The short answer is YES!
After listening to feedback and conducting extensive user testing in 2023, pet listings started to display posted and updated timestamps and stickers. We continue to monitor user feedback and make adjustments to what and how is displayed.
Posted and updated timestamp show:
- When the pet listing was initially posted (added) to Adopt a Pet
- If/when the pet's listing was updated (edited) after the initial post date.
"Long Timer" stickers will show on the following:
- Pets listed on Adopt a Pet for more than 6 months, and
- Pets with listings updated (edited) within the last two months.
Timestamps first rolled out in 2023 on private owner pets listed through Rehome by Adopt a Pet. Before we expanded the timestamps to shelter and rescue pet listings, we conducted additional user testing. Adopter feedback was so positive, we expanded this feature to enhance shelter and rescue pet listings too!
Fun Fact: In our ongoing analysis, pets with "Long Timer" stickers (without behavior or medical "special needs") get MORE inquires and application clicks than similar pets without the sticker! We encourage you to make a small update to your long-stay pets at least every two months, so they can benefit from the sticker boost.
User Testing
We asked adopters how useful it was for them to see when a pet was posted or updated in their adoption journey, and their responses were clear:
- Out of eight potential features we tested, the inclusion of timestamps emerged as one of the highest-rated features in terms of perceived user value, boasting an impressive rating of 4.2 out of 5.
Here's what some adopters had to say:
- "Oh, very useful – I want to know if the pet has just been posted, if it's a new pet, or if the pet has been sitting there a while." - (Rating: 5)
- "I do think that is very useful – that the dog is being updated on. There is another website that I've been watching, and a few of the dogs, they didn't update a whole lot." - (Rating: 5)
- "Very useful – it helps you know how long the [pet] has been available for adoption or at the facility." - (Rating: 5)
- One adopter highlighted the significance of the timestamp in understanding the pet's journey, stating, "I think it'd be really useful to know when the pet came in, how long it's been there, if it's had the chance to be looked at or medical issues taken care of." (Rating: 4).
At Adopt a Pet we're committed to continuously improving the adoption experience for both adopters and shelters/rescues. If you have any feedback about this or anything else, please let us know here.