[ overview ]

As part of my Masters studies in UX and service design, I explored the process of senior pet adoption and creating adoption opportunities for an age demographic that often gets forgotten by adopters. Spanning eight months of production, this project introduces PAWZENS — a senior pet adoption service with a mission to treat every aging pet as equal and break down the digital barriers that prevent these four-legged friends from finding their forever homes.

[ the challenge ]

How can we use design to create adoption opportunities for senior animals and support pet owners by providing better access to caretaking resources?

[ + ]

Roles: Visual designer, UX/UI architect
Year: 2024 — 2025

[ ↓ ]

[ R&D: ADOPTION SITES ]

Senior pets (age 8+) tend to be the least adopted, resulting in high euthanasia rates as shelters and rescues struggle to find people willing to adopt and take on their needs. As of 2021, Humane Canada estimates a total of over 81,000 cats and dogs entering shelters regularly across the country, with increased intake numbers and kennel competition impacting their visibility.

To better understand the issues that impact senior pet adoption, I analyzed popular North American adoption platforms and their structures (Petfinder, Adopt a Pet, PetPlace, Rehome), highlighting gaps in their user experiences and avenues for improvement. Based on this analysis, I identified four key issues:

No senior pet adoption platforms

There is no adoption platform solely designed for senior pets, which means they must rely on general adoption platforms for exposure.

Lack of focus on senior pets

Most adoption platforms will only mention senior pets in pet care guides/resources or if the platform runs an adoption campaign for senior pet awareness.

Limited information for adopters

Most platforms relied on shelters to provide key information that adopters need to know, rather than having it be integrated (ex. special needs, compatibility, etc).

Too many age groups

Popular adoption platforms display too large of a variety of age groups, causing senior pets to get lost in the mix of kittens, puppies and middle-aged pets that tend to dominate adoption sites.

A visual comparison of age group distributions across Petfinder, Adopt a Pet and PetPlace.

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[ USER SURVEYS ]

In addition to adoption platform analysis, I connected with senior pet owners and local animal shelters to identify user needs and pain points with the current process of senior pet adoption and senior pet care. The goal was to gather both the perspective of the shelters/rescues who care for senior pets and the perspective of the people who would be adopting/caring for senior pets.

When asked whether they would consider adopting a senior pet, the responses from research study participants were varied. Only 33% of pet owners stated they would adopt a senior pet; 52% stated they would adopt if they had the resources or their lifestyle allowed them to; and 15% stated a senior pet was not an option, citing difficulties parting with an aging pet and cost/financial priorities as deterring factors.

1-3

The number of applications per month that an animal shelter will receive for a senior pet.

33% vs. 15%

The percentage of participants who stated they would adopt a senior pet, versus those who said they wouldn't.

Age & money

The two main factors that deter most adopters from choosing an senior pet over a younger one.

40%

The percentage of participants who have used have used an online website or adoption platform to find a pet.

"What is it about adopting senior pets that worries people?"

"Many adopters hesitate because they think they’ll only have a senior pet for a short time. While that may sometimes be true, those months mean everything to the pet, providing comfort, love, and a safe place in their final years."

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[ WELCOME TO PAWZENS ]

Staying true to the goal of treating senior pets equally and fairly as citizens of our world, PAWZENS is a conceptual senior pet adoption service that brings attention to aging dogs and cats, increasing their chances at finding a warm home and a peaceful chance at life. Designed similarly to other adoption sites, PAWZENS allows adopters to search for their next furry friends while simultaneously educating themselves on how to take care of a senior pet. From care guides on aging behaviours, medical support and adoption how-to's, PAWZENS aims to form a supportive community that rallies behind an age demographic traditionally forgotten and left behind.

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[ VISUAL INTERFACE ]

The interface of PAWZENS combines layouts from existing adoption platforms like Petfinder and Adopt a Pet, drawing on user familiarity to make the website easier to visually interpret; imagery and icons used were also sourced to match existing platforms. Rounded forms and shapes were included to match with the PAWZENS logo; component elements (buttons, cards, dropdowns) also used curved edges. It was important to emphasize playfulness with modernity, revitalizing adoption platform interfaces while keeping the content at the forefront.