Wednesday, July 16th
2025 Pet Adoption Site Reviews
ASPCA
- Established in 1866, the ASPCA is the first animal welfare organization in North America
- Collaborates with and trains local rescues, shelters, and clinics instead of operating their own shelters
- Lists dogs, cats, and horses for adoption in select cities and states
- Offers basic filtering functions for pets, including by sex, age, and size
- Has an adoption center in NYC, along with mobile events and fostering opportunities
Everyone has heard of the ASPCA - if you've ever gotten out your wallet while tearing up to Sarah McLachlan singing "Angel” in the ASPCA's famous commercial, you won't forget them in a hurry. But did you know that they've been around since 1866? The ASPCA was the first animal welfare organization on the North American continent. They don't operate their own shelters, instead collaborating with and training local rescues, shelters, and clinics around the USA.
Dogs, cats, and horses in a few cities
The ASPCA lists dogs, cats, and horses for adoption. Unlike the others in our review, this site will not take you to a directory of pets in need of homes all around the country. Instead, their animals are organized by a short list of cities and states. So, if you don't live in or don't want to adopt from NYC, Los Angeles, North Carolina, or Ohio, the ASPCA's "Adopt” page won't get you very far. Their "Find Local Shelter Resources” page may have a few links that can help you figure out what your local shelters are, but you can do that with a quick Google search, too.
Basic filtering functions
If you are in one of those cities, and you would like to adopt through the shelters listed with the ASPCA, here's what you can expect. For cats and dogs, you can filter by sex, age, and size. When you click on a pet's profile, you'll be redirected to a partner site, where you'll see the pet's bio, adoption fee, and any other relevant info. You'll need to create an account on the partner site to reach out to the shelter.
Visit the adoption center in NYC
If you happen to live in New York City, you may be interested in visiting the ASPCA adoption center, catching one of their mobile events, or getting involved with fostering opportunities. You can read about all of these on the "NYC” page, found at the top menu bar.
Other ways to support the ASPCA
If you're not in any of the cities where adoption is available, you can still support the ASPCA's mission. You can make an impact by giving monthly donations, honoring someone special by making a gift in their name, or becoming an ASPCA Founder with a gift of $500 or more. They also accept donations of pet care products from their Wishlist.
Limitation to select cities lowers rating
Because the pet adoption services of the ASPCA are limited to a handful of cities, we can't rank them very highly in this review. If you're interested in adopting a pet and you live in one of these places, though, there's no reason not to go through the ASPCA.
More Pet Adoption Site Reviews
The 10 Best Pet Adoption Sites
What Are the Best Pet Adoption Sites?
Whether you're a parent looking for a gentle family dog who's good with kids, a single college grad looking for a cat to cozy up to while working remote, or a rare reptile enthusiast, online pet adoption sites can help you find the perfect pet for you without having to leave your home.
These sites provide a vast selection of animals from various shelters, rescues, and private owners, all in one place. That means you won't have to visit multiple shelters, which can be time-consuming and emotionally taxing. Also, these sites typically provide detailed information about each animal's background, health, and behavior, which is important for making an informed adoption decision.
Pet Adoption Site FAQ
Continued from above...
However, not all pet adoption sites are the same. Some specialize in specific types of animals, often dogs and cats, while others might focus on rescues or purebreds. Some of them include birds, rodents, amphibians, reptiles, and even farm animals.
There are also differences in the services they offer. For instance, a couple of sites offer support throughout the adoption process, including tips for first-time owners and post-adoption care, while others simply act as a listing service. Pet adoption websites typically can't be held responsible if you have a negative interaction with someone using their platform to list a pet, so be sure to do your own research on who you're adopting from.
When looking for the right pet adoption site, consider the following:
- Type of pets available. Are you looking for a dog, cat, bird, or maybe a more exotic pet? Most sites focus on cats and dogs, and the ones that offer atypical pets may not have many listed at all times. Find out if you can sign up for notifications when pets meeting your criteria are listed.
- Adoption support and resources. Does the site walk you through the adoption process? Some websites offer articles and resources to help you before, during, and after adoption.
- User interface and search functionality. Is the site easy to navigate? Can you easily expand the area of your search and filter pets according to your criteria?
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best Pet Adoption Sites available. We hope this review helps you find the best service for you, ensuring that you and your new pet start off on the right paw!
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