Unifying Shelters. Reuniting Pets. Redefining Recovery.

Across North America, animal shelters are under unprecedented pressure. Rising pet intake, limited resources, and fragmented data systems have made reunifying lost pets with their families a complex and often slow process. Too often, animals spend unnecessary time in kennels, and families are left waiting—this problem demands bold, systemic solutions.

DocuPet is leading that change, and it starts with the National Pet Registry. As the first fully centralized platform for pet registration and reunification in North America, it consolidates previously scattered databases into a single, secure system. With streamlined access to critical pet data, shelters can act faster, reduce unnecessary intake, and focus on the outcome that matters most: reuniting pets with their families. More than a technology solution, this registry establishes a new benchmark for operational excellence and community impact in sheltering and lost pet recovery.

A First-of-Its-Kind Pet Registry

Before DocuPet, pet data was strewn across thousands of disconnected systems, from licensing offices to veterinary records and microchip registries. In critical moments, shelters often struggled to access accurate, up-to-date information. Every delay meant added stress for animals, families, and shelters.

DocuPet’s National Pet Registry consolidates essential pet data into a single, secure platform. Each day, more than 8,000 pets are registered through the National Pet Registry, free of charge for both pet owners and partner agencies.

Every registered pet receives a HomeSafe^®-enabled tag linking to a profile with license details, microchip numbers, vaccinations, veterinary contacts, care instructions, and more. With real-time owner and pet-updated profiles, shelters instantly access accurate data when every second counts, eliminating guesswork and cutting through red tape.

The National Animal Shelter Network

Animal shelters face significant challenges in reuniting lost pets with their families. Data is often fragmented across city, county, and state lines, and many shelters operate in isolation with limited access to critical pet records. This leads to slow reunification, unnecessary shelter intake, and strain on resources. According to Shelter Animals Count, approximately 5.8 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters and rescues each year, and millions more become lost temporarily without ever reaching a shelter. Traditional systems are not equipped to handle this scale efficiently, leaving pets in limbo and families stressed.

That’s where the National Animal Shelter Network (NASN) comes in. Fueled by the National Pet Registry, the NASN addresses these issues by providing a centralized, searchable platform and a coordinated network across jurisdictions. By enabling shelters, animal control officers, and community partners to access accurate pet information quickly, the NASN accelerates reunifications, reduces unnecessary intake, and allows staff to allocate resources where needed most.

How the NASN Works

The NASN equips shelters with tools designed to eliminate inefficiencies and accelerate pet reunions:

• National Pet Record Search (NPRS): Staff can search the centralized database using a pet’s HomeSafe^® tag, microchip number, or physical description to quickly locate the correct profile, which includes owner contacts, medical info, identifying photos, and care instructions.
• Found Pet Reporting System: Anyone who finds a pet can call DocuPet or submit a report online, triggering immediate alerts to owners, HomeSafe^® agents, and nearby shelters.
• Cross-Jurisdiction Collaboration: Shelters can coordinate across city, county, and state lines, avoiding duplicate work and improving reunification outcomes.
• Real-time Collaboration: Animal Control Officers can work with local shelters to quickly identify homes for lost pets found in the field, helping reunite pets with owners before entering a shelter.

The NASN by the Numbers

• 4+ million pets registered in the National Pet Registry
• Coverage in 300+ jurisdictions, representing thousands of cities, towns, and counties
• More than 20,000 pets reunited, many within minutes
• New shelters joining roughly every five days

These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent families kept whole, shelter resources preserved, and healthier community outcomes.

Benefits for Shelters

Membership in the NASN improves shelter operations by reducing stray intake, freeing staff to focus on pets in need or awaiting adoption. Centralized record searches and streamlined processes save time and costs, while positioning shelters as tech-savvy, trusted community partners.

Shelters with robust reunification programs report tangible operational benefits: fewer animals in kennels, reduced staff time spent on manual data searches, and lower overall operational strain.

How to Join the Network

Joining the NASN is straightforward. Shelters partner with DocuPet for local registration, unlocking full access to the National Pet Record Search tool.

To drive registration, DocuPet equips shelters with ready-to-use marketing outreach materials and community engagement resources, making it easy to raise awareness and encourage participation. This allows shelters to register more animals at the point of adoption, and promote registration for all animals who come into the shelter, attend shelter-sponsored events, or community clinics.

Every new registration strengthens the National Pet Registry, expanding the reach and impact of the NASN while accelerating reunifications across North America. With dedicated training and ongoing support, shelter teams are empowered to fully leverage the system’s capabilities, creating lasting efficiencies and measurable community impact.

Building Safer Communities Together

Across North America, DocuPet’s new standard is emerging: lost pets reunited faster, shelters empowered, and communities stronger. Every reunited pet and every connected shelter moves the needle toward a future where no pet stays lost for long and every family is whole. Lost pet recovery is no longer just a local effort—it’s a national movement, and the NASN is leading the charge.

  

Join the NASN Now!