Shelter Resources & Guides
Practical advice for running a better shelter or rescue
Animal Control Software: A Guided Tour
A screenshot-by-screenshot tour of the animal control module — the ordinance library, citations carrying several ordinances at once, calls that escalate into cases, bite reports, remote signatures, and receipts.
Animal Control Citations: Ordinances, Fines & Field Signatures
How officers can write citations that hold up — building an ordinance library, setting consistent fines, getting a signature at the scene, and keeping bite and quarantine records clean.
Custom Fields: Shelter Software That Tracks What You Track
Add your own fields to intake, adoption, foster, and return-to-owner forms — placed right inside the form, printed on the cage card, and available in reports and exports.
PetPoint Alternatives in 2026
What 24Pet's 24PetShelter launch means for PetPoint and Chameleon users, and how to evaluate your options — with an honest side-by-side comparison.
How to Choose Animal Shelter Software in 2026
A step-by-step checklist for evaluating shelter management software. What features matter most, questions to ask vendors, and red flags to watch for.
Switching from Paper Records to Digital Shelter Management
How to transition your shelter from paper records or spreadsheets to a cloud-based management system — without disrupting daily operations.
5 Ways to Increase Adoption Rates at Your Shelter
Practical strategies that shelters are using to get more animals adopted, from better online listings to streamlined adoption applications.
Animal Shelter Glossary
Key terms every shelter and rescue professional should know — from intake and TNR to live release rate and stray holds.
Live Release Rate Calculator
A free calculator for your shelter's live release (save) rate, with the formula, the 90% no-kill benchmark, and ways to improve it.
The Animal Shelter Intake Process
A step-by-step guide to intake — stray vs surrender, exams, vaccinations, stray holds, kennel assignment, and clean records.
How to Start an Animal Rescue (501c3)
From mission and incorporation to 501(c)(3) status, fosters, fundraising, and the systems you need to launch a rescue that lasts.
Grants for Animal Shelters & Rescues
Major national funders, what grantmakers look for, and how clean shelter data helps you win more grants.
Free Animal Shelter Software: Options & Trade-offs
An honest look at free and open-source options, their hidden costs, and when a low-cost paid tool pays for itself.
How Much Does Animal Shelter Software Cost?
What drives pricing, typical models, hidden fees to watch for, and how to budget without overpaying.
Best Animal Shelter Software for Rescues
The criteria that matter most for small, foster-based rescues — and the features worth paying for.