Wouldn’t Tinder be so much better if it involved dogs? Well, now it’s a reality. MyHooman, a world-first animal shelter and adoption platform has just launched in New Zealand, aiming to find rescue pets a forever home.
Designed by Kiwi brand Mars Petcare, the tech startup streamlines the adoption process and reduces paperwork, freeing shelter teams up to focus on their animals. MyHooman also benefits those looking to rescue a furry friend. Alike to a dating app, artificial intelligence and smart matching algorithms accurately match animals with the most suitable adopters.
The platform has been designed alongside shelters and supports everyone involved in the process, from the day an animal arrives at a shelter, right through to joining its new family.
Mars NZ general manager, Pete Simmons, says MyHooman will prevent adoptions from failing as it connects people with the right pet.
“Typically people jump online to search for the pet they want – but that isn’t always the breed or animal that’s right for them. Globally, around a fifth of dogs adopted from a shelter end up back there each year, which is heart-breaking for animals and shelters.
“By using insights from shelters and Mars’ Waltham Petcare Science Institute, MyHooman looks at the needs of every animal, and matches them to owners with the right lifestyle. This means pets are more likely to get a better human-match first time and avoid returning to the shelter system.
Simmons explains that for the past decade, Mars Petcare has encouraged Kiwis to adopt a dog through their pedigree campaigns, but this new platform is a completely unique approach, and the team is confident it will help thousands of dogs in New Zealand shelters each year.
Co-designed with Kiwi shelters, MyHooman follows an 18 month process of intensive work on shelter wellbeing at the Mars Innovation Hub at Colenso BBDO Auckland.
Louise Burgess from Last Lamppost Dog & Animal Rescue says the new platform gives her team more time to focus on animal care.
“MyHooman is a game-changer for shelters that will streamline the adoption process and truly put animals first. Shelters typically have limited resources and the adoption process can be time-consuming so this tool, that has so many amazing features, will make that process much easier and free shelter managers like me up to save more animals.”
Executive director for Mars business and innovation at Colenso BBDO, Ahmad Salim, says the platform has the potential to transform pet adoption.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey, working with New Zealand’s dedicated rescue community to develop a platform that can make a difference for animals around the world.”
MyHooman is available free of charge in New Zealand and will first focus on dog adoptions. Shelters are able to sign up now and those looking to adopt a pet via the platform will be able to do so from December.
Shelters can find out more and sign up for MyHooman here
