Shelter’s Edge

- If you’re the least bit worried about how the Internet has tweaked our individual and collective psyches, don’t read Dr. Elias Aboujaoude’s new book, Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality. The Stanford University psychiatrist talks about how our offline selves may be irrevocably damaged by our online alter egos, complete with chapters on narcissism, infantile regression and Internet addiction. Eeep! We’ve all probably posted stupid stuff without thinking, but take comfort—and practical suggestions—from @TinyBuddha’s recent blog post, “Ten Mindful Ways to Use Social Media.” Very cool: #4. Have you ever asked your Facebook fans or Twitter followers if there’s any service you could provide for them?

- Kick-butt idea for Facebook: Check out this photo album created by our ASPCA partner agency, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation. You guys may think, “Oh, the public doesn’t want to see a sink full of dog bowls!” Yes, yes, I promise you they do! A lot of the people I talk to have no idea what goes on at shelters beyond the lobby and before and after adoptions hours, and just might be interested to learn that yes, shelters have to launder the animals’ toys, too…

…or get a glimpse of the pet pantry.

And P.S., the album does double duty as a thank-you note to their volunteers and staff, courtesy of this sweet intro: “This is just a tiny glimpse of what we have to do every morning for 300-400 animals. With 2 kennel attendants to cover all of these duties 24/7, plus 100 more not noted here, it is an adventure. Thank goodness for the volunteers and admin staff who are wiling to help with all the behind the scenes cleaning and feeding and laundry and dishes.”

- What do you think of this article in the Las Vegas Sun on shelters using social media to get animals adopted? Hmmm…here’s another idea—how about pitching a similar story to your local media about the amazing stuff your agency is doing? And if you’ve reunited lost pets with their owners using Facebook or Twitter…now that would be a juicy read, too!

- Facebook status of the week:

Lovin’ how Atlanta Humane Society works the Westminster angle! We’ve seen lots of “adopt a mixed breed” messaging in response to purebred dog shows, but here AHS put a refreshing, positive spin on this…and ties it into current events to boot.

- Not just another gratuitous cute puppy video:

Click image to watch the video.

A feel-good Friday flick documenting the arrival of a transport of 45 pups from Alabama’s Shelby Humane Society, an ASPCA partner agency, to the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in Lewiston, ME. “Look,’ wrote my ASPCA colleague Susan Britt, Senior Director, Shelter Training, who sent this happy vid my way, “all staff are smiling, wearing gloves and putting collars on ‘em!”

Tags: Adoption Marketing, Adoption Programs, Marketing & Media, Photos, Saving Lives, transport, Videos

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