Based on what I've seen other organizations do successfully, promoting it about 2–3 weeks in advance seems to strike the best balance. It gives people enough time to plan without letting the excitement die out.
If you promote too early, the risk is that people see it, think "I'll go when it gets closer," and then forget. The benefit, though, is more time to highlight your pets and-since our goal is to empty the shelter-more time to make a strong foster plea.
Promoting too late can create urgency and energy, but it also limits your reach and makes it harder to line up fosters or volunteers.
Since your goal is to clear the shelter, one idea could be:
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Julie Beatty
Grants Coordinator
Ziva Dog Rescue
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-24-2025 12:52 PM
From: Shelley McElravey
Subject: No charge adoption events
When hosting a no charge adoption event, how far in advance do you promote it? What are the pros and cons of promoting it too soon or too late. Our goal is to empty the shelter and may need to combine it with a plea for fosters too.
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
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Shelley McElravey
Director of Animal Welfare
Langley Animal Protection Society
Langley BC
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