While so much of what we do is focusing on animals that have already become homeless, spending a small amount of your annual time and budget on community programs can greatly decrease your intake over time. In this article we will cover common myths of community programs, which programs to prioritize, and how to implementContinue reading “Effective Community Programs”
Category Archives: Community
Keys to a successful adoption event
Off-site adoption events can be a great way to generate interest in any animal at the event but they also get your team out in the community and are a great opportunity for marketing, fundraising, and networking. Whether you frequently have adoption events or if you’re brand new, this article will cover the top thingsContinue reading “Keys to a successful adoption event”
Keeping volunteers engaged
A common issue your rescue or shelter may face is volunteers engagement. It takes a lot of time to recruit and train volunteers so it can be really disappointing when you feel like you don’t have the team you need to succeed. In this article we will cover common reasons volunteers can fade off andContinue reading “Keeping volunteers engaged”
Create and maintain rescue partner relationships
Many rescues and shelters have more animals than they can find homes for in their community. The solution is often to find a partner rescue in a part of the country that has a higher demand. In this article we will go over how to create relationships with partner rescues and how to maintain those relationships to save more animals in your community.
You are not your market – the importance of community polling
Rescues and shelters are often overwhelmed and it can feel confusing about why animals keep ending up in your care. It is important to remember that you are not your market, that is to say our organizations rarely accurately represent our communities which makes it difficult to truly know the community needs and therefor, difficultContinue reading “You are not your market – the importance of community polling”
Expand your volunteer network with special project volunteers
Sometimes it’s hard to consider our shelter or rescue through the eyes of our community. People often have misconceptions of what volunteering could look like. Have you ever heard “I would volunteer but it would just make me too sad” or “My schedule changes too frequently, I can’t commit to a set shift”? Just likeContinue reading “Expand your volunteer network with special project volunteers”
The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of post-adoption follow up
In this article we will cover why post-adoption follow up is necessary, what you should include in that communication, and how to make follow up part of your team’s daily tasks. Why you should follow up Get ahead of problems. Very rarely does someone bring a new animal home without any issues. Maybe they areContinue reading “The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of post-adoption follow up”
Building an online adopter community
Your adopters, if allowed, can be one of a rescue or shelter’s greatest assets. Adopters already know your organization, they believe in you, and more often than not, they are grateful to you for bringing their pet into their lives. So, how do you capitalize on this relationship? You build an adopter community. 1. CreateContinue reading “Building an online adopter community”
Helping animals in your community – keep them out of your shelter
A shelter or rescue’s primary role is to provide care and find suitable homes for animals with nowhere to go. While this effort often takes all hands on deck, dedicating resources to preventing animals from entering your care could save more lives in the end. Let’s go over some places to start. 1. The topContinue reading “Helping animals in your community – keep them out of your shelter”