Lydford Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hi everyone, As I have time on my hands these days I was thinking of putting together a monthly 'publication' (well information in ring bind folders to be precise) promoting the most needy dogs - not only oldies, but those with medical conditions, those who come as a pair, any dogs who are for whatever reason harder to home. My plan is I would then put these folders in doctors waiting rooms, hairdressers, dentists, the library, anywhere really where people have time to sit and browse. Anyone interested in any of the dogs advertised would initially contact me - so that I could monitor if it is working and which dogs are getting interest and which are not - and I would then pass on the contact details of the relevent rescue centre. If a dog has been homed in the meantime I could inform the caller and maybe try and interest them in one of the others and I would also go and physically update the folders once a month removing any that have been homed and putting in any new dogs. Rescue centres would have to keep me informed of the dogs status. This is probably not a new idea but I have not seen anything like it in my area. Have any of you done anything similar? If so have you any advice, hints, tips etc. Is it ok to do this even? I am just thinking of ways to help. I live in Stafford, so I would be targetting that area, but it is fairly central for any dogs within a 2 / 2.5 hour travelling distance who could be included, maybe even further if there are urgent cases. I thought I would include the three oldies for which there are already posters done - Barney, Naz, and Buzz - thats unless they are already rehomed. Can anyone tell me if they are still waiting? So if any of you know of any dogs who are waiting and that fit the criteria - older, medical / physical problems, need to be homed together - please pm me with the details or a pre-prepared poster if possible, or contact details of the rescue centre where the dogs are at. I am hoping to get the first 'edition' together and out by 8th April so let me have details asap. Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Grose Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 What a BRILLIANT idea - have you had much response, I am in South Derbyshire so about 25 miles east of you - maybe we could pair and blitz this part of the East Midlands together. Anne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 (edited) I think it's a fab idea, and a great way to promote dogs most at need. I hope you don't mind a few comments on the details you've suggested that occurred to me: My main reservation would be using yourself as the initial contact - I'm just worried that (from experience of promoting dogs locally) you are making a lot of work for yourself and putting an extra step in the process of putting people in touch with the rescues involved. It might be better to have slips or leaflets with the various rescue details and give these out so people can make direct contact. You may also have problems getting updates from rescues on which dogs are homed - rescues tend to be very busy and we know from advertising dogs on our site it can be a bit of an uphill struggle getting updates sometimes. You would need express permission from each of the rescues involved (though I can't see why any would object!). For dogs from the Oldies site, for instance, we'd be very pleased for you to promote our own Oldies Club dogs, but you would need to contact the other rescues who advertise on our site individually. Good luck and please keep us updated on how it goes! Edited February 28, 2008 by Fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoT Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 A nice idea but I would be concerned if you were going to quote your own contact details rather than those of the rescue. I'm sure some rescues would object very strongly to this. A great idea to have a folder of dogs' details, but you would need to give the rescues' own numbers as the contact point. People enquiring about rescue dogs can be easily put off if they don't get through to the 'right' person who knows exactly what they want to ask about the dog. I wouldn't like to think that people gave up enquiring about a dog because they had to make two phone calls or were unclear who the dog belonged to or where it was, or even if it was still available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffymad Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 It a great idea but as others have said, best is to not give your personal contact details Normally when I attend a show and have a stall for the Oldies Club, I have a ring book folder with OC oldies and oldies from other rescues in the area printed and filed for people to browse through. I normally have a few extra copies of each dog so if someone is interested, they can take a copy of the print out. The information is basically a copy of the OC website entry to ensure that the correct information is included and it contains the rescues information. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydford Posted February 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Thanks everybody for your support and suggestions. I have not been involved with the rehoming side of things before so I appreciate your advice and will take on board what has been said. I have e-mailed various rescues to get their support and permission and hopefully they will see it as a positive thing. I don't wish the idea to become any extra work for them, I just need them to tell me which dogs they want me to promote and I will do the rest in putting it together. I take your points about contact issues I wasn't sure which way was best to do it. I suppose I was just keen to know that it had produced some enquires but I can always check with the rescues direct for that. So if its best to leave the rescue phone numbers on I will. I just want it to work! So at present I am just liasing with rescue centres and talking to local places so that I can leave the info. I will let you know how it goes and please continue to offer advice, or let me know of any dogs or rescue centres that may be of interest. Anne, Thankyou for the offer I will PM you. Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoT Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Great stuff. You can print off details of the Oldies Club's own dogs directly from their page on our website. When you are set up and ready to distibute the info we can give you a list of our dogs that would benefit from extra promotion. And, going back to your orignal post, Barney and Buzz were both rehomed a few weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydford Posted March 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Hi all, Just a quick update about this. I have managed to secure 5 places so far where they are willing to let me leave the information on the dogs - these include hairdressers, dentist waiting room, dr's waiting room and library, and am working on more. I have taken on board the advice given and will have contact details and adoption procedures for each rescue centre in the books so that they can be contacted direct. I aim to get the first ones out next week so JoT or anyone from Oldies Club can you tell me there are any of the dogs in Oldies care you would particularly like promoted? Also if there are any other rescue representatives reading who know of any other 'special' dogs ; older, medical / behaviour problems, need to be with another dog(s), or have just been in your care a long time and are always overlooked, please let me know so they can be included. If it only manages to rehome one dog it will be worth it. Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoT Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Hiya Kate Sounds like you're doing a good job. We have had a couple of calls from people in your area who have seen posters in supermarkets - are they ones you've put up? As for the oldies needing an extra push, I'd say the most needy ones at the moment are: Bolo and Mitzi Zak Alice Max Not sure whether Fee or Tracey have other ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydford Posted March 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Hi JoT, I have put some of the Oldies posters up in the local supermarkets so it could have been - I hope so! Thanks for the suggestions re the dogs I will pull the information together tomorrow and get them in the books. Lets hope you get some calls as a result of the books as well. Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoT Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 The supermarket posters have been a success already then! We'll let you know if we have enquiries about the dogs as a result of your folders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui d Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Teckels Animal Sanctuary would be happy to have their dogs details included so long as first contact was made to the Sanctuary Our dogs in need and contact details an be seen HERE on our web site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 I'm not sure if you saw this thread, but we have posters already done that you can download for most of our current dogs: http://www.rykat.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=36280 Sounds like it's going really well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydford Posted March 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Hi all, Just to let you know I have six books out at the moment - have managed to get a couple into the outpatients department at the local hospital - lots of people sitting around wanting things to look at - so you never know. Oldies Club dogs included are Bolo and Mitzi, Zak, Max and Alice (Alice is probably fostered too far away but what the heck - if you don't ask.....) Jacqui (Teckels) - have put in Mary, Mr Burns and Taliska and Ranouch for you. Fingers crossed then. I plan to update them in a fortnight and move them to six different locations - yet to be found! - so that they don't start getting overlooked - then after another 2 weeks will put them back at the six original locations etc etc. Will post a reminder just before I update them so any dogs needing including, or hopefully taken out beacise they have a home, can be added or removed. In the meantime if there are any needy causes who you feel need adding straight away please do not hesitate to let me know - either on here or by pm. Cheers, Kate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffymad Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Could you add Scooter&Guiness our 2 mini poodles? They are only 60 miles further than Bolo&Mitzi Thank you for all your support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts