The problem our project aims to address is the high number of animals in shelters in our area who struggle to find permanent homes, often due to a lack of efficient, personalized matching between pets and potential homes. Many prospective pet owners feel overwhelmed when visiting shelters or browsing listings online, leading to missed connections and longer shelter stays for animals. At the Pine Bluff Animal Shelter, this challenge is especially evident, as staff work hard to connect animals with families but are limited by time, resources, and technology.
To solve this problem, project members Sheezal Ali, Addison McCorvy, and Toleen Kharraz developed “Pawfect Match,” a mobile app created using the development platform Adalo. This app is designed to match potential pet owners with animals from the shelter based on individualized preferences such as lifestyle, home environment, activity level, and desired pet traits. By offering a user-friendly platform, Pawfect Match simplifies the adoption process and increases the likelihood of successful, long-term placements for animals at PBAS.
This project fills CART by:
Critical Thinking: The team identified a real-world issue within the White Hall/Pine Bluff area and analyzed the barriers preventing successful pet adoptions. They designed a solution that directly addresses these challenges through technology and user-centered design.
Advance: By utilizing Adalo, a modern no-code development platform, the team advanced their technical skills and created an innovative digital solution that goes beyond traditional adoption methods.
Real: This project addresses a genuine need in the community. Animal overpopulation and low adoption rates are ongoing concerns, and this app provides a tangible solution.
Teamwork: The project required strong collaboration, with each team member contributing to design, development, research, and communication with the PBAS.
What makes this project unique is its personalized matching system, which prioritizes compatibility between pets and adopters rather than relying solely on basic listings. Unlike traditional shelter websites, Pawfect Match focuses on creating meaningful, data-driven connections that improve both adoption rates and long-term pet-owner satisfaction. Additionally, the use of accessible app-building technology allows the solution to be easily replicated or expanded to other shelters in the future.
Our community partner, the Pine Bluff Animal Shelter, played a vital role in this project. They provided insight into the challenges they face, shared information about the animals, and offered feedback throughout the development process. The service provided to them includes a customized digital tool that enhances their adoption outreach and efficiency. Our primary point of contact, Mrs. Deborah Moon has guided us in ensuring the app meets their needs.
This project has been in process since September 2025, and was completed in March 2026. Throughout this time, the team has progressed from initial research and planning to app design, development, and testing. Pawfect Match is more than just an app, it is a solution designed to strengthen connections between people and animals, reduce shelter populations, and create happier outcomes for pets and their future homes.