Shelter’s Edge

Yup, you’re in the right place for ongoing coverage of the 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge, during which agencies all across the country will be competing to save more lives from August 1 through October 31. During this first month of the Challenge, many of the 49 contestants have been offering free or fee-waived adoptions. Here’s a sampling of some creative promotions.

P.S. If your agency is featured here, leave a comment and let us know how the promotion went.

Facebook Frenzy Promotion
Valley Oak SPCA, Visalia, CAThrough August 19, adopters received $20 off adoption fees of all dogs and cats featured on Facebook. “Bring in the flyer or mention you saw them on Facebook to receive the discount,” the California Challenge contestant explained to Facebook fans.

Senior Week
Burlington Pet Adoption Center, Haw River, NCAll last week, anyone 60 or older could adopt a dog or cat from the North Carolina agency for a reduced fee of $25.

Catapalooza
Dane County Humane Society, Madison, WI

It’s happening as we write this—the Wisconsin organization’s 29-hour adopt-a-thon, with $29 adoption fees for adult cats.

12th Birthday Black-Tie Event
Austin Pets Alive, Austin, TX

In celebration of the agency’s 12th birthday, all cats and dogs with 51% or more (but who’s counting?!) black fur were available for $12 on Saturday. (All other animals are $12 off regular fees.) Swellegant!

Name Your Own Adoption Fee
Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, Philadelphia, PA

All throughout August, adopters will be able to name their own fee at the PAWS’ facility and offsite locations. And what made us really happy (besides, of course, the video of available PAWS dog Sprinkles, below): the information on their website for folks who might be concerned about the quality of a reduced-fee adoption: “About Name-Your-Own-Fee adoptions: Research shows that reduced and waived adoption fees, when paired with adequate screening, increase lifesaving without decreasing quality of adoptions. At a time when thousands of dogs and cats are entering Philadelphia’s shelters and there are not enough homes for all of them, we’re committed to taking new steps to match as many animals as possible with loving homes.” Very cool, PAWS!

The Amazing Sprinkles from Jennie Ruff on Vimeo.

Related links:
ASPCA $100K Challenge
“Even More Cat Marketing Campaigns, Free and Reduced-Fee Edition”
Fee-Waived Adoptions

Tags: $100K Challenge, Fee-Waived Adoptions, Marketing & Media, Saving Lives, Videos

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