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Reuniting Lost Dogs with Their Families Their Families

LOST DOGS ILLINOISLOST DOGS OF WISCONSIN

YOUR PRESENTERS

Kathy Pobloskie, Interim DirectorLost Dogs of Wisconsin

Susan Taney, DirectorLost Dogs Illinois

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THE PROBLEM

• An estimated 40 to 60 percent pof shelter animals are lost pets.

• Lost dogs take up shelter space required by truly needy animals.

• Average national reclaim rates f d i 20%for dogs is 20%.

• There is minimal “cross-communication” between shelters and Animal Control facilities.

Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and Lost Dogs Illinois were formed to address this problem that results in the unfortunate death of thousands of shelter animals each year.

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OUR MISSION• Reunite lost dogs with their owners by educating

owners and the public on effective methods of finding lost dogslost dogs.

• Provide finders of lost dogs with tools to facilitate more reunions with their owners.

• Reduce the number of “strays in shelters and animal control facilities.

• Protect lost dogs and the public from injury in traffic accidents caused by loose dogs.

• Educate the public on keeping their dogs safe.

WHY SHOULD A SHELTER WANT TO IMPROVE

RETURN-TO-OWNER RATES?RETURN TO OWNER RATES?

• Decrease shelter population

• Decrease stress and sickness in shelter population

I d ill i th it• Increase goodwill in the community

• Increase donations

• Increase revenue from microchip clinics and tag sales

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When we posted on our Facebook pages in early December that Lost Dogs of Wisconsin and Lost Dogs Illinois had helped reunite 968 dogs safely in late 2011(an additional 57 deceased) a clever fan commented:

“Then you have really saved over 1900 dogs. The ones that went back home and the ones that were able to get 

deceased), a clever fan commented:

adopted because there was room for them.“

‐ A Facebook fan

Rock, missing 100 days.

“By returning the dog home, we don’t stress the dog, we don’t stress the dog’s owner we don’t stress theowner, we don t stress the staff at the shelter, and we don’t stress the other dogs in the shelter.  Everyone wins.  Even the taxpayers win: we spend less of their money.”y

Mitch Schneider, Washoe County Animal Services Director, Nevada

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HELP YOUR COMMUNITY MAKE A PARADIGM SHIFT

“These two pages have changed my view completely of 'stray' dogs. I always thought that dogs who came in as strays to local animal control and shelters were dumped, forgotten, left behind dogs.

To see how many of the dogs who have made it home on these two pages alone proves how changing our views of this issue makes all the difference in keeping families together and eliminating dogs from being killed by shelters.” – A Facebook fan

“SO TRUE!! You wouldn't keep a child walking down the street without trying to find its parents, would you?“

- A Facebook Fan

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WHY DO WE FOCUS ON DOGS?• We needed to focus on one

portion of the problem toportion of the problem to make an impact.

• Cats have very different behavior when they are lost (Difficult to train newlost. (Difficult to train new volunteers to both)

WHY DID WE CHOOSE FACEBOOK?• With a traditional website we would help one person and one

dog at a time.

• With Facebook we have been able to educate thousands of people on how to find a lost dog.

• Websites are complicated and require extensive knowledge and training. You might not want a volunteer accessing your shelter’s website. Facebook is easily taught and used.

• Facebook has 845 million active users. It is estimated that within a couple of years there will be 8 billion mobile devices in use.

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OUR FACEBOOK GROWTHLost Dogs of Illinois: 13,218 likes

Lost Dogs of Wisconsin: 10,476 likes

“This is absolutely the most amazing site!! We have been looking for our puppy for 10 LONG days now & every time I come home & have the energy to get online after a day of disappointment, your success stories give me hope & the strength t k i Th k h!! I d f ll hto keep going. Thank you so much!! I pray every day for all who have a missing pet & share as much as possible. When we find Smokey, I plan to get on here much more & become more active in helping others find their pets. Keep sharing those success stories!! God Bless You!”

- A Facebook fan

INCREASED GOODWILL

Everybody loves a happyEverybody loves a happy reunion.

Posting a picture like this on your Facebook page will tug at heartstrings and give g g gyour fans a good feeling about your shelter.

A 17 year old dog successfully recovered.

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WHO CAN HELP?

• Staff

• Volunteers

• Engaged community animal lovers who are Facebook fans who “like” and “share” our posts (even though these people may not be “official” volunteers)may not be official volunteers)

• Your Facebook fans will start to take a real ownership in the project and will be instrumental to your success.

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ARE YOU CONVINCED?

NOW WHERE DO YOU START?NOW WHERE DO YOU START?

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START SMALLYou will need:

1. One or Two Committed Volunteers 2. A Facebook Fan Page (not a personal profile page)

1. VOLUNTEERSLost Dogs of Wisconsin: Started with 4, Now at 41 volunteersvolunteers

Lost Dogs Illinois: Started with 1, Now at 20 volunteers

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VOLUNTEERS

• There are untapped volunteer resources in your pp y

community!

• People who logistically, physically or emotionally can’t

volunteer in person at your shelter.

• People who are already maxed out on household petsPeople who are already maxed out on household pets

and are unable to foster or adopt but still want to help.

RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS

• Select open minded, non judgmental volunteersnon-judgmental volunteers.

