diff --git a/backend/init_db.py b/backend/init_db.py
index 84d5475..c70bbde 100644
--- a/backend/init_db.py
+++ b/backend/init_db.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
-"""Script to initialize the database and populate with initial data."""
+"""Script to initialize the database and populate it with initial data."""
 
 import sqlite3
+import os
+
+# Constants
+DB_PATH = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'animal_shelter.db')
+
 
 def create_database_tables(conn):
     """Create tables for the database if they do not exist."""
@@ -28,6 +33,7 @@ def create_database_tables(conn):
     ''')
     conn.commit()
 
+
 def populate_initial_data(conn):
     """Populate the database with initial data for testing."""
     cursor = conn.cursor()
@@ -47,6 +53,7 @@ def populate_initial_data(conn):
     
     conn.commit()
 
+
 def initialize_database(db_path):
     """Initialize the database by creating tables and populating initial data."""
     conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path)
@@ -60,7 +67,6 @@ def initialize_database(db_path):
     conn.close()
     print("Database initialized successfully with initial data.")
 
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    # Path to the database
-    db_path = 'animal_shelter.db'
-    initialize_database(db_path)
+    initialize_database(DB_PATH)