diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 2f52d4e..865ba36 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -6,29 +6,21 @@
 from flasgger import Swagger
 from utils import create_tables
 
-# Initialize Flask app
 app = Flask(__name__)
-
 Swagger(app)
 
-# SQLite database file
 DATABASE = 'animal_shelter.db'
 
-# Helper function to get a database connection
 def get_db():
-    """Establish a connection to the SQLite database."""
     conn = sqlite3.connect(DATABASE)
-    conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row  # Allows row access by column name
+    conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
     return conn
 
-# Database initialization function to create tables and initial data
 def init_db():
-    """Create tables and add initial data if they don't exist."""
     if not os.path.exists(DATABASE):
         conn = get_db()
         create_tables(conn)
 
-        # Insert initial pet data for testing
         pets = [
             ('Buddy', 'Dog', 'Golden Retriever', 3, 'Friendly', '/images/buddy.jpg', 'Available'),
             ('Whiskers', 'Cat', 'Siamese', 2, 'Independent', '/images/whiskers.jpg', 'Available'),
@@ -38,30 +30,23 @@ def init_db():
             ('Bella', 'Dog', 'Bulldog', 2, 'Gentle', '/images/bella.jpg', 'Available')
         ]
 
-        conn = get_db()
         cursor = conn.cursor()
         cursor.executemany('''
             INSERT INTO animals (name, species, breed, age, personality, image_path, adoption_status)
-            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
-        ''', pets)
+            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)''', pets)
 
         conn.commit()
         conn.close()
 
-# API Routes
 @app.route('/api/pets', methods=['GET'])
 def get_pets():
-    """Retrieve all pets."""
     try:
         conn = get_db()
         cursor = conn.cursor()
         cursor.execute("SELECT * FROM animals")
         pets = cursor.fetchall()
-
-        # Convert rows to a list of dictionaries
         pet_list = [dict(pet) for pet in pets]
         conn.close()
-
         return jsonify(pet_list), 200
     except sqlite3.Error as e:
         print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
@@ -69,13 +54,10 @@ def get_pets():
 
 @app.route('/', methods=['GET'])
 def home():
-    """Home route to welcome users to the API."""
-    return jsonify({'message':
-                    'Welcome to the Pet API! Visit /apidocs for the Swagger documentation.'})
+    return jsonify({'message': 'Welcome to the Pet API! Visit /apidocs for the Swagger documentation.'})
 
 @app.route('/api/pets/<int:pet_id>', methods=['GET'])
 def get_pet(pet_id):
-    """Retrieve a single pet by ID."""
     try:
         conn = get_db()
         cursor = conn.cursor()
@@ -85,10 +67,8 @@ def get_pet(pet_id):
         if pet is None:
             return jsonify({'error': 'Pet not found'}), 404
 
-        # Convert the SQLite row object to a dictionary
         pet_dict = {key: pet[key] for key in pet.keys()}
         conn.close()
-
         return jsonify(pet_dict), 200
     except sqlite3.Error as e:
         print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
@@ -96,41 +76,34 @@ def get_pet(pet_id):
 
 @app.route('/api/pets', methods=['POST'])
 def add_pet():
-    """Add a new pet."""
     try:
         pet_data = request.get_json()
-
-        # Validate required fields
         required_fields = ['name', 'species', 'breed', 'age', 'personality']
+
         for field in required_fields:
             if field not in pet_data:
                 return jsonify({'error': f'Missing required field: {field}'}), 400
 
         conn = get_db()
         cursor = conn.cursor()
-
         cursor.execute('''
             INSERT INTO animals (name, species, breed, age, personality, image_path, adoption_status)
-            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
-        ''', (pet_data['name'], pet_data['species'],
-              pet_data['breed'], pet_data['age'],
-              pet_data['personality'],
-              pet_data.get('image_path', '/images/default.jpg'),
-              'Available'))
+            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)''',
+            (pet_data['name'], pet_data['species'], pet_data['breed'],
+             pet_data['age'], pet_data['personality'],
+             pet_data.get('image_path', '/images/default.jpg'), 'Available'))
 
         conn.commit()
         conn.close()
-
         return jsonify({'message': 'Pet created successfully'}), 201
     except sqlite3.Error as e:
         print(f"An error occurred: {e}")
         return jsonify({'error': 'Internal Server Error'}), 500
 
-# Initialize database on first run
-@app.before_first_request
 def before_first_request():
-    """Initialize the database before the first request."""
     init_db()
 
+app.before_request_funcs.setdefault(None, []).append(before_first_request)
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     app.run(debug=True, use_reloader=False)