An FCUP student created an online platform that brings together dogs and cats from associations and kennels across the country.
Described as a kind of “animal idealist,” the Pawseum aims to facilitate the adoption process.
“The interest in digital technology began quite early, always with curiosity about technology. It was only after entering FCUP that I truly understood the power I held in my hands by combining a computer with the ability to turn ideas into reality through code,” explains Guilherme Pinto, a student in the Master’s in Computer Science, on FCUP’s website.
“That is when my love for programming grew,” he recalls, which later joined with the desire to help the animals and also their future owners.
“We want the adopter–animal relationship to be as humane and close as possible. We rely on cheerful communication, a colorful website, and a positive presentation of the animals,” he adds.
Pawseum was born after the difficulties that co-founder and designer Jéssica Padrão faced when adopting a dog: it took almost a month to find the right dog.
“Among Facebook groups, Instagram pages, websites, and even sales apps, the information was confusing. Either there were not enough details about the animals, or there was no response, and often, when it finally arrived, the animal had already been adopted,” say the founders.
That was the motivation that led them to create an organized platform where anyone can find their four-legged companion based on the characteristics they are looking for and the area where they live.
“We put the animals at the center of everything”
Alongside the site’s work, the creators of this project visit the associations, speak with those who work there, and create content on social networks to help give visibility to the many dogs and cats up for adoption. “We are not just an adoption catalog – we put the animals at the center of everything,” says Guilherme Pinto.
In addition, with artificial intelligence, personalized descriptions are created for each animal based solely on their data: name, age, characteristics, and a few adjectives.
“This allows presenting each dog in a more humane, cheerful, and approachable way, without resorting to negative narratives,” the duo emphasizes.
Any animal association can join the platform and automatically publish listings on the site. The platform, active since November, counts on the participation of four partner shelters and, since then, has already helped four animals find a new home.
Soon, Guilherme Pinto and Jéssica Padrão want to create Pawmatch, a feature inspired by Tinder’s model, where adopters can find the most compatible animals based on the characteristics of both, being able to “match” with the ideal dog. The goal is to bring people and animals closer together in an intuitive and modern way, they say.
