Pet Adoption is the process of taking responsibility for a pet that has been abandoned or released to a shelter or rescue organization. The main goal is to find a “forever home” for a pet in need and for owners to be adequately responsible for their wellbeing. Unfortunately, homes cannot always be found, and euthanasia is often used for the excess animals on shelters to make room for newer pets.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the US because of a lack of homes. Pet adoption is important because it helps to reduce the number of animals who have to be euthanized. When buying a dog from a pet store, online seller or flea market, people are almost certainly getting a dog from a puppy mill.

Puppy mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs. Animals from puppy mills are housed in poor conditions with improper medical care, and are often sick and behaviorally troubled. On the other hand, a lot of adoptable animals are already house-trained and used to living with families.

The Pet Match Project is an initiative to help inform individuals about pet responsibilities prior to adoption to help reduce relinquishment rates in Central Indiana by using User Experience Design, Transmedia Storytelling, and Design Thinking methodologies. Additionally, the project aims to deter individuals from purchasing pets from puppy mills or pet stores.