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I need help!!! What should be our next step? We are trying to reduce euthanizing stray dogs, and socialize them to find good homes.

  • 1.  I need help!!! What should be our next step? We are trying to reduce euthanizing stray dogs, and socialize them to find good homes.

    Posted 6 hours ago

    I'm in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, North Carolina, and I'm working on developing a community-based approach to animal stewardship that starts upstream of shelter intake. I need help!!! What should be our next step? We are trying to reduce the number of stray dogs euthanized and socialize them to find good homes. We have access to land and willingness; we just need infrastructure and support. Thank you! 

    What especially caught my attention from a recent post was the shift from "Will you fund our nonprofit?" to "Here is a community project your municipality can co-own." I think there is something powerful there, particularly in a county where different municipalities and community organizations may each have a role to play.

    I'd love to learn from what others are building in other counties, especially:

    • How did you identify the first municipalities to approach for partnerships?

    • What made a municipality say yes?

    • How are you structuring the financial commitments and accountability?

    • What does the volunteer infrastructure look like behind the clinics?

    • How are you recruiting and retaining veterinarians?

    • Have you identified specific volunteer roles that can be done without veterinary credentials?

    • Are you building an advisory group or steering committee, and if so, who is represented?

    • What data are you collecting to demonstrate that the work is reducing shelter intake or owner surrender?

    • What would you do differently if you were starting over?

    I'm particularly interested in the people infrastructure behind any models-not just the clinic itself. If anyone here has experience building countywide volunteer networks, veterinary partnerships, municipal coalitions, advisory boards, fundraising models, or prevention programs, I would love to learn from you.

    I'm interested in studying what you've learned and seeing what pieces could be responsibly adapted here rather than trying to reinvent them.

    If anyone in North Carolina has built something similar, I'd especially love to connect.


    #CommunityPartnerships*

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    JOY WILLIAMS
    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    HOPE TO THRIVE
    NC
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