Shelter’s Edge

Whether you’re thinking about holding your first reduced-fee adoptions event or looking for a new variation on the “free cats” theme, a Name Your Price promotion can get you great media coverage, increased space for foster returns and…ta da!…more cats adopted.

In the first 5 hours of their first Name Your Price adoptions event, Tri-County Humane Society had adopted out 15 cats, three dogs and a chinchilla—compared to an average of about 8 animals going out on a normal day.

Take a tip from Tri-County Humane Society‘s Vicki Davis, who recently ran a Name Your Price cat adoptions promotion at her St. Cloud, MN, shelter that was so successful, a follow-up event was planned immediately:

1. Putting A Value On It=Priceless
Give adopters an idea of what they’re getting financially with their new pet.  In addition to your regular adoption fees, itemize the “fair market value” of everything you do for the cats: vaccinations, spay/neuter, etc. Having those figures down in black and white may spur some adopters to pay more than they would have otherwise.

2. Pitch It Real Good
Newspapers and radio stations love animal stories–especially those with a neat angle like Name Your Price adoptions. “Our local media thought it was great fun to talk about,” says Davis, who received coverage before and after the event.

3. Here (Doesn’t) Come Da Judge
“Prep your staff not to judge the folks who come in and say they want to pay only $5 or nothing at all,” advises Davis. “We have to honor our promotion without question and not use their offer as a screening mark against them.” Remember—if people offer to pay a small fee, they’re just doing what you asked them to do. (At the Tri-County Humane Society promotion, notes Davis, once adopters relaxed and realized they wouldn’t be judged, their offers were very reasonable—and “nobody tried to give us nothing!” adds Davis.

More advice on “Name Your Price?” Read the full-length article here.

Tried a similar promo at your agency? Tell us how it went!

Related links:
Name Your Price Cat Adoptions
Fee-Waived Adoptions
Adoption Promotions
“Take Five Friday: Free Dogs, Free Massages and Shelter Staff Auctioned Off on eBay”

Tags: Adoption Marketing, Adoption Programs, Fee-Waived Adoptions, Saving Lives

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