Studies have shown that some of the happiest dog and owner pairs share similar features, personality traits, even body types. That’s why The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive and NEC developed Doggelgänger; human to canine pairing software, designed to connect homeless dogs to their human doubles. Simply upload your image and this state-of-the-art interspecies comparison software will analyse your features, and compare them with a nationwide database of real dogs looking for adoption. When a match is found, your likeness is rated and your photo sent to your dog. If you both decide you would like to meet, details are exchanged and you can set up a time. By partnering with shelters across the country, Doggelgänger has given homeless dogs everywhere the very best chance to set up that vital first meeting in the journey to finding a new home.

Our objective was to get more people to become aware of the plight of homeless dogs, and increase dog adoptions in the process. To get a person to fall in love and adopt a dog you have to first get them to the shelter. By creating a user experience that paired a real person to a real homeless dog we created a personal experience that immediately set up an emotional connection.

In the words of one user (A. Steedman): “When you see those eyes looking back at you, it’s almost impossible to not set up a meeting.”

With the site going live in April and the seeding strategy in its infancy, it’s too early for quantifiable results however we hope that thousands of kiwis get on the site and find their Doggelgänger, and more dogs are adopted as a consequence.