extensive database makes it easy to use, but remember, it’s not a rescue. You’ll still have to apply with a rescue directly – or multiple rescues – to actually move forward with an adoption.

Adopt-a-Pet

Adopt-a-Pet lets you search for pets based on your location and other criteria, such as size, age, gender, and breed. It also tells you who's caring for the pet -- shelter, rescue, or private owner. Like Petfinder, Adopt-a-Pet has a nice, centralized pet adoption database you can explore. But you may be looking at multiple applications once you identify pets you’re interested in.

Local rescue sites

In addition to these sites, many local rescues and shelters have their own pet adoption websites. The benefit of using a local site is that you're apt to find a pet that's located close by. However, you may not have the same wide selection as with the platforms above.

Remember, though, that any time you apply to adopt a pet online, there’s the potential to get scammed. Never send money in the absence of an adoption agreement and other research.

What Questions to Ask Before Committing

Adopting a pet is a huge undertaking. Before you agree to adopt a pet, it's important to not only do a meet and greet but ask questions to understand what you're signing up for. Specifically, you may want to ask:

• Does this pet have any special health or dietary needs?
• Does this pet have behavioral issues I should know about?
• What does this pet's energy level entail?
• What does this pet's history entail? (In some cases, a rescue or shelter may not even know a pet's age.)
• How does the adoption process work?
• What fees will I need to pay?
• What happens if the adoption doesn't work out?

Make sure you’ve gotten a thorough response to each question you have before moving forward.

What to Expect from the Online Adoption Process

When you adopt a pet online, you should generally expect to go through a pretty rigorous application process. You may be asked to answer a host of questions about your experience with pets and provide references. If you have a pet already, you'll typically be asked to provide your vet's contact info.

Once your application has been reviewed, it's common to have a home visit and interview -- either in person or virtually. Be prepared to discuss who the members of your household are, their ages, and their schedules (such as whether there's someone home frequently during the day or not).

If you're approved, you'll typically schedule a meet and greet. It's important to bring all members of your household to that meeting, pets included, to make sure there are no obvious red flags.

From there, you'll typically have to sign an adoption agreement, pay an adoption fee, and arrange a pickup time. You'll also need to prepare for your pet's arrival by:

• Buying food and supplies, like bowls, leashes, a pet bed, and carrier or car harness
• Making an appointment with a local vet to get your newly adopted pet checked out
• Making sure your home is safe for your new pet, which may involve putting up gates to close off certain areas.

Cost Breakdown of Adopting a Pet

The cost of adopting a pet will depend heavily on where you get your pet from and the type of pet you get. Your cost will also depend on whether it's your first pet and whether you already have supplies or not.

Here are some of the initial up-front costs you might incur:

• Adoption fees
• Initial vet exam
• Food and supplies
• Preventive medications
• Trainer fees
• Pet insurance

Each one of these costs is variable. Adopt-a-Pet, for example, puts the average cost of adopting an adult dog at $50 to $500, while the average cost to adopt a puppy is $150 to $600. It’s a good idea to research the cost of adoption based on the type of pet you’re getting, their age, and their breed.

Your costs might also be notably different if you choose to purchase a pet from a breeder or store versus adopting one from a shelter or rescue. You'll also need to factor in the cost of spaying or neutering if the rescue, shelter, store, or breeder you're adopting from has not taken care of that already. The American Kennel Club puts the average cost there at $160.

Avoiding Scams and Adopting Responsibly

Adopting a pet online can be a rewarding experience, but it's important to avoid pet adoption scams. To this end:

• Do your research to make sure you're using a reputable pet adoption website
• Make sure there's an opportunity to meet your pet in person before handing over money
• Ask for documentation on your pet, as well as an official adoption agreement
• Always aim to pay an adoption fee using a secure method like a credit card or bank account
• Avoid payment methods like gift cards or crypto, which are red flags due to being untraceable

With a little vigilance, you can avoid being taken advantage of.

Remember, adopting a pet versus buying one gives you an opportunity to rescue an animal in need. It discourages puppy mills and unethical breeding practices, and it can be more cost-effective. Just make sure to choose the right pet adoption website for a smooth experience from start to finish.

Looking for "Animal shelters near me"? Browse our vast network of shelters and pet rescue organizations to find the perfect pet in your area.