How many times?

For several years, we’ve been consistently raising this issue, and we acknowledge it may feel repetitive. We have also let our frustration be known (and we’ve tried to remain polite but at some point that gets old too). The reason we keep bringing it up is simple: very little ever seems to change to the serious detriment of the animals, many of whom have been sitting for years in cages/enclosures. (We get told off for calling them cages!)We know for a fact that there are fights and deaths, and that animals are getting sick in captivity. At very least shelters need to try more to encourage more people to foster or adopt using their social media pages and websites.

Most people we talk to recognize the power of social media, and statistics show that it significantly increases adoptions. Yet, some facilities still seem unaware, and it’s frustrating for the animals who are left waiting for those responsible for their care to catch up.

It’s ironic that the more we advocate for this cause, the more some facilities seem to resist, get all offended and then totally shut down, claiming that they don’t need help (it’s not them we want to help, it’s the animals) when it is quite clear that they do. It raises an important question: who truly has their priorities in order?

We believe that facilities housing animals should prioritize using digital and social media to promote adoptions. Many animals remain in shelters because staff and volunteers may lack the skills or resources to effectively share their stories. In today’s world, social media is essential for reaching potential adopters—something every shelter animal deserves.

If facilities are unsure how to use social media, finding someone who can assist should be an absolute top priority and not just keep advertising for people to clean the poop.

There’s no need to wait for a professional photographer; a modernish phone camera can capture great images too. (We will even edit them for free.)

A few well-timed posts can make a significant difference in helping these animals find loving forever homes. We know because we are actively doing it and it works.

Is something else at play here because we just don’t understand how much longer it will take for this message to resonate.