For Shelters & Rescues
Ethical Dog Rehoming Support for Shelters
Built for shelters. Powered by purpose.
HomeWagger is the UK’s first rehoming app designed to improve matches — not just list dogs. It supports ethical dog rehoming in the UK by helping you see suitability earlier, so your team can spend time on the right cases.
You get tools to vet, manage, and rehome with confidence — all in one place. Our EOI-first approach means you can review suitability before your team invests time in full applications or long conversations.
Want to see the safeguarding behind the design? How HomeWagger Protects Dogs.
- ✅See adopter profiles early — before your team engages.
- ✅Reach beyond your channels without losing control of decisions.
- ✅Reduce admin — without reducing welfare standards.
Curious about our values? Visit Rehome With Reason.
Traditional tools
- ❌ Manual vetting from long forms
- ❌ No searchable adopter gallery
- ❌ Limited reach beyond your channels
- ❌ High admin + late-stage mismatches
With HomeWagger
- ✅ View adopter profiles before contact
- ✅ EOI-first screening before full applications
- ✅ Messaging only opens after you accept an EOI
- ✅ Tools + insights to reduce rework
Why shelters choose HomeWagger
Less pressure. Better matches. Fewer dogs falling through the cracks.
Shelters are being asked to do more — with less. HomeWagger exists to reduce pressure and prevent avoidable crises by improving alignment early, while keeping welfare decisions firmly with you.
Because pressure is real
- • Intake demand exceeds kennel capacity
- • Staff and volunteers are stretched thin
- • Behavioural and medical cases are rising
- • Public expectations continue to grow
HomeWagger exists to reduce that pressure — not add to it.
Because prevention is welfare
Many dogs would otherwise sit on waiting lists, be passed around informally, or end up surrendered in emergencies. By supporting early, ethical, home-to-home rehoming, HomeWagger helps you:
- • Reduce last-minute surrenders
- • Keep dogs out of kennels where possible
- • Preserve capacity for urgent and complex cases
Because you stay in control
When you list on HomeWagger, you retain full oversight. Welfare standards are not reduced, and final decisions always remain with the shelter.
Our Rehome With Reason approach supports case-by-case assessment so fewer good adopters are lost to blanket assumptions — resulting in better matching and a lower risk of failed placements.
EOI first — calmer, earlier screening
HomeWagger uses structured Expressions of Interest (EOIs) as the first step — not full applications. This lets you review suitability early and decide whether to progress, redirect, or decline before your team invests time.
- • Adopter profile & household snapshot
- • Lifestyle + preference alignment for that dog
- • Vetting status + verification checks (where applicable)
- • Optional walkthrough video (context, not inspection)
- • Relevant uploads (e.g. landlord permission) where needed
Gated messaging — by design
To protect capacity and prevent inbox overload, messaging only opens once you accept an EOI. No unsolicited messages. No speculative conversations. No pressure to engage prematurely.
You decide who, when, and whether conversations begin — messaging is a continuation of interest, not the starting point.
Tools that support decisions
Optional tools that support your workflow (without replacing human judgement):
- • EOI status tracking (new / reviewed / accepted / declined)
- • Listing insights (views, favourites, interest trends)
- • Visibility of overlooked dogs (so you can adjust and boost)
- • Clear communication trail for each match
Want the Pro features for shelters? See HomeWagger Pro.
Common shelter headaches we help prevent
HomeWagger is designed to remove problems before they become time-consuming, emotionally draining, or welfare-critical:
- • Time spent progressing unsuitable adopters
- • Emotionally difficult late-stage declines
- • Inbox overload and speculative enquiries
- • Emergency rehoming fallout
- • Failed or short-lived placements
- • Repeating the same explanations again and again
Before HomeWagger
- ❌ High volume of speculative enquiries
- ❌ Applications started too early
- ❌ Time invested before suitability is clear
- ❌ Messaging before boundaries are set
- ❌ Late-stage declines and emotional fallout
- ❌ Crisis cases arriving with little warning
With HomeWagger
- ✅ Fewer, higher-quality EOIs
- ✅ Early visibility of suitability
- ✅ Messaging only once you approve
- ✅ Time spent on realistic matches
- ✅ Calmer, more successful placements
- ✅ Fewer emergencies and rework
Result: Less firefighting. More predictable workflows. Better outcomes for dogs.
