If you run your shelter or rescue on PetPoint (or Chameleon) and you're wondering what the recent changes mean for you, here's an honest, hype-free rundown — what actually changed, whether you need to do anything, and how to weigh your options if you decide to look around.
What actually changed in April 2026
On April 7, 2026, 24Pet launched 24PetShelter, a new platform positioned as the successor to both PetPoint and Chameleon. Alongside it, 24Pet indicated that new feature development for PetPoint and Chameleon is winding down — in other words, those products are moving into maintenance mode.
It's worth being precise about what that does and doesn't mean, because there's been some overstatement online:
- PetPoint has not shut down. Its product, login, onboarding, and support remain active.
- There is no announced sunset date. 24Pet has said bug fixes, security updates, and support will continue for the foreseeable future.
- Migration is client-led. Organizations move when they're ready — there is no forced, near-term cutover.
- 24PetShelter is rolling out in phases. Early access has focused on organizations with simpler operations, with more complex shelters expected to gain access later.
Should you switch — or wait?
There's no single right answer. It depends on how much you rely on your software evolving with your needs.
Reasons it's fine to stay for now: PetPoint keeps running with support, there's no deadline, and a rushed migration is rarely a good one. If the platform does everything you need today, you have time.
Reasons to start evaluating: if you want a platform that's actively adding features, if your pricing or contract is a pain point, or if you're a more complex operation waiting on 24PetShelter access, it's smart to know your options before you have to decide. Switching on your own timeline — with a clean data export in hand — is far less stressful than switching against a clock.
What to look for in a PetPoint alternative
Whatever you choose, evaluate it against the things that actually cause pain when they're missing:
- Your data is portable. You can export your animals, people, and history in full, whenever you want — no lock-in.
- A real migration path. An importer that maps your existing export (PetPoint/CSV), plus hands-on help to move the data.
- Transparent pricing. Published prices you can budget around, not "contact sales."
- The workflows you run daily. Intake, medical, adoptions with e-signatures, foster, and reporting — and animal control if you're a municipal agency.
- Mobile and integrations. Field-ready mobile access and the integrations you depend on, like Petfinder and microchip registries.
- Active development. A vendor that's still shipping improvements — the very thing that prompted this question in the first place.
PetPoint vs 24PetShelter vs Pet Friend
A quick, honest side-by-side. Details for PetPoint and 24PetShelter are based on public information and 24Pet's own announcements as of July 2026 — confirm current specifics with the vendor, and note that 24PetShelter is newly launched, so its details may still change.
| PetPoint | 24PetShelter | Pet Friend | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status in 2026 | Maintenance mode — new feature development winding down | New (launched Apr 2026); phased rollout, simpler operations first | Actively developed, shipping regularly |
| Pricing | Custom / contact sales | Not publicly listed | Published: $25 / $50 / $100 per month |
| Per-adoption fees | Check with vendor | Check with vendor | None |
| Migration in | — | From PetPoint / Chameleon | PetPoint/CSV importer + free white-glove migration |
| Data export / ownership | Check with vendor | Check with vendor | Full self-serve export anytime — no lock-in |
| Animal control support | Yes (enterprise) | Check with vendor | Included on Shelter Plus |
| Mobile apps | Yes | Check with vendor | iOS & Android + responsive web |
Comparison compiled July 2026 from public sources and vendor announcements. Always verify current details directly with each vendor.
How Pet Friend fits
Pet Friend is built for shelters, rescues, and animal control agencies that want capable software without enterprise pricing or lock-in. It's a natural fit for organizations leaving a maintenance-mode platform for a few honest reasons:
- It's still being built. We ship improvements continuously — you're not moving onto another platform that's winding down.
- Transparent, affordable pricing. $25/month for rescues, $50 for shelters, $100 for large organizations with animal control tools — no setup fees, no per-adoption charges. See plans & pricing.
- A migration you don't have to dread. Our built-in importer maps a PetPoint or CSV export with a full preview before anything is created, and white-glove migration is free — send us your export and we'll do the import and verify the counts with you.
- Your data stays yours. Export everything at any time. If Pet Friend isn't right for you later, you're never trapped.
See what switching looks like
Try Pet Friend free — no signup — or send us a PetPoint export and we'll show you exactly how your data comes across.
Try the Free Demo