PetMatch: Pet Adoption Agent – Design Summary and Purpose

PetMatch is a full-featured pet adoption assistant built with Streamlit, leveraging the Petfinder API to help users search, browse, and favorite adoptable pets. The app is thoughtfully designed for usability, customization, and user engagement, connecting animal lovers with shelters across the country.

Development Summary

  • Framework: Built using Streamlit, with custom CSS for enhanced UX and multi-tab navigation (Search, Favorites, About).

  • API Integration:

    • Authenticates securely with the Petfinder OAuth2 API.

    • Fetches adoptable animals, organizations, breeds, and pet details on demand.

  • Search System:

    • Rich filters: animal type, location, distance, age, size, gender, and compatibility (kids, cats, dogs, special needs).

    • Dynamic pagination and live results display.

  • Pet Profiles:

    • Clean, mobile-responsive “pet cards” showing image, traits, and description.

    • Detail pages with compatibility summaries and adoption contact info.

  • Favorites & Session Management:

    • Add/remove pets from favorites with persistent session state.

    • Separate favorites tab for revisiting selected animals.

  • Visual & UX Highlights:

    • Custom visual tags for attributes (e.g., “Adoptable”, “Good with dogs”).

    • Embedded images, styled text blocks, and a responsive layout for both desktop and mobile.

  • Context-Aware Logic:

    • Unique keys for UI elements ensure seamless interaction across tabs.

    • Handles token expiration gracefully and reruns logic as needed.

Purpose

PetMatch is designed to:

  • Help users find the ideal adoptable pet through intelligent search tools.

  • Simplify pet discovery with a rich, engaging interface.

  • Serve adoption agencies, shelters, and the public by making pet profiles more accessible.

  • Promote humane pet adoption by connecting users directly with shelters via verified contact info.

The app bridges functionality and compassion—making the pet adoption journey easy, informative, and personalized.