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 you make in Shelterluv will show up on Adopt a Pet within 1 to 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; they are just for your reference.)
Set up importing
1. Verify Status settings in your Shelterluv
In your Shelterluv, go to Configuration > Statuses
Slide "Display Online" to green for statuses you want showing on Adopt a Pet.
Tip: See more details in Shelterluv's Status how-to article and video
For example, in this screenshot, pets with the first two statuses (green arrows) 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. See below for multiple location API key use.
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.
To split your pets by campus location, so certain pets will import to specific Adopt a Pet location accounts, like if you have multiple facilities, please email Adopt a Pet to see if that's possible. Please note: Split requests may take up to 30 days to be completed.
What's imported
* is a required field
Animal Information fields
- photos -- see note #1 below
- video -- YouTube Link only
- animal ID*
- animal name*
- species*
- primary breed* -- see note #2 below
- secondary breed -- see note #2 below
- sex*
- if altered -- displayed as "Spayed / Neutered"
- primary color -- secondary color is not imported
- size group ---displays as "Size (when grown)"
- weight current -- whole numbers only
- age group* -- see note #3 below
- estimated birthdate -- displays as years, months old
- Website/Kennel Card Memo -- displays as pet's My story
-
adoption fee group -- whole number only
Attributes
In your Shelterluv, slide Web attributes "Publish" to green/on for them to be imported. See Shelterluv's article Information That Is Sent to Your Aggregators for more information on how these fixed attributes are sent and translated.
Your Attribute case & spelling in your Shelterluv must exactly match the Shelterluv Attribute Name table in their article. Some attributes only display on one species as indicated in parentheses:
- Special Needs
- Housetrained
- Crate Trained (dogs)
- Declawed (cats)
- Good with Kids
- Good with Dogs
- Good with Cats
- Special Dietary Needs -- will also display "Has special needs" which is searchable
- NO LONGER IMPORTS: Bonded
- DOES NOT IMPORT: Any custom attribute you create in Shelterluv. If there is custom 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.
Coming soon: - Heartworm Negative (dogs)
- Heartworm Positive (dogs)
- Leash Trained (dogs)
- Indoor Only (cats)
- Litter Box Trained (cats)
- FIV+ (cats)
Note #1: Photos
One to four pet photos can be displayed on Adopt a Pet.
In the upgraded 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.
Note #2 Breed
- For dogs, if a likely breed is unknown or if your organization does not use breeds, please read our recommendations in selecting a mixed breed value for dogs.
- For dogs, if Primary Breed is left blank in Shelterluv, "Mutt" will display on Adopt a Pet.
- For dogs, if "Mix" is selected as a breed, "Mixed Breed (Medium)" will display as a breed which is not affected by any Size Group or Weight selections.
- Some breeds may be translated/mapped in order to be displayed. For example "Terrier, Pit Bull" will display as "American Pit Bull Terrier."
- For cats if a likely breed is unknown, we recommend selecting Domestic Shorthair or similar.
- For cats, if Primary Breed is left blank or unknown, "Domestic Shorthair" will display.
Note #3 Age Group
If you select "age group" for a pet in Shelterluv without entering a birthdate or years/months, that exact age group label will display on AdoptaPet.com. For example "Puppy" will display as "Puppy".
However, if you enter a birthdate or years/months, because Shelterluv allows each shelter to customize their Age Group parameters, AdoptaPet.com will display that pet's age group as listed below which may be different than what you've selected in Shelterluv. For example if you select 8 months old and Age Group puppy, that pet will display as 8 months old and age group Young.
- Less than 7 months = Puppy
- Greater than 7, Less than 13 months = Young
- Greater than 13 months, less than 97 months = Adult
- Greater than 97 months = Senior
Cat Age Groups:
- Less than 7 months = Kitten
- Greater than 7, Less than 13 months = Young
- Greater than 13 months, less than 121 months = Adult
- Greater than 121 months = Senior
Rabbit Age Groups:
- Less than 4 months = Baby
- Greater than 4, Less than 7 months = Young
- Greater than 7 months, less than 61 months = Adult
- Greater than 61 months = Senior