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FAQ

Questions serious operators ask first.

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What is WhiskerMatch?

Operating software for shelters and rescues. One reviewed animal record keeps intake notes, applications, foster updates, public profiles, reviewer sign-off, and follow-up tasks connected. AI drafts and organizes. Humans review and decide.

Who can join right now?

Shelters and rescues can request pilot access. The pilot is selective and staged around a single workflow first. Adopters and fosters are waitlist-only.

What is live now versus on the roadmap?

Live now: the shelter and rescue operations layer is in active development with prospective pilot partners. Roadmap: the adopter and foster dashboard, curated essentials, and trusted expert notes are planned and shaped with partners before they ship. Anything labeled roadmap stays labeled roadmap until it isn't.

For shelters and rescues

Do we have to replace our current shelter software?

No. WhiskerMatch runs alongside existing shelter software and spreadsheets. We import what matters, start with one workflow, and expand from there. No migration weekend, no forced cutover.

What does AI do, and what do our staff still own?

AI drafts structured intake fields, summarizes applications for review, and flags inconsistencies. Humans review and decide on every placement and publish action. Nothing ships without a named reviewer. Read more on /trust.

Who owns placement decisions?

Your team. WhiskerMatch never auto-places and never auto-rejects an applicant. AI drafts and summarizes; a named human at the shelter or rescue reviews, decides, and is accountable for every placement.

What if our data is messy?

That is the normal starting point. We import what's there, flag what needs structure, and mark unknowns as unknown rather than guessing. Messy data gets structured over time, with a human reviewing changes.

How long does setup take?

A fit call, one or two scoping sessions, and a staged rollout over the first month. Most teams see their first workflow live within two to four weeks. No big-bang migration.

Trust & data

How is AI used, and what is never automated?

AI drafts intake-grounded fields and summarizes applications for review. Humans review and decide on placement and publish actions. No AI-only publishing, no opaque single-score matching, and no fabricated certainty. Full boundaries are on /trust.

What happens to our data?

Organization data stays with the organization. Household data is not sold, rented, or fed into a marketing graph. You can export your records at any time.

What happens if we leave?

Your records leave with you. Structured export is part of the pilot agreement, and there is no lock-in. The marketing site stores nothing; deletion questions are handled by a person through the pilot agreement.

Pricing & terms

What does the pilot cost?

$20/month per organization. No seat limits. No per-user pricing. Staff and volunteers included. Exceptional usage handled by direct conversation. Full details on /pricing.

Do we pay more when we add staff or volunteers?

No. Organizations are not charged by seat or user count. Add staff and volunteers as needed without price penalties.

Does it cost money to browse animals or apply?

No. Browsing animals, viewing public profiles, and submitting applications are free. The optional member dashboard is $5/month per account.

Adopters, reviewers & partners

Can I apply as an adopter or foster yet?

The adopter/foster path is waitlist-only. The public adopter surface opens alongside the pilot group of shelters and rescues.

How does the reviewer path work?

The reviewer network is selective. Credentials are required, fits are reviewed by a person, and approved reviewers are brought in where their domain match is needed. The role is paid, not decorative.

How does the partner path work?

It is fit-based and intentionally small by design. Partners are carried when the product holds up to scrutiny and stays in lane. Partner participation does not change animal ranking.

First pilot group accepting requests.

Still curious?

If we haven't answered your question, or you want to talk through something specific, the contact page is the fastest way in.