In research conducted in the American Southwest between 2012 and 2015 on public and scientific perceptions about animal testing, I found that overwhelmingly, both laypersons and scientists had a disdain for the use of animals in cosmetic testing. To many, the torture and abuse of animals simply for humans to look, feel, and smell better, was simply an untenable concept. Conversely, the use of animals in testing biomedical products to save the lives of humans was seen as not only necessary but also noble – both for the animals who are sacrificed and for the scientists who devote their lives […] Read more »
Start with your animal rescue why. According to the Humane Society of the U.S. statistics, in 2012 there were 162 million pets in the United States alone. 62% of american households had at least one pet with many being multiple pet households. In other words, americans in general have an ever growing bond with their pets. Whether they were raised with pets or discovered their unconditional love at another point in their lives, animals have become important to them. When I discuss animal rescue with people I usually start out with a question “Are you familiar with animal rescue or […] Read more »
The holidays are fast approaching! With Thanksgiving coming up we can’t wait to see family and friends, but it is important to know how the holidays can affect our pets. Thanksgiving traditions can carry hazards to our pets so follow these tips and keep your furry friend safe. We all know Thanksgiving calls for eating unimaginable amounts of food (that may even be unhealthy) but it is also a risk to pets. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation gives us these food safety tips: Keep the feast on the table—not under it. Eating turkey or turkey skin – sometimes even a […] Read more »
If you do any type of travel with your pets, you’ll want to make sure you have the appropriate documentation for intrastate, interstate or international travel. But paperwork is only one piece of ensuring you are prepared. You need to understand the rules and laws around how to secure the animals. Let’s break this down for you. First, we highly recommend checking out the awesome resources on Doobert.com for import requirements by each U.S. state (State Resources Map). This is a great place to start to see what is required to transport animals into each state in the U.S. Next, […] Read more »
There’s nothing cuter than kids and animals playing together. But it’s important to teach kids how to interact with animals and how to treat them with care and respect to avoid any challenging situations. Kids of all ages can learn how to care for and treat animals just like they learn how to treat other kids. The key is positive reinforcement and understanding. We know that complex rules or instructions are often hard for younger kids to remember so we’ve tried to slim these down into easy to remember rules for kids: Ask nicely – Many people teach their children […] Read more »
You know it and we know it. Finding sustainable sources of revenue to support your animal rescue operations is hard work. But if you’re reliant solely on adoption fees, you’ll quickly realize that your model is unsustainable and you’ll quickly be looking for new ideas to keep the funding flowing in. So you’ve gotta think creatively and work collaboratively to get some other sources to support your life-saving operations. Here are some ideas to spark your thinking and we’d love to hear your ideas! Partner up – You’ve probably noticed the trend lately is going pet friendly. So jump on […] Read more »
Let’s face it. It’s hard to create compelling profiles on sites like Petfinder or Adopt-a-pet for animals that need to be adopted. And depending on the volume of profiles you’re looking to create, you may find yourself cutting corners and skimping on the details in order to get done faster. We know we don’t have to tell you how important getting these profiles done right is so we’re not going to lecture you but rather give you our tips and tricks for how to create profiles that grab attention and feature your adoptees properly. I oughta be in pictures – Ok […] Read more »
In past years, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers have out-ranked all other dog breeds as being the “most dangerous dogs.” These breeds are often misunderstood due to their large size, strength, and instincts to protect. Whenever there is a headline about one of these breeds, it is almost always negative; the news highlights child attacks and abuses the most. This forges a scary image of these dogs of having a short temper. Today, Pit Bulls have taken the number one slot on the hierarchy, resulting in about 800,000 to 1 million dogs of the breed being euthanized out of […] Read more »
It seems that most animal rescue organizations can never find enough foster homes. We often hear “If we only had more fosters we could…” (insert your favorite program here). So let’s lay it out there. There are 323 million people in the U.S. alone and ~70 million households with pets. Lots of people to choose from in other words, so let’s talk about how to find them and spark your thinking on innovative programs to grow your team. However, before we highlight the ways to advertise and bring in new applicants, we recommend that you first revisit your foster application process to ensure it’s streamlined […] Read more »
Foster homes are often like the prize in a cracker jack box. You are excited at the potential, anticipate the finding, and expect them to be great. But just like the press on tattoos in the cracker jack, foster homes can often be disappointing when compared to your expectations. So what’s an organization to do when a foster just isn’t living up to your expectations? Maybe they aren’t showing up to events, providing the updates, or following your protocols. Or maybe they are rude to your team or not treating potential adopters in the way that best represents your organization. Whatever […] Read more »