You can use Shelterluv's API and Adopt a Pet's AutoUpload/import tool to automatically import (add, update, and delete) your adoptable pets to your Adopt a Pet account.
Note: It may take up to 24 hours for pets to appear on Adopt a Pet after initial setup. After that, updates are visible on Adopt a Pet within 8 hours.
Get ready:
- You need an approved Adopt a Pet shelter/rescue account. Sign up here.
Save data
- The first import may permanently erase all of your available pets, adopted pets, adopters, and microchip info from Adopt a Pet. Only available pets are re-added by your software.
- Optional: Before you setup, use Pet Export and Adopter Export to save your data on your computer. (Your listings can not be restored from these files; just for your reference.)
Set up importing
1. Verify Status settings in your Shelterluv
If your Shelterluv has been upgraded, go to Configuration > Statuses
Slide "Display Online" to green for statuses you want showing on Adopt a Pet.
Tip: More details in Shelterluv's Status how-to article and video
In legacy Shelterluv, go to Configuration > Processing > Status Manager
Publish = Yes will show on Adopt a Pet.
2. Generate your Shelterluv API key
Complete this API Key request on this form. After the form is submitted, Shelterluv's support team will email you when the key is generated.
The key is a long string of numbers, letters, and/or dashes.
3. Add your API key to Adopt a Pet
- Go to your Adopt a Pet AutoUpload/Import Pets setup page
- If your Adopt a Pet account is already setup for another software, de-activate it first:
Change Enabled or Activate to "No" and click update. - Select "ShelterLuv API" and click continue.
- Click "yes" to the WARNING popup if you already saved your pet data, or see "Save data" above.
- Paste in your API key and click "Save Import Settings" button.
If you only have one location/account, that's it! Your pets will start importing within 24 hours.
Multiple sites (locations)
To import all the same pets to multiple transport location accounts in Adopt a Pet, you can use the same API Key and repeat the steps above for each location account. If you want to split your pets by location so certain pets will import to only one location account, please contact Adopt a Pet to see if that's possible for your accounts.
What's imported
* required fields
- up to 4 pet photos -- see note #3 below
- pet ID*
- pet name*
- species*
- sex*
- primary breed*
- age group* (like “puppy” or "adult") -- see note #2 below
- size when grown (like "Large") -- see note #1 below
- weight current (whole numbers only)
- weight unit (kg or lbs)
- spayed or neutered
- second breed
- purebred
- Website/Kennel Card Memo = Story / Description
- date of birth -- displays as years, months old
- primary color (just 1st color -- 2nd color is not imported)
- special needs
- shots current
- housetrained
- hair length
- declawed
- good with kids
- good with dogs
- good with cats
- experienced adopter needed
- YouTube video link
- bonded to (another adoptable pet ID#)
- rideable (for horses only)
- good with birds (for birds only)
- good with small animals (for small animals only)
- adoption cost (whole number only)
If there is other customized pet information you want imported to Adopt a Pet, for now you can type that as text in the animal's Kennel Card/Website Memo, and it will be visible in the pet's Story field on Adopt a Pet.
Note #1: Size
Adopt a Pet displays a small, medium, large "Size" for some species. Dogs have a size, cats do not. It uses the Size Group on the animal's record in Shelterluv. If you do not select a Size Group in Shelterluv, species with Size required will display "Small" on AdoptaPet.
Note #2: Age Group
The pet's birthdate in Shelterluv is translated to display as our required "Age" group on Adopt a Pet, such as Young, Adult, or Senior. Age group is rounded to the closest month and varies by species. For example:
Dogs
age 6 months or younger = puppy
age 7 months to 1 year = young
age 1 year to 8 years = adult
age over 8 years = senior
Cats
age 6 months or younger = kitten
age 7 months to 1 year = young
age 1 year to 10 years = adult
age over 10 years = senior
Rabbit
age 4 months or less = baby
age 6 months or less = young
age 7 months to 5 years = adult
age 5 years or older = senior
Note #3 Photos
One to four pet photos can be displayed on Adopt a Pet.
In the updgraded Shelterluv, slide Publish to green to have that photo show on Adopt a Pet. The first photo uploaded is marked the primary (former cover) and can be updated if additional photos are uploaded.
In Shelterluv NON-UPGRADED, check "Publish" on each photo you want displayed on Adopt a Pet. Select "Cover Photo" on the photo you want displayed first on Adopt a Pet.
Need more help? Contact Adopt a Pet here.