Petfinder
Commercial enterprise
title: "Petfinder" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["american-websites", "pet-websites", "animal-welfare", "organizations-established-in-1996"] description: "Commercial enterprise" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petfinder" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Commercial enterprise ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox organization"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Petfinder |
| logo_size | 250px |
| formation | (as Petfinder.org) |
| extinction | |
| tax_id | |
| registration_id | |
| location | North America |
| coords | |
| owner | |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Petfinder | native_name = | native_name_lang = | named_after = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | logo = Petfinder logo.png | logo_size = 250px | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | motto = | predecessor = | merged = | successor = | formation = (as Petfinder.org) | founder = | founding_location = | extinction = | merger = | type = | tax_id = | registration_id = | status = | purpose = | headquarters = | location = North America | coords = | region = | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | membership = | membership_year = | language = | owner = | sec_gen = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | staff = | staff_year = | volunteers = | volunteers_year = | slogan = | mission = | website = | remarks = | formerly = | footnotes =
Petfinder operates the largest online pet adoption website serving all of North America. A commercial enterprise founded in 1996, it is now owned by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company and reports that it has facilitated more than 22 million pet adoptions as of 2013.
History
Betsy Banks Saul and Jared Saul came up with the idea of Petfinder.org in early 1996, when Betsy was working for New Jersey's urban forestry program while completing her Master's thesis at Clemson University.
In 2005, Petfinder launched a large database of pets rescued from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Major animal welfare agencies cooperated to assist in reuniting pets with their owners through the Animal Emergency Response Network (AERN). The database eventually had nearly 23,000 pets listed, 3,200 pets of which were eventually returned to their owners. The database also included nearly 26,000 requests for rescue from people who left animals behind and another 8,000 lost-animal notices.
In 2006, Discovery Communications bought Petfinder for $35 million. Once acquired, Petfinder was part of Animal Planet Media Enterprises, but was later moved out of Animal Planet and into Discovery Communications' digital media group. Betsy Banks Saul was still involved with Petfinder as were many of Petfinder's original employees. Betsy Banks Saul and Jared Saul are also founding board members of the Petfinder Foundation.
In 2013, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company announced the acquisition of Petfinder from Discovery Communications, noting it was Nestle's first major acquisition of a digital property.
In December of 2025, Petfinder encountered many technical problems which caused widespread problems for shelters utilizing the service. These have not been fixed as of late December, 2025. https://www.fox26houston.com/news/technical-problems-petfinder-spark-widespread-concern-among-animal-shelters-rescues
Awards and accolades
In 2008, Time magazine named it as one of the 50 Best Websites. Because of her impact on animal welfare, Betsy Banks Saul, Petfinder's co-founder, was named by Woman's Day magazine as one of 50 influential women who are changing the world. Its mobile site was launched in 2008 and received a People's Voice Webby award in 2014. Petfinder was featured in an iPhone commercial. In 2010, Time magazine named it one of the top 10 iPhone apps.
Petfinder Foundation
In 2003, Petfinder started the Petfinder Foundation, a nonprofit that provides grants to other charities or organizations that help prevent the euthanasia of pets. The program is supported by private donors and corporate partners like Orvis and Volvo, among others.
References
References
- "PetFinder.org WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". [[WHOIS]].
- (15 July 2013). "Nestle Purina completes acquisition of Petfinder". [[Wall Street Journal]].
- "16 years, 20 million pet adoptions and 1 Clemson degree « University Feature Stories : Clemson University".
- "The Bark".
- "Humane Society Academy : The Humane Society of the United States".
- "Petfinder.com Founder Betsy Saul". The Bark.
- Babej, Marc E.. (10 May 2011). "Petfinder.com arranges 17 million adoptions by open branding, technology". Forbes.
- Wallace, Randy. (2025-12-12). "Technical problems on Petfinder spark widespread concern among animal shelters, rescues".
- "HOBBIES & INTERESTS : Petfinder".
- (17 November 2011). "Women Who Are Changing the World".
- "Utilities & Services (Handheld Devices)". Webby Awards.
- "Petfinder iPhone App Commercial". A.G. Out Loud! Anne Good's Daily Dog Blog.
- Rooney, Katie. (9 December 2010). "The Top 10 Everything Of 2010". [[Time (magazine).
- (18 October 2017). "Panhandle Animal Shelter receives grant". Bonner County Daily Bee.
- (7 February 2018). "Volvo now offers official accessories to keep your dog safe in the car". Roadshow.
- (21 October 2018). "Orvis Adopt-A-Rover Road Trip". Forbes.
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