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Rescue Software...help.

The Menagerie
#1

I’m looking for a cloud software package for pet rescues. We need to upgrade from what we’re using. I’ve looked at Trackabeast.com and I’m currently trying to find more info on RescueGroup.org.

We need tracking software for dogs and people, foster status, adoption status, vet cost tracking etc. Looks like we’ll be needing a new website as well, and I’d like to be able to link everything together.

Any rescue people out there who have used either or different software packages? Any major pitfalls? Any recommendations? Of course, I’m looking for something not too expensive. We have about 250 dogs in our system per year.

#2

PetPoint, Shelter Buddy, and Chameleon to a lesser extent are the most popular for shelter use. Not sure if they are too much for your needs or not.

#3

PetPoint is what I’ve always used working in shelters. Its a bit dense to navigate at times but leaves you room to fill in just about all the information you could ever want, plus abilities to search by owners and leave private notes FROM counselors to other adopters about said owners and experiences, particular info about the dog, etc.

#4

The rescue is a rescue/foster/adoption program, with no shelter. Most of the shelter software I’ve looked at doesn’t really seem to work well in an only foster rescue. Still looking.

#5

This is interesting to me. Truthfully I had no idea that such software existed! I mean, now that i think about it, it’s obvious that it would. We just use an excell spreadsheet that our records keeper emails to us for our reference every other month or so. It definitely isn’t that helpful since no one else can really collaborate on it. Then MrB and i have our own spreadsheet for our personal fosters, with less financial info (net gain/loss) and more descriptive of the dogs, where they came from (back story) and which vets we used.

I would LOVE a real software program for the group to use… man. Unfortunately, the records keeper is a bit, erm, resistant to change!

This is off topic a bit but we just started using adoptapet in addition to petfinder and as a statistics nerd, it is really interesting, giving not only the number of times each dog has shown up in search results, but the click through rate per pet, too. I love that sort of stuff.

#6

bits619, I have the “resistant to change” problem too. I’m working on it. What we have now is a major fail. So far, I’m liking trackabeast the best of all the ones I’ve taken a good look at in our price range. Rescuegroup.org looks really interesting, but there’s no trial info, no documentation I can find. I’ve emailed them, but they haven’t gotten back to me.

I need something with multiple levels of access and editing capability.

#7

Do you have a college with IT program near by?

My BIL went to college when we were heavy into collecting die cast cars. The collection became overwhelming in a hurry and while I tried to tackle Exel, he had a serious program whipped together in no time flat, with all sorts of bells and whistles, which he modified to make his then GF a program to track sorority affairs.

It is really nice to have a custom made program to work with! :slight_smile:
(and it is actually not very expensive to have one done up for you…considering that some of the specialized ones run you easily a couple hundred bucks…)

#8

[QUOTE=Alagirl;6476236]
Do you have a college with IT program near by?

My BIL went to college when we were heavy into collecting die cast cars. The collection became overwhelming in a hurry and while I tried to tackle Exel, he had a serious program whipped together in no time flat, with all sorts of bells and whistles, which he modified to make his then GF a program to track sorority affairs.

It is really nice to have a custom made program to work with! :slight_smile:
(and it is actually not very expensive to have one done up for you…considering that some of the specialized ones run you easily a couple hundred bucks…)[/QUOTE]

We have a software program custom made by one of the volunteers. But, it’s sadly outdated, and a canned cloud software program will have way more bells and whistles than a custom program. At least for our budget.

#9

Don’t knock it til you tried it :slight_smile:
Putting a good program on the resume might just be something one of those geeks are looking for. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. :wink:

#10

Alagirl, I went back to school for a 2nd degree in computer science, it’s been a few years (actually a few too many and I’m a bit rusty), so I could write one myself if I wanted to, but I’m looking for a cloud program that someone else updates and debugs and provides tech support and documentation. And as I said, we already have a program, but don’t want to continue using and updating it.

#11

We do foster only rescue and have recently started using PetPoint. A little overwhelming at first but its free for nonprofits and can honestly do everything you could ever want for a rescue group.

#12

LOL, I feel your pain…

But with all things in life, time = money. You either got the money to pay for the services or the time to do the work…

#13

If you do end up using Petpoint feel free to PM me if you get confused or need help…I spent too, too, too, too many hours playing with it and still have a login, should be able to help if you need it :slight_smile:

#14

irkenequine, I’ve requested login info for Petpoint…I may be asking for help sometime this week. So far, I like trackabeast the best.

#15

Well, we’ve decided to go with Trackabeast. Best bang for the buck with all the bells and whistles and what appears to be great tech support.

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