ShelterBuddy
ShelterBuddy, operated by Pet Loyalty Inc, provides cloud-based animal shelter management software to animal shelters, rescues, municipalities, and enterprise shelters via tiered Express, Pro, and Gold subscriptions, with mobile apps, API access, and integrations to Petfinder and Adoptapet.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ShelterBuddy does
ShelterBuddy, operated by Pet Loyalty Inc (Delaware C-corp), is a cloud- and mobile-based animal shelter management software platform serving animal shelters, rescues, municipalities, and regional animal control organizations. The platform centralizes the full animal lifecycle record — intake, medical and behavioral treatment, licensing, boarding, training, outcomes, adoption matching, and lost & found — and extends to volunteer, staff, donor, and fundraising management. Core technology is a hosted SaaS product with a downloadable mobile application for field and on-floor use, a REST-style API (available in Pro and Gold tiers, with enhanced capabilities and kennel/shelter mapping in Gold), and pre-built integrations to major adoption marketplaces (Petfinder, Adoptapet, Pet Rescue) and welfare data networks (Shelter Animals Count).
The business is a tiered subscription SaaS, sold on 12-month auto-renewing terms (Express for small shelters/rescues at reduced cost, Pro for municipalities and large shelters, Gold for enterprise with multi-location support, advanced reporting, and concierge service). A 5% transaction processing fee (with a $5 minimum) on credit card adoptions and donations processed through Mobile Checkout creates a secondary, usage-based revenue stream. Go-to-market combines an enterprise field-sales motion — evidenced by prominent 'Get a Demo' CTAs — for Pro and Gold with self-service accessibility for the Express tier. Distribution is augmented by integration partnerships with adoption and rescue logistics platforms.
ShelterBuddy was originally developed by RSPCA Queensland and currently reports 200+ shelter customers, 1,415+ staff users, 5,000+ volunteers managed, and over 1 million animals processed annually. In 2024 the company disclosed a $100 million raise from Venture Capital Hub, materially outsized relative to its 51–100 employee base and signaling a planned scale-up. Leadership comprises CEO Harry Schechter and General Manager Sheila Collecott, with headquarters listed in Boston (1 Washington Mall).
ShelterBuddy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ShelterBuddy
- Legal name
- Pet Loyalty Inc
- Website
- https://shelterbuddy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- ShelterBuddy, operated by Pet Loyalty Inc, provides cloud-based animal shelter management software to animal shelters, rescues, municipalities, and enterprise shelters via tiered Express, Pro, and Gold subscriptions, with mobile apps, API access, and integrations to Petfinder and Adoptapet.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ShelterBuddy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animal Shelter Management Software
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)
Keywords
Where ShelterBuddy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ShelterBuddy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Services: Subscription-based revenue model with 12-month subscription terms that automatically renew for successive 1-year periods unless 90-day notice of non-renewal is provided. Three tiered plans: Express (basic), Pro (municipalities/large shelters), and Gold (advanced reporting/technical access).
- Transaction Processing Fees: 5% processing fee with a minimum of $5 for credit card payments processed through Mobile Checkout. Fee is added as separate line item at checkout paid by adopter by default. For donations, processing fee is deducted from the donation amount.
- Optional Services: Additional optional services at extra charge including program management, analytics, custom reporting, and enhanced support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Express is a cut-down version for small shelters and rescue groups with core features at reduced cost. |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro is designed for municipalities, large shelters, and advanced situations with comprehensive features. |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold is the most advanced tier with enhanced reporting, API access, multi-location support, and concierge support. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
ShelterBuddy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ShelterBuddy provides a cloud and app-based animal shelter management software platform that enables animal welfare organizations to centralize animal records, track intakes and outcomes, manage medical treatments, licensing, donations, adoptions, volunteers, and staff. The platform is sold via three subscription tiers — Express (for small shelters and rescues), Pro (for municipalities and large shelters), and Gold (advanced reporting, API access, and multi-location support) — with annual subscriptions and optional transaction processing fees on credit card payments.
Product overview
ShelterBuddy offers a cloud and app-based animal shelter management software platform with three tiered product levels: Express (entry-level for small shelters), Pro (full-featured for municipalities and large shelters), and Gold (premium for enterprise with advanced reporting and API access). The platform also includes a mobile application for field access. The system provides comprehensive animal management capabilities including intake tracking, outcomes, licensing, donations, medical records, behavioral assessments, volunteer management, and third-party adoption site uploads.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ShelterBuddy Express: Entry-level shelter management software for small shelters and rescue groups at reduced cost
- ShelterBuddy Pro
- ShelterBuddy Gold
Companies that use ShelterBuddy
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ShelterBuddy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ShelterBuddy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Shelter Animals CountcoreIntegration partner for animal shelter data and statistics. Part of ShelterBuddy's ecosystem of adoption and shelter management integrations.
