Every Friday, Dogster’s social media gal, Anna Zeman, rounds up the best of the dogcentric Web (outside the awesomeness found right here on Dogster). In case you missed it, check out her first column over here. –Your Friendly Neighborhood Dogster Editors ++++ Hello, furriends! It’s been called to my attention that I just wasn’t giving [...]
Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog
Dogsters, we have written about the upcoming Skechers commercial, and wondered how you feel about it, since, while it’s very cute, it’s shot at a greyhound racetrack notorious for bad conditions for its dogs. Because of this, we got a peek at a letter that a rescued greyhound from that very same racetrack wrote to [...]
Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog
I love this photo. What a good, loyal, patient dog, like most military working dogs. But such a sad, somber occasion — the loss of three Explosive Ordnance Disposal members. I found this photo on the excellent Facebook page of Military Working Dogs, and wanted to share it with you.
Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog
For a wounded soldier home from Afghanistan, it was a special reunion a long time in the making.
A puppy he adopted on the front lines is now with him again in Bethesda, Md.
Donny Eslinger, 20, encountered the dog while on tour of duty in Afghanistan. He traded three cigarettes to become the dog’s owner. He named the dog Smoke Pup Barbarian because of the transaction.
A mortar attack critically wounded Eslinger in September 2011. He was in treated at the Kandahar Airfield Hospital for a broken leg, broken ribs and multiple internal injuries. When Eslinger was later flown to Germany and then the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for more treatment, Smoke was left behind.
A group called The Puppy Rescue Mission heard about Smoke Pup when Eslinger’s squad leader sent a letter telling Eslinger’s story. The group printed part of that letter on its website:
“Smoke was the only bit of morale that made these kids forget where they were and cope with the tragedy we just experienced. It is amazing how therapeutic a little creature can be. Donny took care of that dog up until he was injured. Many of us in his Platoon would love nothing more than to see Smoke reunited with Donny. It would be the only decent thing we would see come from this place.”
Through the efforts of The Puppy Rescue Mission, the dog arrived in Orlando, Fla., last week.
The dog was then transported to Bethesda on Tuesday, where he was reunited with Eslinger.
- Wintry weather got you down? Do like Kitsap Humane Society did last week when Snowpocalypse hit Washington and host a Facebook photo contest! The Silverdale agency asked folks to send in pix of their pets enjoying the snow, and fans were asked to “like” their faves.
They received 109 photos and a ton of engagement—smart social media move, guys! (P.S. Kitsap started this party on Facebook when they had to close to the public due to the storm, but you don’t have to wait for a snow day to try it.)
- Inquiring minds want to know…What strategies have you tried in order to increase numbers of foster homes? I know you’ve got some great ideas, like this one from a Facebook fan: “Tag a Friend! Have current fosters bring in friends to a casual meet and greet to learn about the foster program.”
- Tech it out! Our innovative buddies at Kansas Humane Society have set up a FANCAM in their adoptions lobby—this easy-to-use touchpad tablet computer takes your pic and automatically posts it to a daily album on their Facebook page. Folks also get a copy of the pic emailed to them!
- Does your agency have an official photographer? (Yes, I’m serious!). If your staff can’t always find the time to get great photos, consider finding a professional or talented amateur to volunteer. It can be done. Photographers tend to be generous with their time, and many love the challenge of getting great shots of animals. Lots of you are already doing this, like the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services…
Pro photographer Anne Chadwick Williams knows how to make Einstein shine.
…and Liberty Humane Society. “LHS has a separate photo album on their Facebook page dedicated to volunteer pictures of adoptable pets,” says Nikki Green.
“All volunteers are encouraged to take and submit pictures of cats or dogs interacting with humans, dogs out on their walks, cats playing…including any comments that would help to get them adopted.”
- One to share with the fans on your agency’s Facebook page, in case you haven’t already:
To increase engagement, ask if their pets like music, too. (Personally I’m pretty sure George is all my cats’ favorite Beatle.)
Related links:
ASPCA Research: Fosters as Adoption Agents
10 Shelter Photos We Love
“Take Five Friday: When Twins Adopt, Facebook Photo Albums and Big Dudes Who Love Little Dogs”
A dog’s paw, a sergeant’s boot. “He had huge feet, a huge heart,” Army Sgt. Amanda Ingraham told me of her former military working dog, Rex. I’m posting this photo because Anna Zeman, Dogster’s social media guru, is looking for anything big-dog-oriented for Big Dogs Week on Dogster. And this paw belonged to one big [...]
Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog
I know it’s the middle of winter, but it’s never too soon to start planning your look for next season. I’m predicting pastels will be a hot spring trend, and a soft and lovely departure from all the vibrant neon shades we’ve been seeing. This week’s Dogster Picks pack a pretty punch for you and [...]
Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog
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