A German animal shelter has found a way to get unwanted cats and dogs adopted in the digital age. They have begun posting profiles of these animals on dating app Tinder, hoping that lonely humans looking for love might also settle for the company of an abandoned pet instead.
The Munich Animal Welfare Association has found a novel way to get its animals adopted. The agency shot professional photos of 15 pets and put them on Tinder, an app for finding potential romantic partners in your area.
The list includes Captain Kirk: the black-and-white cat that’s been at the shelter since October 2016 with no luck yet from would be owners or adopters thanks to his old age – he was born in 2011!
Jillian Moss from the animal shelter said several people have swiped right on Tinder to set up their first “date”: “The response is insane, it’s exploding everywhere.”
The recent epidemic of coronavirus has lead to a surge in pet ownership as many people have been forced into quarantine. As the pandemic wanes, animal welfare experts are concerned that more and more animals will be left abandoned by their owners who will not want them anymore after they return home from being quarantined.
“We hope that these animals really find a new partner, a ‘purrfect match’ in the long term and not just for a few weeks,” said Benjamin Beilke, who is coordinating Tinder communication.
“There aren’t only lonely souls among humans, but there are also a lot of lonely souls among animals.”
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