Animal Shelter Heroes: How To Make A Difference In Your Own Community

By Deborah Stone Hess and Donna Ledbetter

Have you found yourself wanting to help your local animal shelter by raising adoption rates or improving the level of care the animals receive, but could never figure out where to start or what you should do to make the most impact? Working to bring about a noticeable change in policies, especially if your initial goals are very ambitious, is ne

• Language: English
• Publisher: Advanced Editorial
• Release date: Sep 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780986404269

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Table of Contents

Animal Shelter Heroes

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1: A Brief History of Pet Shelters in the United States

The Original Animal Shelters

The Start of Something Big

Vets Wanted

Chapter 2: What Can Be Improved About Pet Shelters Today

Shelter Regulation in the United States

Overpopulation and Its Effects

Kill Shelters

Chapter 3: The Process of Modern Pet Shelter Adoption

The Shelter Questionnaire

Why Shelters Need to Know About You

Your Readiness to Adopt

Chapter 4: How Communities Have Improved Pet Shelter Adoptions

Inconsistencies with the Adoption Process and Other Issues

Success Story - Nevada Humane Society

Success Story - Baltimore County Animal Shelter

Chapter 5: How You Can Help Improve Pet Shelter Adoption in Your Local Area

The Effect of Interviews and Media

Streamlining the Adoption Process and Getting the Word Out

American Pets Alive

ASPCA Mobile Adoption

Chapter 6: Conclusion

Appendix A: 101 Ways to Make a Difference: A Hero’s Tactic List

Working with Government

Working with Community Shelters

Working with the Media

Working in Communities

Working on Your Own and Getting Creative

Appendix B: Sample Strategic Goals for Volunteer Supporters of a Local Animal Shelter

Objectives/Vision

Competition

Revenue

Marketing

Animal Shelter Heroes

Advanced Editorial

Publisher, Advanced Editorial, a division of the Quantico Company, LLC

Copyright © 2015 by Donna Ledbetter

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in review.

The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author, Advanced Editorial, or the Quantico Company. The author, Advanced Editorial, and the Quantico Company disclaim liability in connection with the use of this book.

All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Advanced Editorial and the Quantico Company are not associated with any product or vendor in this book.

Published by Advanced Editorial, a division of the Quantico Company, LLC

Website: www.advancededitorial.com

Print: ISBN 978-0-9864042-3-8

E-Book: ISBN 978-0-9864042-6-9

Printed and bound in the United States

Acknowledgements

To begin, the authors would like to thank all the many people around the world who stand up for the voiceless. Whether for youth, the poor, the legions of disenfranchised, or the earth’s animals, everyone needs a champion. This book was inspired by those people.

Throughout the pages of this book you will find the names of organizations and individuals who step up each day to improve the welfare of animals. As you read of their stories, we hope you are encouraged either to join them or support them however you can.

We would also like to acknowledge the many people involved in this book who must go unnamed. Without you, Animal Shelter Heroes would certainly not be possible. Thank you for your many contributions.

Foreword

This journey into animal activism is an unexpected one for me. My background is in reporting. I spent my journalism career, covering people who were involved in causes. I never expected to find myself involved in this way. But if I wanted to be involved in anything, it makes sense that it has to do with animals, as I’ve been an animal lover all my life.

As a child, I wanted a dog so badly, I nagged and nagged, until my parents finally relented. At that time, who knew from animal shelters? We went to a breeder and adopted a Yorkie. It was not until I was in my twenties that I adopted my first dog from a shelter, and once I did, there was no going back. I knew right away, I would never buy a pet from a breeder again.

Now there have been three rescue dogs in my life, my most recent one, named Dewey, found through an intensive search on Petfinder. Finding Dewey was eye-opening for me. I had no idea there are now so many resources available to those who choose to adopt. Not long after I adopted Dewey, I learned of issues involving our local animal shelter and began writing Save 90.