A safer alternative when people can’t wait for kennel space
When shelters can’t take a dog immediately, people often turn to Facebook groups, classifieds, or word-of-mouth transfers. HomeWagger offers a more regulated alternative with clearer information, safer boundaries, and welfare-first design.
HomeWagger complements shelter work — it doesn’t compete with it. We signpost to shelters when appropriate, encourage shelter adoption where capacity allows, and support shelter-listed dogs alongside individuals.
How HomeWagger fits into shelter workflows
Use HomeWagger alongside your website and social channels — or as your main rehoming hub. Either way, it’s designed to support how rescues already work.
1) Share your dogs
List your dogs once, then share links anywhere you already reach adopters.
2) Screen earlier
Review profiles and EOIs before you move to full applications or viewings.
3) Place with confidence
Keep your checks and criteria — with clearer information from day one.
HomeWagger Pro for Shelters
Optional tools you can unlock with HomeWagger Pro
Features designed for busy rescues who need smarter support, not more admin. Read more: HomeWagger Pro.
🐶 Bulk dog uploads
Save time by adding and managing multiple dogs in one go — no more copying listings between platforms.
📋 Custom application forms
Tailor adoption questions to your criteria so every enquiry lands ready to review.
🏠 Public shelter page
Showcase your rescue’s story, values, and available dogs on a single, shareable HomeWagger profile.
✅ Verified adopter filtering
Prioritise adopters who’ve completed profiles, preferences, and key checks that meet your minimum standards.
📊 Analytics & interest tracking
See views, favourites, and interest trends so you can spot who needs an extra boost.
📨 Direct outreach
Browse adopter profiles and reach out directly when you spot a strong match for a harder-to-place dog.
You’re not alone — we support you
Whether you’re a small volunteer-run rescue or a larger shelter team, we’ll support you step-by-step.
Onboarding isn’t just a demo. It’s a chance to understand how you already work — and set HomeWagger up so it slots in without adding to your workload.
Book an onboarding call📞 Personal onboarding
One-to-one call, email guide, or tailored support for your team.
🎨 Profile setup help
We help you set up a branded, trustworthy public shelter page.
🐾 Tools that save time
Manage dogs, EOIs, updates, and outreach in one place.
🚀 Early feature access
Be the first to try new tools designed for rescues.
Shelter FAQs
Answers to the most common questions we hear from rescues and shelters.
Looking for general answers? Visit our FAQs.
Can I list multiple dogs?
Yes. With HomeWagger Pro, you can list unlimited dogs, including via bulk upload.
Is HomeWagger free for rescues?
Yes, core access is free. Pro unlocks optional tools like analytics, filtering, and bulk uploads.
Do we still control who adopts?
Yes. You approve every adoption. Messaging only opens when you accept an EOI.
What if we already use another platform?
HomeWagger can complement your current setup or become your all-in-one rehoming hub.
Do you support small or volunteer-run rescues?
Yes. We’re designed with grassroots rescues in mind and offer onboarding support.
Shelter adoption FAQs
HomeWagger supports shelters by making listings clearer, reducing rushed enquiries, and enabling a welfare-first process focused on suitability and long-term outcomes.
HomeWagger supports ethical dog adoption by encouraging transparency, suitable matching, and a calmer decision-making process. It’s designed to reduce rushed placements and improve long-term outcomes.
No. HomeWagger is not a marketplace and is not first-come, first-served. It’s built to support welfare-first processes and appropriate safeguards for dogs and people.
HomeWagger is designed to reduce admin, not increase it. Clear listing structures, guided disclosures, and appropriately gated communication help minimise back-and-forth and improve the quality of enquiries.
Yes. Shelters can use safeguards and structured steps so communication stays respectful and manageable. The aim is to support suitability checks and protect staff time and wellbeing.
Repeat rehoming is often caused by rushed decisions or missing information. HomeWagger promotes clearer disclosures, better matching, and a calmer process that puts long-term stability first.