Features
New Library Articles
In celebration of November as Adopt-a-Senior Pet Month, we have added two new articles to the Petfinder library.
Shelter Challenge Contest
Voting doesn’t stop on 11/4. Keep it up in the $100,000 Shelter Challenge! Visit the Animal Rescue Site to see where your group rates in the challenge – and then use the tools provided on that site to get the word out to your supporters.
Congratulations to the winners so far!
Week 6: Rhode Island SPCA
Week 5: The Oasis Sanctuary
Week 4: Operation Scarlet Inc.
Week 3: SBRKY Small Breed Rescue of Kentucky
Week 2: Happy Labs Rescue
Week 1: Best Friends Animal Society
November is Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month
Encourage your adopters to ‘Fall in Love’ with a senior pet in November. Happy to curl up on your couch or at your feet, older animals’ demanding days are past and concentration is on company. Make the mature pets in your shelter or foster homes stand out – give them special fancy collars or beds; ask a professional photographer to donate his or her time to create great portraits of your adoptable seniors; or have a special senior adoption event at your normal off-site venue.
Blog Highlight
Everyone knows that there are adoptable cats and dogs – but there are many other animals in need as well. One of the liveliest household animals, ferrets can always keep their pet parents entertained with their antics. But, when households have questions about the care of ferrets or can no longer care for the animal, there are ferret-specific rescue groups with expertise that can help. ...Read More.
Promote Your Pets beyond Petfinder
Featured Pet Module
Any Web page can feature adoptable pets, just as we do on the Petfinder.com homepage. Click here to access a file that you can take to local businesses to get them to target your pets. Or, tell them to visit our Featured Pet Module page. This module features one pet at a time. You can specifiy that the module draw from the pet list of one adoption group or many.
Add Petfinder's Pet Search to Your Site
Our Pet List Scroller
dramatically increases visitors to your pet list. Your whole pet list can be featured on any
Web site. Use this to show off your Adoptable, Stray, or Happy Tail pet lists. You can specify
just your organization or several.
From Our Library
Basics of a Successful Adoption Program
It is the responsibility of the animal shelter to seek permanent, responsible homes for the adoptable animals placed in their custody. To that end, shelters need to formulate written policies and guidelines that will be followed when processing adoptions.
While the majority of adoption guidelines are in fact just that, they are still items that must be considered prior to making an adoption decision. It is not effective to rely solely on the individual discretion of the adoption counselor.
It is impossible to act in the best interest of the animals if there are no guidelines. Animals should not be adopted just to prevent euthanasia or haphazardly without forethought of the animal's welfare.
Acting as the temporary guardian of an animal and making a "correct" determination about adoption placement is a difficult task (continued...)
Great Pet Pic - Meet Merry
Thanks, GA11!
Weekly Report from Petfinder
Dear Petfinder.com members,
Your pets are making the news!
Our President-elect is interested in adding a dog to the First Family-to-be. And, he would like to adopt a shelter dog. The question of allergies has arisen and whether the Obamas will be able to find an appropriate dog for their family through adoption. Of course, we all know the answer: YES THEY CAN!!!
And all this talk of adoption is good for all of YOUR adoptable pets. We have had Petfinder.com mentioned as the place to go to find the pet that best matches your family in countless stories in places like Anderson Cooper 360, the San Francisco Chronicle twice, the Contra Costa Times, The Washington Post, The Free Lance-Star, the Chicago Tribune, Ask Dog Lady and the Star-Ledger, plus more blog posts than we can mention (including our own blog).
The Obamas have indicated that they probably will not adopt their dog until the spring. Makes sense – start the new job, move into the new (White) House, get the kids adjusted . . . In the meantime, we can use our collective voices to keep them thinking adoption. Use the online form at http://www.change.gov/page/s/yourvision to thank President-elect Obama for his interest in adopting a pet. Consider a simple, polite message such as this:
Thank you for deciding to adopt a dog for your family. Your choice has brought the very important issue of pet adoption to the forefront of the American consciousness. By doing so, you will save countless adoptable pet lives. Until your family is ready to bring your new adopted pup home, please visit Petfinder.com to see all the great adoptable dogs from which you will be able to choose your First Dog when the time is right.
Have a great adoption week. –K
Pet Stats for Last Week
Total ferrets on Petfinder: 1,207
Total views for small & furries last week: 107,388
SOURCE: Petfinder Pet Stats Browser
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Sponsor-a-Pet Program
Use your Pet Notes to raise money for your organization! If your group has 501c3 status or is a municipal shelter with a designated donation fund, please click here to apply.
Volunteer-finder
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Places to Be
Attend an Adoption Options Workshop
We've brought together some of the most popular presentations and speakers in animal welfare and mixed them with plenty of breaks and networking opportunities.
Adoption Options Stops in 2008
Animal Welfare Conference Calendar
Feel like you're the last to know what is going on? Not any more! We're proud to introduce the Petfinder.com Conference Calendar just for Animal Welfare Pros. Now you can find upcoming training events as well as special celebrations.
