Find your perfect pet from certified German shelters
Balu is the exclusive digital partner of the German Animal Welfare Association. Browse thousands of dogs, cats, and other animals from verified shelters near you.
Four steps to forever
From finding your match to welcoming them home — the adoption process on Balu is straightforward and transparent.
Find your match
Browse thousands of dogs, cats, and other animals from certified German shelters. Use filters to find the perfect companion for your lifestyle.
Send an adoption request
Create your profile, fill out the adoption questionnaire, and send your request directly to the shelter through Balu.
Lifestyle Questionnaire
75% complete — almost there!
Meet your pet
Visit the shelter to get to know the animal in a relaxed environment. We recommend meeting multiple times — often the animal chooses you, not the other way around.
Welcome home
Sign the adoption contract, pay the shelter fee, and bring your new family member home. The shelter stays available for questions after adoption.
4 reasons to choose Balu
What makes Balu different — and why thousands of adopters trust us.
- Local adoption — meet your pet in person
- Every animal on Balu is already in Germany. Visit the shelter, meet your future companion in a relaxed environment, and see if it's a match — often the animal chooses you.
- Verified shelters — backed by the DTschB
- As the exclusive digital partner of the Deutscher Tierschutzbund, every shelter on Balu is certified and meets the highest standards of animal care.
- Completely free to use
- Balu is completely free to use — no hidden fees, no subscriptions. Simply create a profile to browse shelters, save your favorites, and send adoption requests.
- Your data stays private
- We take data privacy seriously. Balu is fully GDPR-compliant, hosted in the EU, and we never sell your personal information. Your data belongs to you.
Adoption myths debunked
Lea from the German Animal Welfare Federation answers common questions about shelter adoption, animal welfare, and how Balu helps.
Prejudices About Shelter Animals
The Current Crisis
Surrender Reasons & Inflation
Spotting Trustworthy Adoption
Character Over Looks
How You Can Help
Ready to find your new best friend?
Browse thousands of dogs and cats from certified shelters across Germany.