Title

Pawsitive Method: Finding A Dog Match Based On Lifestyle

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Art

Date of Award

Summer 2012

Abstract

Most dogs are cute, and some breeds have seen a rise in popularity after being featured in movies and television shows. When it comes to adopting a dog, there are several other things to consider. Many people relinquish dogs to animal shelters for reasons that could have been considered if the adopter had learned a bit more about the breed or breed mix before allowing a puppy's cuteness convince them to take the animal home. This study looked into a way to better match a person to a dog breed or breed mix based on the lifestyle of the adopter. Through looking at dating websites like Chemistry.com and finding a way to parallel its process for animals, an adopter- and dog-matching website was created that included a series of questions about a person's lifestyle. Based on the answers given to these questions, each participant was matched with a dog from the virtual dog shelter. The strategy behind the site could change the dog-adoption process at animal shelters and possibly lead to a decrease in the relinquishment of dogs. Adopters would be able to know why an animal was a match based on a redesign of the dog's cage card.

Advisor

James Ewald

Subject Categories

Arts and Humanities

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