I just watched this show for the first time on this Saturday morning. As an aside, I love that now on Saturday you can watch Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer), Vet shows, rescue shows, and wildlife shows. Kudus for that.
Save Our Shelter, what a great idea for a show. They pick a shelter in need, and give it a makeover, inside and out. Today they went to Pug Nation in Gardena, CA. Please consider donating as the owner has been rescuing pugs for years. They updated her rescue van, the inside of the building, and updated her social media.
It is a nice reminder that curb appeal matters. Many of us won't buy a house in need of work. Or we wouldn't give a supermodel a second look without her makeup and designer clothes. Appearance matters to our society. Same for the dogs. And where they are housed.
I have learned I can take a matted, skinny, unruly dog in an overcrowded shelter and give it a makeover, getting it a home almost immediately after it comes to my house. Same dog- just different environment, look, and approach.
There is a big movement all over the world to take GOOD pictures of the dogs up for adoption. Use professional shots. Dress them up. No crappy pictures of them in a cage cowering near their own poop. The problem is most of the rescues and shelters have very little funds and they are overwhelmed with dogs in need. And many lack the social media expertise to help the dogs reach more viewers.
Definitely all shelters and rescues should have a nice entry (like boarding facilities to drive more people in), and an adoption wall of pictures of dogs available with a profile. Everything needs to be clean and people must be friendly. And social media is a MUST. Facebook, Instagram. Websites. Twitter. Blogs. You need a strategy to get the message out. I love social media for that.
I hope people can look past poor facilities and marketing, sometimes bad locations, and foster/adopt dogs rather than buy them from a breeder. With a little effort, planning and funds- some of these great shelters/rescues can really shine. Give time, money, or expertise (photographer, dog trainer, builder, painter, web guru, driver/mechanic) when you can. That will also help save lives.
Envision what a dog will look like with love, food and medical care. Most dogs do not react well when dumped at a shelter. They are scared, confused, depressed, anxious, and/or aggressive. It doesn't take long to see another side, if you give them a chance. So let's give them a chance.
It is my dream along with many others that one day we won't need many shelters or rescues....that every dog, cat, pig, ferret, bird, horse, etc. will have a good home waiting for it. Overpopulation of pets is within our control. Spay/neuter, foster, adopt, educate, donate. Show the love for mixed breeds (thus lowering demand for breeders of purebreds). Eliminate puppy mills. The message is getting out, with your help and mine.
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