How it works
A federated map for animal welfare, powered by the Fediverse
What is PawFed?
PawFed is a collaborative map for animal welfare. Shelters, vets, lost animals, food donations — everything that can help an animal appears on the map.
No account to create. You post from your Fediverse account (Mastodon, Misskey, Pleroma…) by mentioning @pawfed@pawfed.org, and it appears on the map.
How does it work?
Fediverse
You write a post mentioning @pawfed@pawfed.org
PawFed
Detects animal, category, location. Sends you a link to verify.
Map
Once verified and moderated, the report appears for everyone
Submitting a report
Mention @pawfed@pawfed.org
From your Fediverse account, write a post mentioning @pawfed@pawfed.org.
Describe the situation
A lost dog, an injured cat, a food donation — describe what's happening in your own words.
Add hashtags
Use hashtags to help identify the animal and the situation: #cat, #dog, #lost, #found, #shelter, #food…
Indicate the location
Write the address or city name in your post. You can also use #city:Lyon or #country:FR for precision.
Add a photo
Optional but very useful: a photo helps other people identify and help the animal.
Verify the location
PawFed will send you a private message with a link to verify the detected location. If it's wrong, tap the correct spot on the map, copy the generated text, and reply to the message.
Full walkthrough
You post on Mastodon
@pawfed@pawfed.org Found a stray #cat near the train station in Lyon. Looks healthy but scared. #found
Detected from your post:
Animal: catCategory: found animalLocation: Lyon train stationPawFed replies via DM
You verify the location
Click the link, check the map. If the pin is correct, tap "Correct". If not, tap the right spot and reply with the generated text.
A moderator approves
The report appears on the map and is published to PawFed's followers on the Fediverse.
Works in every language
PawFed understands hashtags and keywords in multiple languages. You can post in French, English, or any supported language — the system recognizes animal names, categories, and situations automatically.
#chat #perdu proche de la Gare de Lyon#cat #lost near Lyon stationBoth create the same report: lost cat in Lyon.
Tag recognition evolves over time as new languages and translations are contributed by the community.
Report categories
Shelter
Veterinary
Lost animal
Found animal
Food distribution
Foster home
Adoption
Emergency
Tips & tricks
Refine location
Use #city:Lyon or #country:FR to specify precision when the address is ambiguous.
Offer or request?
Add #offer if you're providing help, #request if you need help. Default is informational.
Can ship?
Add #shipFR or #shipDE to indicate you can send supplies to a country.
Attach a photo
Photos make reports much more visible and useful. Alt text with animal names is also detected.
Trust system
New reporter
Your first reports go through a moderation queue before appearing on the map.
Trusted reporter
After several approved reports, you become trusted. Your future reports are published instantly.
Blocked
Spam or abusive accounts are blocked. Their content is silently ignored.
Data sources
Community reports
Reports submitted via the Fediverse by mentioning @pawfed@pawfed.org. Validated by moderation or auto-approved for trusted reporters.
OpenStreetMap
Shelters and veterinaries from OSM, fetched in real-time as you browse the map. Always up-to-date.