Animal Welfare Professionals

We are a brand new municiple shelter that is already over full.  Our Police Chief is wiling to help with community outreach but I have to write the plan for him.  Google was no help.  We specifically want to get the word out that we are here to help spay and neuter and can even help feed so please don't dump.  Facebook is not the best option here although we will use it as well.  Does anyone have an action plan for this type of outreach?  

#CommunityPartnerships*

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Laura Jones
Community Development and Grants Manager
City of Wlliston
FL
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Hey Laura!

We use a couple of different methods for advertising our programming. I don't know about your community's demographics, but we have a lot of seniors and those who don't have regular internet access so we try to rely on technology and non-technology based methods to get the word out. 

1. We do make frequent posts on Facebook (including specifically to community pages and groups). We have found that relying solely on your social media page isn't enough to get the word out. 
2. We post laminated flyers at dog parks.
3. We post flyers at pet stores in town.
4. We include in insert in utility bills.
5. We utilize our local media contacts to help get word out via radio and TV. 

Hope this helps!

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Christy Fischer
Shelter or rescue director
Wichita Animal Action League
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Hey Laura, something I would keep on mind is what languages your focus area serves. Providing information in those languages can also increase your engagement. 
When you say you have posted on social media? Which area specifically on facebook have you used? I find the most success in local "buy-nothing groups."

You may also want to survey the area for stakeholders that can spread information for you who already have engaged community members such as schools, churches, etc. 

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Debra Olmedo
RVT
Patitas y Palabras
CA
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Thank you!  Great idea!

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Laura Jones
Community Development and Grants Manager
City of Wlliston
FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-28-2024 02:56 PM
From: Debra Olmedo
Subject: Community Outreach

Hey Laura, something I would keep on mind is what languages your focus area serves. Providing information in those languages can also increase your engagement. 
When you say you have posted on social media? Which area specifically on facebook have you used? I find the most success in local "buy-nothing groups."

You may also want to survey the area for stakeholders that can spread information for you who already have engaged community members such as schools, churches, etc. 

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Debra Olmedo
RVT
Patitas y Palabras
CA
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Pets for Life is a community outreach program and you can find the toolkit here. It explains how to start a community outreach program from the ground up: https://humanepro.org/pets-for-life/tools-and-guides

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Maria Saucedo
GIS Analyst
Pets for Life at HSUS
Baltimore, MD
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If you have a local United Way or other human services organization, you can give them flyers and let them know of your services. If your community demographic includes a lot of people over the age of 60, a press release is a good idea. Many elderly may not have Facebook but may get a hard copy newspaper.

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Renee Milner
Nonprofit Board Member
Animal Shelter Alliance of Rhea
TN
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I love the other suggestions, but wan to add that asking local vet clinics, dog trainers, doggy daycares, etc. to post/share flyers in their lobbies can be helpful. Especially if you have an option to help fund spay/neuter and they can share that information with their clients! 

For us specially , we have a Trap-Neuter-Return program for outdoor cats, and have had several people find it through their vet clinic; same with our fund for assisting with vet bills. 

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Erin Dams
Community Relations Coordinator
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Roanoke VA
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