Digital strategies in dog adoption: A systematic review on the impact of mobile applications (#1144)

Authors

Cuya Camara, Jose Luis

Abstract

The systematic review examined barriers and strategies to improve dog adoption in shelters through the use of digital technologies. Through the PICO model, obstacles such as stress in dogs, low effectiveness of adoption advertisements, and unrealistic expectations of adopters were identified. The analysis included 15 articles selected from the Scopus information repository, following inclusion and acceptance criteria designed to respond to the stated objectives. The effectiveness of strategies such as human interaction, training programs, and advertisement optimization was evaluated, showing that these can increase adoption rates. Likewise, traditional adoption methods were compared with a mobile application, highlighting that a centralized digital platform could improve the management of adoptions, donations, and volunteering, in addition to reducing stress in dogs and optimizing both the adoption rate and the post-adoption experience. In conclusion, a well-designed mobile application has the potential to transform adoption processes in shelters, strengthening the connection between adopters and shelters. It is recommended that future research focus on evaluating its implementation in different contexts and analyzing its impact on the sustainability of responsible adoption.