Recruit and interview
I recruited 11 pet owners through social networks for 60-minute phone interviews.
Screening criteria
Successfully adopted a rescue pet (still with the adopter) within the past year.
Adopted either a cat or dog.
Either first-time or repeat adopters.
Went through shelter or rescue channels for adoption.
Scope of interviews
Interviews centered around the adoption process, excluding direct references to Petfinder. Key topics included:
Factors influencing pet selection.
Resources for finding adoptable pets.
Detailed steps of the adoption process.
Transitioning a new pet into the home.
After each interview, I followed up and asked permission to use a pet photo in the team presentation.

“It wasn't about the breed although we wanted more of a calm dog like a Lab so something from the Lab family. We had Labs in our past but we were open-minded.”
— Baxter, California

"I felt we were doing something really important and special here. We knew this dog wouldn't be destroyed or left to starve at a racetrack.”
— Abbey, Ohio