--- title: Why does Shelterluv import data for free? description: Shelterluv offers a free, one-time data import, ensuring accessibility for organizations of all sizes to leverage data for strategic planning. image: https://blog.shelterluv.com/hubfs/Data-Import-Graphic-v2-2-1024x683.png --- [Skip to main content](https://blog.shelterluv.com/2023/01/11/why-does-shelterluv-import-data-for-free#main-content) [![Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Shelterluv/images/shelterluv-onlight.svg)](https://blog.shelterluv.com/) [Home](https://blog.shelterluv.com) [Case studies](https://blog.shelterluv.com/case-studies) [Meet the team](https://blog.shelterluv.com/get-to-know-your-customer-solutions-team) [Try it free](https://www.shelterluv.com/signup/) 1. [Blog](https://blog.shelterluv.com) 2. [Onboarding Process](https://blog.shelterluv.com/tag/onboarding-process) Onboarding Process # Why does Shelterluv import data for free? ![Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Scout.png?width=92&height=92&name=Scout.png) Shelterluv June 21, 2025 · 3 min read ![Why does Shelterluv import data for free?](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Data-Import-Graphic-v2-2-1024x683.png?width=768&height=512&name=Data-Import-Graphic-v2-2-1024x683.png)   Shelterluv promises a **free**, one-time data import for *all* shelters and rescues. Fees are inherently restrictive. They sort the haves from the have-nots. Charging for an import would say that data matters for the big organizations who can afford one, and doesn't matter for the smaller, leaner ones who can't. We don't believe that. So we put our team's time into getting your records into Shelterluv, whether you're moving three years of history or last month's intakes. No setup fee, no add-on fee, no support fee. Just $2.00 per adoption, billed monthly. Every other outcome is free. ## What we bring over Intakes and outcomes are the backbone, and they come with the people attached to them: adopters, surrenderers, transfer partners. Medical history comes too, in its own files. Vaccines, treatments, diagnostic tests, surgeries, physical exams. Memos as well, so the note a staff member wrote about an animal three years ago is still there when someone needs it. We map your transfer partners to our master partner list while we're at it, so your transfer reporting works from day one. ## What we need from you An export from your current system, dropped into our templates. The templates do most of the thinking for you: required columns are marked in red, the strongly recommended ones in green, and one tab lists every allowed value for species, breed, intake type and outcome type. Those have to match word for word. That's the part that trips people up most often. If your files are enormous, split them. Google Sheets gives up somewhere around a million rows. ## What won't come over Being straight with you here saves a surprise later. Foster history doesn't import. Animals arrive in Shelterluv as in-shelter, and current foster placements get connected by hand afterward. Attachments don't import either. Neither do a handful of flags from other systems, like a "Do Not Adopt" marker, which you'll want to re-apply once you're in. Medical data also has to wait until events are loaded, so imports run in a set order. Your onboarding lead will walk you through the sequence. ## Then you can actually use it A pile of imported records isn't worth much sitting there. What makes it worth the work is what comes next: [over 35 pre-built Quick Reports, Custom Reports you build yourself, automated reports that land in your inbox on a schedule](http://shelterluv.com/product/features), and a direct API integration with Shelter Animals Count and Shelter Pet Data Alliance. That's the point of doing this for free. Your history should be usable for grant applications and board meetings whether you run 200 adoptions a year or 20,000. Getting started? [Activate your account](https://www.shelterluv.com/activate/). Already have one? Email [help@shelterluv.com](mailto:help@shelterluv.com) with your import questions. Share [mailto:?subject=Why+does+Shelterluv+import+data+for+free%3F&body=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.shelterluv.com%2F2023%2F01%2F11%2Fwhy-does-shelterluv-import-data-for-free](mailto:?subject=Why+does+Shelterluv+import+data+for+free%3F&body=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.shelterluv.com%2F2023%2F01%2F11%2Fwhy-does-shelterluv-import-data-for-free) ![Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Scout.png?width=152&height=152&name=Scout.png) Written by Shelterluv ## Keep reading ### [![How Luv University Makes Shelter Staff Training Easier](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20%20-%20Luv%20University%2071626.jpg?width=400&height=250&name=Blog%20%20-%20Luv%20University%2071626.jpg) Onboarding Process How Luv University Makes Shelter Staff Training Easier Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/how-luv-university-makes-shelter-staff-training-easier) ### [![How to Set Up Shelter Software Workflows](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Copy%20of%20Video%20Thumbnail%20%231%20(1).png?width=400&height=250&name=Copy%20of%20Video%20Thumbnail%20%231%20(1).png) Shelterluv Best Practices How to Set Up Shelter Software Workflows Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/how-to-set-up-shelter-software-workflows) ### [![The Complete Guide to Replacing Shelter Spreadsheets in 2026](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Extend%20Design%20to%20Fill%20Top%20Space.jpg?width=400&height=250&name=Extend%20Design%20to%20Fill%20Top%20Space.jpg) Onboarding Process The Complete Guide to Replacing Shelter Spreadsheets in 2026 Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/the-complete-guide-to-replacing-shelter-spreadsheets-in-2026) ### [![Configurations in a Box: Best-Practice Setup for New Accounts](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Configurations-in-a-box-1536x1024.png?width=400&height=250&name=Configurations-in-a-box-1536x1024.png) Onboarding Process Configurations in a Box: Best-Practice Setup for New Accounts Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/2021/10/15/introducing-configurations-in-a-box) ![Shelterluv](https://blog.shelterluv.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Shelterluv/images/shelterluv-ondark.svg) Doing what's best for pets by supporting the people who care for them ## Product - [Shelterluv](https://www.shelterluv.com/) - [Adopterluv](https://adopterluv.com/) - [PetData](https://petdata.com/) ## Company - [About us](https://www.shelterluv.com/about/) - [Careers](https://www.shelterluv.com/careers/) - [Contact](https://www.shelterluv.com/contact/) ## Resources - [Help center](https://help.shelterluv.com/) - [Luv University](https://training.shelterluv.com/) - [Release notes](https://help.shelterluv.com/articles/4033031265-product-release-notes?lang=en) © 2026 Shelterluv. 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