Hooters for Neuters

Contributed by:
No More Homeless Pets in Utah
324 S. 400 W., Suite C
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
http://www.utahpets.org/

To reach men who might feel uncomfortable neutering their pets for fear it will take away their masculinity, NMHP Utah marketed this program with the slogan: "real men neuter their best friends." They collaborated with Hooters Restaurants, where men can enjoy free wings while visiting with the Hooters girls and watching sports games while their pet is neutered on a mobile spay/neuter unit or transported to a nearby clinic. Animals are returned to Hooters for pick-up.

What You'll Need

• Advertising materials preferably featuring Hooters girls (table tents, flyers, posters, newspaper ads, etc.)
• A marketing plan
• List of other needs (donated donuts and coffee for volunteers, t-shirts, etc.)
• To decide if you will do additional fundraising: sports item auction, car/dog wash with Hooters girls, raffles.

Talk to a group who has done the promotion so you can be prepared: Utah had 159 guys line up at 5:00 a.m.! You'll want to have a backup plan with vouchers in the event that more "real men" show up than you can handle.

What You'll Do

Contact your local Hooters Restaurant and ask who handles their special events. It may be a regional person. Hooters corporate office is aware and supportive of this program, but it is up to individual stores to decide to participate. Find out what your local Hooters can provide. Many stores donate wings and/or pasta salad, and are willing to help with promotion by providing use of their marquee, and help creating banners, table tents, and radio ads. Others provide Hooters girls to help with surgery check in on-site.

• Find a location to do the surgeries either a mobile unit or clinic.
• Schedule volunteers to help check in clients and complete paperwork, return animals, and any fundraising done the day of the promotion.
• Print materials to promote the event. It helps to display print materials at places men frequent such as bars, gyms and sports facilities.

What You'll Want to Know

Make sure you have a clear understanding of what Hooters will provide and what you will provide.

Know your target audience and how to reach them—if you aren't the best person to market this program, find someone who can do it well.

Resources

No More Homeless Pets Utah is willing to share their original artwork for you to use to produce your event. If you are interested in receiving the artwork, please contact us.