Melissa Vecera Shelter Outreach Specialist melissa@petfinder.com - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Melissa Vecera Shelter Outreach Specialist melissa@petfinder.com Lily (with foster kitten Bitsy) 2

3

4

Petfinder History - Created by a couple in NJ with a New Year’s Resolution to do more - When Petfinder was created there were around 100,000 websites total 5

Our Mission To use Internet technology and the resources it can generate to: - Increase public awareness of the availability of high-quality adoptable pets - Increase the overall effectiveness of pet adoption programs across North America to the extent that the euthanasia of adoptable pets is eliminated - Elevate the status of pets to that of family member 6

Top 10 Tips for Increasing Adoptions 1. Pet List 2. Photos 3. Videos 4. Descriptions 5. Homepage 6. Social Media 7. Offline Media 8. Other Promotion 9. For Your Adopted Pets 10. For Your Shelter/Rescue 7

1. Keep an Up-to-Date Pet List - Adoptable pets should ALL be posted - Staff/volunteers should be aware of Petfinder - Automatic upload from most shelter management software programs 8

1. Keep an Up-to-Date Pet List - Scrollers 9

10

1. Keep an Up-to-Date Pet List – Shelter Software Finder 11

2. Post photos, post photos, post photos! - Make that first photo GRAB the adopter’s attention - Follow up with two more great photos 12

2. Post photos! - Fill the frame with the pet - Limit background and floor views - Try to get them to look into the eyes of the adopter - Take your time (at least 5- 10 minutes for each pet whenever possible) - Try to show individual personality 13

2. Post photos! Dogs - Open mouths can look like smiles - Head tilts! - Sitting is best to capture at eye level - Give them a few minutes out of their kennel before photographing - Talk sweetly and cheerfully 14

2. Post photos! Cats - Try not to hold the camera in front of your face - Place cats on tables/chairs - Add props - Hang a dangling object from the camera 15

2. Post photos! 16

2. Post photos! Tips: - Sheets - Squeaky toy in mouth - Apps. (Pose a Pet) - Chip bag - Paperclips in medicine bottle - Natural looking headshot Camera Settings: - Flash - Portrait - Sport 17

2. Post photos – Light Box (Petfinder Pro Blog) 18

Photographing Black Animals - Natural light is best - Keep them out of direct sunlight - Light colored backgrounds 19

Petfinder Pro Photography 20

21

Photography Webinars 22

Meet the Real Me https://www.purinashelterchampions.com/our-programs/the-real-me 23

3. Add video - Video can turn interest into an adoption - Let adopters know what to expect - Keep it short - Focus on the pet 24

3. Add Video 25

26

3. Add Video 27

28

4. Pet Descriptions - Find your groove • first person vs. protector - Tell a compelling pet description - Begin with positives - Give your visitors a treat every now and then 29

30

31

32

33

5. Use Your Petfinder Homepage Create a Custom URL 34

Simple Set-up 35

Simple Set-up 36

Advanced Set-up 37

Advanced Set-up 38

6. Social Media 39

6. Social Media - Who controls? Staff – more continuity - Volunteers – saves staff for other tasks - Have a policy in place – sample policies available for free from - TheSocialAnimal.com - Link to social media accounts from website Don’t overwhelm your followers (up to 2 -3 posts/day) - Don’t bore your followers (show different types of pets, mix events with - fundraising, etc.) - Make sure to interact/follow-up! 40

6. Social Media - Webinars 41

7. Offline Media - Use offline media as another outlet to share your pets and organization - Two ways using Petfinder: - Kennel Cards - Business Cards 42

7. Offline Media – Kennel Cards 43

7. Offline Media – Kennel Cards 44

7. Offline Media – Business Cards 45

7. Offline Media 46

8. Other Promotion - Petco kiosks - Press team (press@petfinder.com) - Shelter Pet Project - App. (iPhone, iPad, and Droid) - Adoption Celebration Months 47

48

49

50

51

Adoption Celebration Months February – Adopt a Rescued Rabbit March – Adopt a rescued Guinea Pig April – Adopt a Rescued Ferret October – Adopt a Shelter Dog November – Stand Up for Senior Pets December – Foster a Lonely Pet 52

9. For Your Adopted Pets (and Adopters) - Pet insurance - Microchips - Happy Tails 53

9. For Your Adopted Pets (and Adopters) Pet Insurance - Comprehensive pet health insurance policy for adopters - NO age restrictions - Use any vet and no preauthorization - Effective 12:01am ET following activation - Claims paid within 2 weeks - Riders available for specific exclusions (like hereditary defects), wellness visits and family plans. - NEW Pre-Paid 30 Day 54

9. For Your Adopted Pets (and Adopters) Microchips - Never buy microchips again! - Register microchips at the time of adoption for only $10.99 for life. - For each enrollment, you earn a FREE chip. - Give your adopters the chance to protect their new pet instead of becoming a statistic and protect your budget at the same time. 55

9. For Your Adopted Pets (and Adopters) - Microchips - Petfinder launched the first free microchip program ever - 1 in 3 pets will get lost - As of 2012 there have been over 1,000,000 reunions through HomeAgain - HomeAgain is proactive – they notify vets and local people in a zip code when a pet is lost 56

9. For Your Adopted Pets (and Adopters) Happy Tails 57

10. For Your Shelter/Rescue AWIP – Animal Welfare Insurance Program https://pro.petfinder.com/special-offers/affordable- liability-insurance/ 1. Liability Insurance for shelters/rescues 2. General Liability, Directors and Officers and Volunteer Insurance coverage 58

10. For Your Shelter/Rescue Kuranda https://pro.petfinder.com/special- offers/kuranda-beds/ 1. Purchase at a 35% discount 2. Dog beds, cat beds, and cat towers 3. Great for shelters: durable and easy to disinfect 4. Donate-a-Bed program 59

60

10. For Your Shelter/Rescue - Conference Calendar - We can include your event! - http://pro.petfinder.com / calendar - Petfinder library Tons of information - - Print for your adopters - Training for staff 61

10. For Your Shelter/Rescue Conference Calendar 62

10. For Your Shelter/Rescue Petfinder Library 63

64

Petfinder Pro Social Media Join Us! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ PetfinderPro Twitter: @PetfinderPro #AdoptionOptions Blog: https://pro.petfinder.com/blog 65

Petfinder Foundation • Supports Petfinder members! • Grant Types: Quality of Life – Includes emergency medical, operational, and product grants (food, toys, pet beds, vaccinations) Disaster & Emergency Response – Includes support following natural and man-made disasters NEW *Adoption Options in Action* – Helps you implement what you learned here Complete the post event evaluation to be eligible to apply! • Sponsor a Pet – Lets you fundraise on your Petfinder pet profiles! o Unrestricted cash grants straight to you, disbursed quarterly o Includes donor contact info so you can cultivate your donor base http://www.petfinderfoundation.com

Thank you! 67

Extra free FortaFlora! Two ways: - Tweet something you learned today using hashtag #AdoptionOptions - Leave a comment on Petfinder PRO Facebook page about today https://www.facebook.com/PetfinderPro 68