Buying guide · Free plan available
How to choose software for your animal protection association
Before comparing brand names, clarify what must live in the tool: animals, foster families, adoptions, registry and documents. Here is an honest decision grid.
What the work actually requires
An animal protection association does more than keep a list of animals. It coordinates foster families, adoption applications, an entry/exit registry, and often documents. A spreadsheet or generic nonprofit tool leaves gaps.
- One animal record from placement to adoption
- Remaining foster spots by species
- Adopter applications without a mandatory account
- Exportable registry without double entry
Selection criteria (in order)
Ask these questions before watching demos.
Visible pricing
Public prices, a clear free plan - no quote required for the first price.
Registry included
Entry/exit tied to the animal record, CSV/Excel/PDF exports from day one.
Foster families
Capacity, applications, foster portal - not just a contact list.
Public catalog
Controlled animal publication and low-friction online applications.
Recoverable data
Export anytime; after a trial, data stays editable (not read-only).
Honest packaging
What is on Free vs paid is stated clearly (agenda, contracts, medical…).
Spreadsheets work… until they do not
A spreadsheet is fine for a few records. Once several volunteers, fosters and applications overlap, versions diverge. The cost is not the licence: it is lost time and forgotten updates.
What Pawer covers on Free
Animal records, foster families and capacity, public catalog, applications, DDPP-style registry and notifications. Agenda from Starter+. Contracts and e-sign from Standard+. Medical tracking on Pro.
Quick Free → Pro grid
Use this grid to compare any vendor, including Pawer.
On Free (Pawer)
- Animals + fosters + capacity
- Public catalog + applications
- Registry + exports
Starter+
- Shared agenda
- Advanced exports
Standard+
- PDF contracts + e-signature
- Donations and CERFA (PDF + sent marking)
Pro
- Medical tracking
- Social visuals
Not legal advice
This page helps you choose an operational tool. Regulatory duties depend on your situation: check with the competent authorities. Pawer is not a substitute for legal advice.
Judge on your own cases
Create an association for free, no credit card. Import a few records and see if the tool holds day-to-day work. The 30-day Pro trial is optional, from the app.
FAQ
Where should we start?
List critical flows (fosters, adoptions, registry, documents). Require public prices and a real free plan or trial. Avoid tools that lock your data after the trial.
Should the registry live in the software?
Ideally yes: double entry between a spreadsheet and software creates gaps. On Pawer the registry is included on Free, tied to the animal record.
How long does migration from Excel take?
Creating the account is fast. Preparing and importing a real caseload depends on your files. We will not promise a magical go-live in thirty minutes.
Is Pawer free?
Yes: a permanent Free plan, no card. Paid plans unlock agenda, contracts/CERFA and medical tracking as needed.
Choose by trying
Create your association for free and judge Pawer on your own records, not a staged demo.
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