LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Animal Foundation has overhauled its adoption system, replacing long lines with a QR code-based virtual queue.
In years past, potential adopters would line up when doors opened on a first-come, first-serve basis. People would camp out at the doors for hours before the shelter opened to be first in line.
The CEO of the public shelter showed FOX5 how the new system works.
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“So with our new adoption process, like let’s say you were getting here before we opened, you can walk right up to the door and you can scan that QR code and add yourself to the queue,” CEO Hilarie Grey explained.
The QR code on the front door allows visitors to sign in to a queue to browse or meet and greet with an animal. A team at the adoption lobby reception desk can also help visitors sign in.
“One of the things that you’ll notice right away when you come into our adoptions lobby is that there are no physical lines,” Grey said.
The change addresses past issues with highly desirable animals.
“When we did have very desirable animals, Frenchie hoarding case a couple of years ago… when people would see that those animals are going to become available for adoption, people would line up outside our building three, four in the morning and wait hours and kind of not know what their odds are of getting that animal,” Grey recounted.
The QR code system provides wait times and shows if someone else is looking at an animal before another potential adopter. There are also status monitors are located throughout the facility.
“So if you are in line for a meet and greet, you’ll be able to see where you are on the list,” Grey shared.
Visitors can scan QR codes on kennels to learn more about individual animals, including age and history.
Malaya Houghton visited the shelter looking for a cat.
“I told my boyfriend, like, our cat’s getting a brother or a sister, so I want to go down to the Animal Foundation. And when I came in, we were looking for a specific cat,” Houghton said.
Houghton checked out a cat she saw online but then noticed Charcoal.
“So I went ahead and I scanned the QR code, learned a little bit more about the cat. And then from there I decided, you know what? I want to adopt you and take you home,” Houghton shared with FOX5 saying the adoption process was easy.
The shelter serves Clark County, the city of Las Vegas and the city of North Las Vegas. It normally sees about 29,000 animals a year and can process up to 50 or 60 adoptions per day with the new system.
New pet owners receive 30 days of free live support to answer questions. The Animal Foundation said the customer service approach is being shared as a model with other shelters across the country.
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