# Petfinder - Adopt a Pet — Find Pets to Adopt Near You

> Find adoptable pets from shelters and rescue organizations. (iPhone/iPad app by Nestlé.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petfinder-adopt-a-pet/id557228073 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nestlé](https://appshunter.io/developer/451455699)
- Category: Lifestyle, Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.83/5 from 57,700 App Store ratings · 389 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 13.4 · 42 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2012-11-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petfinder-adopt-a-pet/id557228073/reviews.md

## What is Petfinder?

Ready to find your fur-ever? Petfinder makes it easy to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, or find other furry or scaly friends. Search dogs, cats, puppies and kittens for adoption from thousands of shelters and rescue groups. Filter based on location, breed, age, size and gender. And find the perfect pet for you.  

Petfinder is home to hundreds of thousands of adoption and foster organizations across the country, including cat and dog rescue groups focused on specific breeds like Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, French Bulldogs, and Beagles, just to name a few.  

New! Find a pet from photos. Our new visual search feature allows you to upload a photo of a pet and search for similar-looking dogs or cats across the country.  

Includes resources that no other app has to help find the best pet for you. Learn more about hypoallergenic dogs, small dog breeds, hairless dogs, and the best dogs for kids. View the most common cat breeds and find articles about hairless cats, hypoallergenic cats, cutest cat breeds, and the best cat breeds for families. 

- Browse one of the largest sources for adoptable cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, horses, fish and more 
- Filter based on pet characteristics and lifestyle preferences to find the right pet for you 
- View photos and videos of adoptable dogs and cats 
- Share adoptable pet profiles with friends or poll your family on which pet to adopt 
- See details on how you might match up with a pet  
- Contact shelters quickly and easily to start the adoption process

For feedback, issues, or questions please reach out to lianna.shepard@purina.nestle.com

## Key features

- Search adoptable dogs and cats
- Filter by location, breed, age, size
- Visual pet search by photo
- Browse various animal types
- Contact shelters easily
- Pet care resources

## What do users think of Petfinder?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 💕 Amazing app for finding pets
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🐕 Helps find perfect pets
- 🙌 Great resource for adopting

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔍 Insufficient search filters
- 🔁 Favorites list issues
- 🇨🇦 Limited support for non-US locations

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Deleted pets reappearing in favorites
- Inaccurate breed and size information
- Inconsistent login and sign-in experience

**Most requested features**

- Option to exclude certain breeds
- Ability to search by state or extended distance
- Sync favorites across devices
- Reporting system for non-responsive shelters

## Recent user reviews (10 of 389)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petfinder-adopt-a-pet/id557228073/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Have to agree to let them share/ sell your information

*2026-08-24, version 2.118.5*

Just in order to sign in or sign up or even use the app you have to give up your rights to the information that they will sell. Another way of giving up your rights.

### 5/5 — I love looking at the animals on this app 100% 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*2026-08-22, version 2.118.5*

My fav I probaly Lila

### 1/5 — Worst app ever

*2026-08-15, version 2.118.5*

This is the worst app I have ever used. Maybe decrease the amount of add junk and your app would work like it is supposed to. Sad too because this is a needed resource for animals who need homes. Do better.

### 3/5 — Not User Friendly

*2026-08-13, version 2.118.5*

Always has a problem with my network connection even when my network connection is fine. When I try to filter for house trained dogs, it shows me dog’s that AREN’T house trained alongside those that are. When I send links to other people in my family, the link takes them to the website and the website has MORE information than the app even though we’re looking at the same exact pet profile. If I have to download the app to use PetFinder and have favorites, it should make the search for a pet easier and I should have access to the same information, if not more information, than what’s on the website. Also, even when I modify my search I just keep seeing the same dogs over and over again (some with more than one listing for the same pet). There should be some sort of vetting system from the app itself to make sure that there are no repeat pet profiles because it is really irritating to have X amount of results come up for my search and have like 5 results one after another be the same dog. There’s not really a comparable app to PetFinder so I’m going to keep using it, but it could really use some improvements.

