diff --git a/backend/utils.py b/backend/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfe1eaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# utils.py
+import sqlite3
+
+def create_tables(conn):
+    """Create tables for the database if they do not exist."""
+    cursor = conn.cursor()
+    
+    cursor.execute('''
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS animals (
+            id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            name TEXT NOT NULL,
+            species TEXT NOT NULL,
+            breed TEXT,
+            age INTEGER,
+            personality TEXT,
+            image_path TEXT,
+            adoption_status TEXT DEFAULT 'Available'
+        )
+    ''')
+
+    cursor.execute('''
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS adopters (
+            id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+            username TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL,
+            password TEXT NOT NULL,
+            email TEXT UNIQUE,
+            join_date TEXT DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+        )
+    ''')
+
+    conn.commit()