Courtesy Photo | MCT
By Laura Moss
Mother Nature Network
Users of the matchmaking app Tinder have a greater chance of finding puppy love now that shelter dogs have made their way to the dating app.
Ten dogs from Social Tees Animal Rescue, a no-kill shelter in New York, now have Tinder dating profiles.
Interns at the Bartle Bogle Hegarty advertising agency came up with the idea as a way to increase pet adoptions.
“People strictly go to Tinder to find love, go there to find relationships and companionship,” intern Alexis Mood told Ad Week. “These dogs have something to give.”
When the dogs’ profiles were posted on the matchmaking app, they received 2,700 matches in less than a week, according to Mood.
On Tinder, users swipe right on photos of other users they like. If both users swipe right, a match is made and they can text each other within the app.
When a user swipes on a pooch’s profile, they get a message from the animal shelter with information about adopting the dog. Those not interested in long-term canine companionship can opt to walk shelter dogs or even foster them.
The team behind the doggy dating profiles didn’t collaborate with Tinder on the project, but Tinder hasn’t removed the profiles.
Pet matchmaking isn’t new to smartphones. BarkBuddy is an app similar to Tinder except it matches people with adoptable dogs in their area.