### 5/5 — good

*2026-08-11, version 2.118.5*

very good place to find cute animals

### 1/5 — No safeguard from scammers

*2026-08-09, version 2.118.5*

There are scammers on here with fake pics and require deposits before you even get to see the pet in person. I wonder how much money was scammed from people on here

### 1/5 — DELETING APP

*2026-08-05, version 2.118.5*

Lots of bugs to fix, regularly unable to see available pets. Browser version is still much better. Cannot see favorite pets. Very disappointed. Update: this app has not been fixed. VERY unimpressed. Animals need homes and this app is not able to be used.

### 5/5 — Excellent pet sourcing app

*2026-08-04, version 2.118.5*

Thank you Petfinder for helping us find and adopt our two new cats! What a wonderful resource!

### 1/5 — Great cause, godawful user experience

*2026-08-02, version 2.118.5*

This app is so glitchy, works 50% of the time MAYBE, and made me nearly give up my rescue dog search because it was so bad. Get up and grab your computer if you want to use this service, it’s not worth the frustration to download this app.

### 2/5 — Some pictures are over a year old

*2026-07-31, version 2.118.5*

Will be happy to take this review down when this is rectified. Pet finder should be a great resource but with many pictures three months, four months even over a year old?

## Frequently asked questions about Petfinder

### What kind of pets can I find on Petfinder?

You can find a wide variety of adoptable pets, including dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, rabbits, birds, horses, and fish. The app connects you with thousands of shelters and rescue groups across the country that have these animals available for adoption.

### How can I filter pets to find the right match?

The app allows you to filter pets based on several characteristics, such as location, breed, age, size, and gender. You can also filter based on lifestyle preferences to ensure you find a pet that best suits your home and family.

### Is Petfinder free to use?

Yes, the Petfinder app is free to download and use. While the app itself is free, it does have in-app purchases, which may offer additional features or services.

### What is the visual search feature?

The visual search feature allows you to upload a photo of a pet and search for similar-looking dogs or cats available for adoption across the country. This can be a fun and helpful way to discover potential matches.

### How do I contact a shelter to adopt a pet?

Once you find a pet you're interested in, the app provides details on how you might match up with the animal. You can then contact shelters quickly and easily directly through the app to begin the adoption process.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.118.5 — 2026-06-26

We've updated Petfinder's registration and login experience to make signing up and signing in smoother and more secure.

### 2.118.4 — 2026-06-24

We've updated Petfinder's registration and login experience to make signing up and signing in smoother and more secure.

### 2.118.1 — 2025-12-02

We did some behind the scenes grooming so the app runs smoother and faster. Update now to keep your pet search purring along.

### 2.118.0 — 2024-12-09

Hello PetFinder friends! We’re working hard to improve your pet seeking experience. Leave feedback in the Account section to let us know if you’ve had a meow-velous or not so woof-tastic experience.

### 2.117.0 — 2024-10-31

Hello PetFinder friends! We’re working hard to improve your pet seeking experience. Included in this release:
Updated sign up consent statement
Remember Me sign up and login option to stay logged in for 30 days
myPurina in-app promotion
Removal of search by picture feature

## Apps similar to Petfinder

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [WeRescue: Adopt a Pet Search](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/werescue-adopt-a-pet-search/id918610594) | 4.8 (8,345) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [GoDog: Puppy & Dog Training](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/godog-puppy-and-dog-training/id1462026646) | 4.6 (1,048) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Barkio: Dog Monitor & Pet Cam](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barkio-dog-monitor-and-pet-cam/id1362484782) | 4.7 (1,740) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Dog & Puppy Training App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dog-and-puppy-training-app/id6459968251) | 4.8 (78) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Missing Pets - Find Lost Pet](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/missing-pets-find-lost-pet/id1475782956) | 4.7 (927) | Free | Lifestyle |
| [Dog Assistant - Puppy Training](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dog-assistant-puppy-training/id1479477230) | 4.7 (795) | Free | Lifestyle |

## More apps by Nestlé

- [Nestlé Cocina. Recetas y Menús](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nestle-cocina-recetas-y-menus/id463474064)
- [Nestlé Medical Hub](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nestle-medical-hub/id490482942)
- [Tummyfish](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tummyfish/id1139166275)
- [ネスカフェ アプリ](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1151866127)
- [The Purina Pack](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-purina-pack/id1194765050)

All apps by Nestlé: https://appshunter.io/developer/451455699

## Related topics

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*