Petszel

"Fospice Fosters" Late one evening last week, the Petszel team received a touching message from a shelter partner, Dallas Pets Alive! (DPA). A foster parent with a terminally ill dog, Izzy, wanted one final wish for her: to officially be adopted, so she would be remembered as a cherished family member. DPA requested a special adjustment to Izzy’s settings in Petszel to ensure this wish was honored, which our team was able to do immediately. This led us to a meaningful discussion about the compassionate world of “Fospice” care, where fosters dedicate themselves to providing terminally ill pets with love, comfort, and a family in their final days. Izzy’s story is just one example of the incredible dedication shown by fospice fosters. These caregivers go above and beyond, giving their animals the experiences they deserve—even if for a short time. Izzy was lovingly cared for by her foster, who kept her comfortable and happy, taking her on walks, visiting with neighbors, and providing her favorite treats. As Sarah McGoldrick from DPA shared, fosters like Izzy's create final chapters filled with love, joy, and dignity. Each story is a powerful reminder of the compassion and community that surrounds these pets. The first two photos below feature Izzy, followed by photos of Annie, Indigo, and Stevie Nicks—other beloved "fospice" pets that DPA and their incredible fosters have cared for.

Petszel’s CPO, Sara Swenson, loves delivering great product experiences for animal welfare orgs and the pet parents they serve. She was supposed to take a few days off for a family event in New Mexico last week but couldn’t resist stopping by Santa Fe Animal Shelter to learn more about their work and chat about Petszel. To her surprise, they were fully embracing the spirit of Dia de los Muertos—and truly having fun with it! They are actually hosting Dia de los Muertos activities through November 2, honoring the lives of beloved pets who have passed away. The family-friendly events include festive decorations, music, food, and activities for all ages, providing a warm space for the community to remember and celebrate their pets. Merchandise is available for purchase, and they’re even hosting a blood drive for those interested in donating. The creativity and passion of these organizations never ceases to amaze me. It’s such a privilege to work with shelters and rescues alongside Petszel’s talented team!

Reflecting on my first veterinary job as a kennel assistant at 14, I remember a time when in-home euthanasia was almost unheard of—perhaps a rare service for special clients but not widely accessible. The human-animal bond may not have been deep enough yet to support such a practice. Fast forward, and I am continually inspired by the work of Dr. Sy Woon, who provides this compassionate service to her LA clients in some of their hardest moments. Whether it’s for a celebrity or someone who’s pooled funds to give their pet a gentle farewell, Sy brings the same care and respect to each family. She creates a peaceful, familiar setting in the home, administers sedatives to alleviate pain and anxiety, and even includes a “last meal”—often Oreo cookies, which are frequently welcomed by dogs who haven’t eaten for days. At first, I cringed—dogs and chocolate! But at this special moment, it’s all about giving the pet their final wish. There’s so much more she does: jars of hair, paw prints, and other keepsakes, all provided at no additional cost…just because. And when the time comes, there’s careful coordination with the crematory to ensure a seamless transition once the pet passes. While her work may be distant from Petszel’s adopter focus, it’s incredibly moving to see this level of care for pet families. Sy and many other veterinarians providing end-of-life care are truly helping people honor the powerful bond with pets in their final moments.

Our Head of Shelter Partnerships, Renee Wolfgramm, had a great time attending the Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies (WFHS) annual seminar this week! She reconnected with friends and colleagues and made a special visit to Oshkosh Area Humane Society to explore how Petszel can enhance their post-adoption process. Renee’s experience is invaluable—she was a leader at two Midwestern shelter organizations for nearly a decade and then contributed to the shelter software team at 24Pet (PetPoint, Chameleon) for another ten years. She brings deep expertise and relationships that will help advance Petszel's mission of improving post-adoption care. Thank you, WFHS, for hosting such a fantastic event focused on professional networking, educational presentations, and sharing best practices to advance animal welfare in Wisconsin!

It’s been a pleasure working with the team at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) as we launch Petszel for their adopters. Monica Dangler, CAWA, Katie Hutchinson, and several others on the team have been wonderful partners throughout the process. We’re also grateful for the news story that KOLD aired this morning, highlighting this collaboration. As one of the largest open-admission shelters in the nation, PACC’s dedication to saving lives through innovative programs and community partnerships makes them a perfect fit for Petszel. Together, we aim to enhance the post-adoption experience and ensure lasting, positive outcomes for pets and their new families. https://lnkd.in/gBEHNvPF

I feel incredibly fortunate to now share both my life and passion for animal welfare with my partner, Dr. Sy Woon. We've had the pleasure of traveling to conferences, collaborating on ideas, and brainstorming new ways to improve animal health and welfare. It’s amazing how our personal and professional worlds have aligned, inspiring each other along the way. Sy’s dedication to animals has spanned years, from her involvement in animal welfare initiatives to her work as a veterinarian with a successful in-home hospice and euthanasia practice in Los Angeles. Her compassionate approach to end-of-life care has given me new perspectives on what it means to provide quality experiences for pets and their families during such meaningful moments. She's also made a major impact on a broader scale—her veterinary and animal welfare perspective was important in shaping Florida’s 2018 decision to fully ban greyhound racing. Now, she’s entering a new chapter, having recently signed a contract with a major production company to create a TV program that partners with shelters and rescues. This project will shed light on the plight of rescue animals, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds! I’m excited for all that’s ahead and grateful for the difference Sy is making in the world of animal welfare!

📊 DATA SHOWS THAT PETSZEL IS REDUCING ADOPTION RETURNS 📉 At Petszel, we’ve always believed that our platform can help reduce adoption returns. We’ve received anecdotal feedback from shelters nationwide that supports this. But now, we have hard data from orgs that have been using Petszel for over six months. I’m beyond excited to share that Lynchburg Humane Society has seen a 21% decrease in adoption returns, and Palm Valley Animal Society (PVAS) has seen an incredible 29% reduction. If the trend continues in just these two orgs, that would amount to hundreds more dogs and cats staying in homes annually. Wow! I want to emphasize that Petszel is just part of the equation. While we provide post-adoption check-ins and real-time resources to help address challenges, it’s also important that shelter teams receiving our alerts proactively follow up with pet parents. Lynchburg and PVAS exemplify this commitment. Stay tuned for more data as additional shelters hit the six-month mark! 🐾

The Petszel crew would like to congratulate our rockstar developer, Erika Levine, on the birth of her beautiful baby boy, Austin—born fittingly on Labor Day (way to stick to the theme, Austin! 😉). Erika joined Petszel last year as our first software programmer, and she’s brought so much more than just her coding skills. With her background in animal science and experience as a veterinary technician, she offers an invaluable perspective when reading and understanding user stories. We were thrilled to celebrate her during a virtual baby shower over Zoom a few weeks ago, and we are so grateful to have her on our team! Please join me in wishing Erika and her family all the best as they embark on this exciting new chapter! 💙