- Pet RescuecorePet adoption platform integration allowing seamless data sharing and animal listing synchronization with ShelterBuddy's shelter management system.
- PetfindercoreMajor pet adoption platform with API integration allowing automatic uploading of animal listings from ShelterBuddy to Petfinder's adoption marketplace.
- AdopapetcoreAdoption platform integration enabling shelters to list animals and connect with potential adopters through the Adopapet network.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ShelterBuddy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PetPoint: PetPoint, by Pethealth Software Inc., is a widely adopted animal shelter management SaaS used across North America to manage animal records, adoptions, and outcomes. It is ShelterBuddy's most direct head-to-head competitor in the shelter management category.
- RescueGroups: RescueGroups.org provides shelter and rescue management software, including animal listings, adoptions, and donor tools. It overlaps directly with ShelterBuddy's Express/Pro tiers and competes for the same small-shelter and rescue segment.
- Chameleon Software: Chameleon is a UK-based shelter and kennels management software used by animal welfare organizations to manage animal records, adoptions, and operations. It is a comparable vertical SaaS product in a closely adjacent geography.
- Adopt-a-Pet: Adopt-a-Pet operates one of the largest pet adoption marketplaces and offers shelter/rescue-facing tools (including Adopets) for listing animals and managing adoptions. ShelterBuddy integrates with Adopt-a-Pet and competes for the same shelter software wallet.
Broad incumbents
- Petfinder: Petfinder is the dominant North American pet adoption marketplace and a core integration partner of ShelterBuddy. While not a direct SaaS competitor at the same depth, its broader scale and data assets make it a strategic incumbent in the animal adoption ecosystem.
- ezyVet: ezyVet is a leading cloud veterinary practice management platform used across general and specialty vet clinics. It is a broader-incumbent comparable because it owns medical record workflows that overlap with ShelterBuddy's vet treatment features and could extend down-market into shelter customers.
- AVImark (IDEXX): AVImark, owned by IDEXX, is one of the most widely deployed veterinary practice management systems in North America. As a broad incumbent with deep penetration in animal health records, it represents an adjacent competitive threat if it expands into shelter management workflows.
Emerging players
- PetDesk: PetDesk provides pet-care-focused client engagement, reminders, and practice communication tools to veterinary clinics and pet businesses. It is comparable as an emerging SaaS player intersecting with ShelterBuddy's broader pet welfare software landscape.
Others
- Vetcove: Vetcove is a B2B procurement platform for veterinary clinics and animal care organizations. It is ecosystem-adjacent to ShelterBuddy because it sits in the same animal welfare purchasing and operations workflow, though it does not directly compete in shelter management software.
- Shelter Animals Count: Shelter Animals Count is the national database of sheltered animal statistics and a strategic integration partner of ShelterBuddy. It is an ecosystem participant — comparable as a data and benchmarking backbone for the animal welfare industry ShelterBuddy serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ShelterBuddy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ShelterBuddy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ShelterBuddy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ShelterBuddy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ShelterBuddy
What does ShelterBuddy do?
ShelterBuddy provides a cloud and app-based animal shelter management software platform that enables animal welfare organizations to centralize animal records, track intakes and outcomes, manage medical treatments, licensing, donations, adoptions, volunteers, and staff. The platform is sold via three subscription tiers — Express (for small shelters and rescues), Pro (for municipalities and large shelters), and Gold (advanced reporting, API access, and multi-location support) — with annual subscriptions and optional transaction processing fees on credit card payments.
Is ShelterBuddy a public or private company?
ShelterBuddy is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ShelterBuddy founded?
ShelterBuddy was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ShelterBuddy based?
ShelterBuddy is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does ShelterBuddy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Services are the primary driver. The others are transaction Processing Fees and optional Services.
Who are ShelterBuddy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PetPoint, RescueGroups, Chameleon Software and Adopt-a-Pet. Broad incumbents are Petfinder, ezyVet and AVImark (IDEXX). PetDesk is listed as an emerging player. Others are Vetcove and Shelter Animals Count.
Does ShelterBuddy have an API?
Yes. ShelterBuddy offers API integration as a feature within the Pro and Gold tiers, allowing customers to connect to the system and do their own programming. Gold tier includes 'Powerful enhanced reporting & API' capabilities. Enterprise Shelters tier also offers 'custom API' access. The API enables programmatic access to shelter management data and functionality.
What industry is ShelterBuddy in?
ShelterBuddy's product category is Animal Shelter Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAF, Foster & Volunteer Network Programs. Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 7372.