New adopte.lv portal brings together shelter dogs and cats from across Latvia
The charity foundation Sofi has launched adopte.lv, a portal where dogs and cats from animal shelters and welfare societies across Latvia can be viewed in one place. It aims to boost adoptions and help organisations reach more potential adopters.
The Latvian charity foundation Sofi, which supports animal shelters and welfare societies, has created the website adopte.lv. It lets people browse dogs and cats from across the country that are looking for new homes. The portal is meant both for residents seeking animals available for adoption and for shelters and societies, which can reach a wider circle of potential adopters through it.
The idea arose while the foundation was supporting shelters throughout Latvia. Organisations that rescue and care for animals every day do not always have enough resources to prepare and publish information about animals available for adoption or to promote adoption.
What the portal offers
The site features photographs and descriptions of animals, along with details on age, health, coat and character traits, including how they get along with other pets and children. For dogs, an energy level is listed; for cats, a level of independence.
There is also a test that assesses likely compatibility between a prospective owner and an animal based on the person's answers and the animal's profile, and shows the match as a percentage. To meet a chosen animal, interested people must contact the relevant shelter or society, whose contact details appear alongside the description. The portal also includes an educational blog on dog and cat care.
The foundation's explanation
Sindija Liepiņa, head and board member of the foundation, says Latvia needs to address responsible breeding and control of illegal breeding in order to reduce the number of animals ending up in shelters. She stresses that it is particularly hard to find homes for older animals and those with health problems or special needs.
Staff working on the portal keep information up to date, visit shelters regularly and help photograph animals and write descriptions. Organisations can also submit information themselves.
About the foundation
The Labdarības fonds Sofi foundation is described as one of the largest privately initiated charities in Latvia and holds public benefit organisation status. It runs cat sterilisation, shelter support and senior-animal adoption programmes, and helps animals affected by the war in Ukraine. It was founded in 2020 by businessman Toms Jurjevs and named after Sofi, a dog rescued from a shelter.
