Betsy Banks Saul and Jared Saul co-founded Petfinder.com in 1996. Together they revolutionized the pet adoption process by connecting shelters and rescues with potential adopters through an online platform. Since inception, the platform has facilitated over 25 million dog, cat and pet adoptions making a significant impact in helping pets find their forever homes. Betsy’s passion for animals and her desire to leverage technology to connect shelters and rescues with potential pet adopters across the country was the seed that started the platform. Armed with both an education and a strong commitment to be environmental and animal causes, Betsy was equipped with the right skills and determination to visualize this big solution.
Under Betsy’s leadership, Petfinder quickly grew from a modest website into the world’s largest online pet adoption resource. At a time when the internet was still relatively new, she recognized the potential to use it as a tool to help solve the pet overpopulation crisis. Petfinder not only provided a platform for pet listings but also became a valuable resource for information on pet care, adoption tips, and animal welfare advocacy.
Petfinder was acquired by Discovery Communications in 2006, after facilitating over 10 million pet adoptions, a testament to Betsy’s impact on the animal welfare community. After the acquisition of Petfinder, Betsy continued her work in animal welfare and philanthropy. She co-founded the 911 Foster Pets initiative, a platform aimed at providing emergency foster care for pets in need, further expanding her commitment to animal rescue. She also launched Heal House Call Veterinarian, a service designed to bring veterinary care directly to pets at home, reducing stress for animals and convenience for their owners. In 2013, Nestlé Purina Pet Care Company announced the acquisition of Petfinder.com from Discovery Communications. This was Nestle’s first major acquisition of a digital property.
Nestlé Purina, Petfinder continues to dominate the pet adoption market being sited at the 1# pet adoption online service and with pet births and millions of pets homeless every year, this work is so important.
The site makes it possible to adopt pets without having to travel to various shelters and rescues, allowing potential pet parents to search their database to see all of the pets available for adoption in their area.