Industry
There are more than 5,000 animal shelters in the US. Pet owners obtain 23% of dogs and 31% of cats through shelters (ASPCA). These statistics show that shelters play a significant role in finding animals their homes. Fluffy is a web-based system for animal shelters that will make it easier for people to adopt pets. At the moment, there is a variety of similar applications for kennels (e.g., Revelation Pets, Pawfinity, PetLinx). These applications do not cater to the demand of customers to find pets in nearest shelters to adopt; rather, they specialize in recommending pet-care facilities and various grooming and veterinary services.
The current industry of pet shelters is suffering from extreme overcrowding, with 7.6 million animals entering the system annually in the USA (Underwood). Unfortunately, around 3 million of them are euthanized (Underwood). Because of this growing problem, Fluffy will become a unique platform that can fit in a specific industry niche and help animals to find new homes faster and with minimum risks.
Description of Target Customers
Fluffy’s target audience includes the general public looking to adopt a pet as well as the personnel of existing animal shelters around the country. This sector of consumers is conscious about their spending and takes into account the negative implications of buying a pet instead of adopting ones that are contained in shelters. According to the recent Statista data, in 2017, the total number of registered dogs in the US households was 89.7 million while the total number of cats was 94.2 million (“Number of pets in the United States in 2017/2018 (in millions)”).
This shows that pets are in high demand, which points to the possibility of the Fluffy app capturing the attention of millions of Americans and make them adopt. It is important to mention that younger generations that are more in tune with technologies are highly likely to discover the application and use it themselves or show it to their relatives.
Company Advantages
Most people find their pets “through word of mouth,” which points to the need for presenting potential customers with an application that will make it easier and quicker for them to find pets on their own (ASPCA). Therefore, the advantages of Fluffy as a product and Wuph as a company are associated with integrating technologies into such activities and finding pets. Overall, the company now has a great advantage over competitors because it offers a unique service that addresses the need for a more efficient way of finding and adopting pets from shelters.
Regulations
Animal shelter regulations vary by state, with amendments introduced each year to adjust the industry to the demand for shelters. Key requirements that shelters must follow include ensuring minimum holding periods, availability for adoption, public inspection for adoption, foster care, appropriate disposition, and viewing of lost pets. To comply with the mentioned regulations, the Fluffy app will take into account the specifics of the industry in each state and adjust the information it presents to customers.
Works Cited
ASPCA. “Pet Statistics.” ASPCA, 2017. Web.
“Number of pets in the United States in 2017/2018 (in millions).” Statista, 2018. Web.
Underwood, Jen. “Analyzing Animal Shelter Overcrowding.” Jenunderwood. 2017. Web.