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What is Heelr?

Heelr is a stress management tool for animal shelters. It helps volunteers match the right activity to each animal's current needs, replacing outdated chalkboards and whiteboards with a real-time digital dashboard.

The Problem​

Volunteers don't know what activities an animal has already had during the day. Well-meaning "go go go" energy can overstimulate already-stressed dogs, leading to longer shelter stays and behavior problems.

The Solution​

Heelr provides a shared dashboard that shows:

  • Every animal's last activity time -- so you know who needs attention
  • Priority sorting -- animals waiting the longest appear first
  • Quick activity logging -- log a walk in 3 taps
  • Behavior tracking -- record mood, stress signals, and exit behavior (dogs)
  • Role-based access -- volunteers see the animals they're qualified to handle

Key Features​

  • Priority-sorted dashboard -- Animals are sorted by who needs attention most, with a spotlight section for the top 3
  • 3-tap activity logging -- Select an animal, pick an activity type, submit. Faster than writing on a whiteboard
  • Behavior tracking (dogs) -- Track exit behaviors, stress indicators, and activity effectiveness over time
  • Handling levels (dogs) -- Dogs are categorized by the training required to handle them (anyone, trained volunteers, staff only)
  • Role-based access control -- Three roles (Volunteer, Staff, Admin) with special handling certification for trained volunteers
  • Behavior support (dogs) -- Staff can document structured behavior intervention plans
  • Intelligence Dashboard -- Shelter-wide metrics showing behavior stability, activity gaps, enrichment coverage, and dogs trending worse (staff/admin)
  • Shift handoff -- Printable summary of the day's activities for incoming staff
  • Multi-species support -- Dogs (full features), Cats (basic activity logging), and Other species

Built for Shelters​

Heelr is designed for real shelter workflows -- mobile-first, volunteer-friendly, and fast enough to use in the field.

Feedback​

Heelr is built in collaboration with real shelter staff and volunteers. Have a feature request or found a bug? Use the in-app feedback form or contact your shelter administrator.