Life-Saving Tips for Small Shelters

Webinar presented by Greater Androscoggin Humane Society's:

• Zachary Black, Operations Manager
• Donna Kincer, Development Director
• Steven Dostie, Executive Director

How did a small shelter in Maine save more than 1,300 lives in 3 months and come in third place overall in the 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge? Leaders from Greater Androscoggin Humane Society (GAHS) reveal the secrets to their success, including a review of how they engaged their community, their staff, and especially their volunteers to truly become a little shelter that could. Find out which of their adoption promotions had people lining up at their door and also hear about the promotions they won’t do again – and learn from GAHS’ experiences.

Small agencies who think big will especially benefit from this free, 60-minute webinar but agencies of all sizes will take away ideas for promoting adoptions.

Listen to the recording.

Download the slides. (.pdf)

Check out top tips from this webinar:

• Just Hit Print
  To shave time off an adoption—and free up time for more of ‘em!—have the paperwork for your animals ready to go. That includes spay/neuter and rabies certificates, vaccine records, and special instructions. This preparedness is especially important at adoption events, but it’s a great practice year-round.
• Doggie on Deck
  Cue up a few shelters on speed dial in case you need more animals at an event or following a big promotion. You may not expect to have this “problem,” but it’s best to assume you will—take it from GAHS, a small shelter that’s had to pick up the phone to bring in reinforcements.
• Empower Your Volunteers
  No room in your budget to hire new staff? Train your volunteers as adoption counselors, starting them off with a checklist of the procedure your staff typically follows. GAHS boasts that they’d never do so many adoptions without their volunteers.