A service for collaborative Dog Adoptions to improve human-dog bonds and their mutual health and welfare
Dogtion is a guiding and supporting service for the collaborative adoption of dogs. It helps people find the dog that best meets their needs among local shelters and helps dogs find the family that suits their psychophysical characteristics. It fosters the development of a healthy and beneficial lasting bond between a dog and its owner, based on awareness, knowhow, mutual understanding and respect. It guides people and their dog in their growth and education by providing professional collaboration and support, customised resources and information, and access to a network of local professionals.
AUTHOR
Emma Teli
DATE
2022
FIELD
Service Design
Thesis tutor
Beatrice Villari
Process & Methodology
Research framework:
More than human centrism and System thinking
The project, and its reflections, belong to the contemporary debate of the design discipline that, through the analysis and review of the literature, brought me to adopt a More than Human centred and Systemic approach. Indeed, to date the project strives to take into equal considerations and address the needs of both humans and dogs, considered both as final users of the service, and considers the system of actors involved, focusing on their interactions and value creation.
From social isolation to increase of dog adoption
The Human–dog Bond is a beneficial relationship that improves both humans’ and dogs’ quality of life creating mutual emotional dependence which involves increased trust of the dog and caring of the dogs’ needs of the human.
Figure: Helena Lopes from Pexels
OPPORTUNITY
Since the beginning of the pandemic dog adoptions rised up to 15%, increasing a trend that has been evolving for decades
01
PROBLEM
However, along with adoptions, abandonments and renunciations of dogs have also increased, reaching a peak of 17% in 2021
02
KEY PROBLEM
People adopting a dog for the first time lack the awareness and knowledge of what it means to adopt a dog, take care of it and understand its language
03
SOLUTION
Adopters need professional support and guidance during the process and beyond, in order to provide a matching that meets the needs of both and to base the bond on good practices laying the foundation for mutual benefits.
04
Concept definition
In this framework, it arises the opportunity for Dogtion to provide a service with the aim of holistically supporting the whole process of adoption of dogs, based on professional and systemic collaboration, and focused on the mutual needs of dogs and their owners, both considered as final users; it aims at strengthening their bond, base it on good practices and improve their mutual health and welfare.
Dogtion helps people and dogs find a suitable matching that best meets their needs among local shelters, and guides people and their dog in their growth and education in the first crucial months of the adoption, providing support, customised resources, and access to a network of local dog care services, all this through an App.
Dogtion fits in the system of actors involved in the processes of dog adoptions while ordering it and enabling effective collaboration leveraging on mutual interests.
