Frequently asked questions

We verify every organization before letting them in — not because we're suspicious, but because the network is only as trustworthy as the people in it. It takes a minute, we review it fast (usually within a day), and it's what protects the animals, the foster volunteers, and the orgs doing great work.

Fast. Submit the verification form, get approved within a day, then download the app on iOS or Android — or sign in from any device, desktop or mobile. Invite your coordinators and foster volunteers, intake your animals, and you're live. Don't want to DIY it? We'll import your current animals and your whole network for you. The app is built to be intuitive, so nobody needs a training manual or a 47-video YouTube playlist to figure out how to, you know, use the software. (This ain't your grandma's legacy software — no offense to granny.)

Pretty much anything with a screen. Our app is available on iOS and Android, and there's a full web version that runs on desktop, laptop, tablet — whatever's closest. We don't know any coordinator who sits still for more than two minutes, so we built the whole thing for on-the-go. Everything syncs in real time across every device, so your view from your desk, your phone in a parking lot, or your tablet at an adoption event is always the same source of truth.

Yes. Send us your data (spreadsheets, Shelterluv exports, Pawlytics exports, whatever you've got) and we'll handle the import — animals, foster volunteer profiles, contact details. Most imports wrap up within a day. You can also set everything up manually in the app if you prefer that control.

Yes. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, access is scoped by role, and we follow industry-standard security practices. We never sell data, never share it between organizations, and never use it to train AI models. Each organization's data is fully isolated — only people inside your org see what belongs to your org.

You do. Your animals, your foster volunteer network, your records — they're yours. You can export your data anytime, and if you ever leave the platform, we'll help you take it with you. We're the tool; your data is yours. A lot of legacy tools in this space built their business on holding your data hostage — making exports painful, expensive, or "not available on your plan." That's not how we do things.

Yes. Starter isn't a trial, and it isn't a bait-and-switch — it's a real, fully functional plan for small rescues. If your program has fewer than 20 active foster volunteers and one coordinator, you may genuinely never need to upgrade. We built it that way on purpose.

Never. They're literally taking unhoused animals into their homes — the least we can do is not charge them. Every foster-facing feature is free, on every plan. They download the app, join your organization, and they're in.

It doesn't have to — and honestly, no matter what you're using now, you should be using Pawsitive Foster too. We handle the foster coordination piece that your current system doesn't: the pleas, the matching, the response tracking, the scheduling. Most organizations run us alongside their existing tools, and the relief is immediate. (Especially if you're on Chameleon. Come to the light. Godspeed.)

Your card on file is charged $79/month (or $67/month if you chose annual). You can cancel anytime during the trial from your account settings — if you cancel before the trial ends, you're never charged. Your account moves to Starter, you keep all your data, your foster volunteers stay connected, and you can still send broadcast pleas. You only lose Pro features like targeted pleas, the response dashboard, and self-service booking.

SMS is available on Pro and Enterprise as prepaid bundles (500 for $20, 2,000 for $65, 10,000 for $250). On Enterprise, the first 100 messages per month are included at no extra cost. SMS is optional — in-app notifications and push notifications are included on every plan.

Yes. Upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime from your account settings. If you downgrade, you keep access to your current plan through the end of your billing period.

Start with Pro. If you find yourself needing multiple appointment types, cross-location scheduling, or detailed analytics, those are natural signals that Enterprise would help. Book a call and we'll figure it out together — no pressure.

Our pricing is already built with nonprofits in mind. If budget is a real barrier, reach out — we'd rather work something out than lose an organization doing great foster work.

Right now, Pawsitive Foster is built for US-based organizations — SMS, phone formats, and pricing are all US-oriented. If you're outside the US and curious, reach out. We're building toward broader availability and would genuinely love to hear about your program.

Reach us through the in-app help center or the contact form on our site. We typically respond within a business day. Pro and Enterprise customers get priority support with faster response times.

Absolutely. On any plan, we're happy to help you import your animals and foster volunteers, walk your team through their first week, and answer questions as they come up. Enterprise customers get dedicated onboarding with a single point of contact on our team.