2026 · Researcher & Designer · Research stage — prototype in progress
Street Paws
A proximity-based platform for community street-dog care
Role
Researcher & Designer
Team
Solo
Research Methods
User Interviews, Competitive Analysis, Persona Development
Platform
Mobile App
Duration
In progress
Hook
Coming soon — this section hasn't been written yet.
My Role
Coming soon — this section hasn't been written yet.
Research
Methods
6 in-depth user interviews, competitive & comparative analysis, persona development.
Who we spoke to
People already involved with street dogs — feeders, fosterers, adopters, and ex-volunteers across cities (Goa, Delhi).
The blocker isn't willingness, it's infrastructure and network. People want to help and don't know who to contact.
Existing “solutions” are scattered WhatsApp groups and Instagram stories that get ignored.
Trust comes from association — credibility increases when a tool is linked to known NGOs.
Strong appetite for SOS alerts and community, with a real concern about misuse to design around.
Fostering and shelter capacity gaps leave people stuck even when willing.
“Helpless. There aren't a lot of avenues except some WhatsApp groups and my story. People usually ignore these messages.”
Palak, interview participant
The Insight That Changed Everything
Coming soon — this section hasn't been written yet.
Design Decisions
Decision 1
Neighbourhood dashboard as home
Proximity-first: NGO/emergency numbers, vet contacts, 24x7 pickup, all filtered by how close they are.
Decision 2
SOS alert to nearby community
The most-requested feature. Alerts nearby caretakers for urgent cases.
Decision 3
Trust via NGO association
Participants said credibility comes from known NGOs.
Decision 4
Multiple help modes, not just physical
Report / respond nearby / help from a distance (donate, share). Built because willingness existed at every level of involvement.
Decision 5
Emergency “what to do” guide
Directly answers the in-the-moment helplessness finding.
The Solution
Street Paws Connect: a proximity-based platform for community street-dog care.
Neighbourhood dashboard — nearby NGOs, vets, emergency pickup, sorted by distance
Report a dog in need — structured, fast, in the emotional moment
SOS alert — notifies nearby caretakers for urgent cases
Help from a distance — donate or share when you can't go physically
Emergency what-to-do guide — for when you don't know the next step
[Prototype — Report a dog in need → Respond nearby → SOS alert (coming soon)]
Outcomes
Coming soon — this section hasn't been written yet.
What I'd Do Differently
Coming soon — this section hasn't been written yet.
What This Taught Me
Coming soon — this section hasn't been written yet.