Rescue groups are realising that to be effective in their life saving mission, they must a adopt a client focussed mentality and implement programs and policies which encourage adoptions.
One of the most effective ways to make it easy for people to choose rescue, is to open at times that are convenient to the average pet owner. Most people work a 8am – 5pm day, so a shelter being open only within these hours doesn’t make it easy for people to adopt.
However, Twilight opening hours have never been trendier. If your shelter isn’t getting into evening adoptions you need to be asking yourself… why not?
First up, Animal Aid Victoria who listened to the feedback of their clients and are opening until 7pm on Thursdays and Fridays through the summer period.
Next is the RSPCA Victoria, who have recognised that working families simply can’t get to the shelter during the day and who have decided to offer ‘late night shopping’ hours on a Thursday.
Our Burwood East and Peninsula Adoption Centres are open until 7.30pm on Thursday evenings from 12 November until 4 March, 2010.
RSPCA Animal Welfare Shelter Manager Andrew Foran says that Twilight Adoption is to provide young professionals, families with children and people who maintain busy daytime activities on weekdays and weekends with the opportunity to attend the RSPCA shelter after 5.00pm to look for an animal for adoption.
The RSPCA Queensland have gone Twilight crazy, using the opening of the new film as a nice segway to a media blast.
Twi-hard RSPCA
AS New Moon the second film based on Stephenie Meyer’s wildly popular Twilight series opens in cinemas tomorrow, the RSPCA is getting into the spirit.
With “twi-hards” across the city in a frenzy of excitement, RSPCA staff at the Fairfield shelter are dressing up as film characters.
The campaign is aimed at highlighting the animal society’s new adoption times which have been extended into the twilight hours. The shelter is now open from 9am-6pm, seven days.
“We wanted to make the most of the extra light to meet our target of adopting out 2500 animals in Brisbane,” RSPCA customer service manager Ronelle Reid said.
“Last year, we just missed out on meeting that figure, and this year we hope people will dig deep to give our animals much-needed new homes this Christmas.”
These guys have gone above and beyond with their pledge to save lives, not only opening until 6pm, 7 days a week, but transporting needy pets interstate, offering their community in-store adoptions and leading the way in off-site programs with their mobile pet adoption vehicle.
Shelters who innovate to turbo-charge their adoptions save lives.
There is an excellent presentation from Maddies Fund on the Nevada Humane Society which outlines dozens of cheap and easy marketing techniques for shelters – be sure to check it out.