• You will need a lead staff member or volunteer who has an in-depth knowledge of Facebook

Shabby Chic, a very shy puppy mill dog, missing 3 weeks

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VOLUNTEERS CAN BE TRAINED AND WORK FROM HOME

• Set up a separate “closed” Facebook group to communicate with your volunteers.

• Use free conference calls and power point slide presentations for training. (Email the slides, then get everyone on the call at the same time)

ADD VOLUNTEERS AS YOU GROWFacebook 

Administrators

Lost and Found 

Matchers

F llBlogger 

Craigslist Monitors

Follow up

StatisticianFacebook 

post “sharing”

ggTip Writer

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2. SETTING UP YOURYOUR FACEBOOK PAGE

THINK REGIONALLY

• Even though we know l t d t llost dogs can travel long distances; try to stay regional with your postings.

• Biting off more than you chew (nationwidechew (nationwide postings) will overwhelm your fans and volunteers; and reduce success.

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MAXIMIZE YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Use Tabs and Features that Facebook provides.Use Facebook Insights to determine what works and what doesn’t.

KEEP THE PAGE POSITIVE• It does absolutely no good to cast judgments on an

owner whose dog is lost.

• This is a surefire way to shut them out, and crush their spirit. It does absolutely nothing to help find their dog.

• Don’t allow judgmental comments on your Facebook page. The owner needs to be able to check the page every day for leads and tips. They won’t if they feel they are being harassed for losing their dog.g g g

LDI and LDOW’s Facebook Policy:“Comments on page: Fans are asked to be sensitive and supportive to the lost dogs owners no matter what the circumstances or situation. We reserve the right to delete inappropriate, offensive or unacceptable comments.”

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YOUR LOYAL FANS WILL START MODERATING

THE PAGE“Sadly, animal people tend to hold other

animal people and people in general to a whole unrealistic level. Accidents happen. Pets escape, they get out of their collars, the sneak out of the gate, they run out of the door… it's an accident and

l h ld t b d t f l h ibl dpeople should not be made to feel horrible and irresponsible because it's happened. “

- A Facebook fan

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SET FACEBOOK PAGE POLICIES

• No profanity• No pictures that include p

children• No cross-posting of

Craigslist ads • Lost and found pets only,

no adoptions, pleas for help, advertising, etc.

• Develop standard responses for your volunteers so they know how to comment when they see inappropriate posts

ADD TOOLS AS YOU GROW

Facebook

JotformTwitter

Google Docs or SkydriveWebsite

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MORE TOOLS TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER

• Free Conference Calls (freeconferencecall.com or freeconference.com)• Constant Contact (fee)• Constant Contact (fee)• Helping Lost Pets map-based website• Pinterest• Vertical Response (free for non-profits)• Google Docs, Sky Drive, (cloud computing)• Facebook Apps that seamlessly link Facebook and Twitter• Photoshop for photo tips

Mi ft P i t f t i i t ti• Microsoft Powerpoint for training presentations• Youtube for training videos

You will find many skilled, knowledgeable volunteers in your community that can help you use these tools! You just need to ask!

BE MORE THAN A POSTING SERVICE!

Post tips suggestions articles blogs that give ownersPost tips, suggestions, articles, blogs that give owners hope and ideas to get their missing pet home.

“Just used your tip of sitting on the ground with food (I had dog biscuits) and helped a man catch his dog that had gotten loose When I made the man sitloose. When I made the man sit down also, the dog came right to him. It made me look like I knew what I'm doing!! ”- Facebook fan

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TIPS ON LOST DOG RECOVERY METHODS.

“Your tips worked. We have worked the area every day and night looking for hi h di t t t k thim, handing out posters, took out an ad in the weekend paper. Made sure that the police and fire had extra posters for the officers to have in their cars, giving posters to the local streets and sanitation crews, the mail people, the UPS and Fedex drivers, the people at the library, the local vendors, 7-11, gas station restaurants small stores

Give owners the knowledge to help them find their dog.

gas station, restaurants, small stores, etc… just saturating the area. You would have thought it was a WANTED poster instead of a MISSING poster for as pesky as we have made ourselves…. Be glad you don’t live by us!”

- A Facebook Fan

TIPS ON LOST DOG BEHAVIOR

“Too bad they didn't have you guys searching for Osama-- would've found him lickety-split. :)”- A Facebook fan

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TIPS ON PREVENTION

USE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND TO CELEBRATE!

Include details of whatInclude details of what worked and what didn’t work when you post a happy reunion story.

This is a great opportunity to educateopportunity to educate your fans.

Final status report will give you data to help recover the next dog. Tomasa, missing for three days

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LET YOUR FANS KNOW THE OUTCOME, EVEN IF IT IS SAD…

“Thank you again to all the ki d h t d i tkind hearted, compassionate and caring people who have extended their condolences for Sparky. Your kind words will always be remembered and your generous time spent in her search will never bein her search will never be forgotten. I hope to pay it forward.” - Sparky’s owner

RESOURCES WE HAVE DEVELOPED

• Interactive Facebook Page• Standard Responsesp• Jotforms• Volunteer Agreement• Volunteer Manual• Training Powerpoints• Websites• Blogsg• Photo tips• Resource Albums on Facebook• Powerpoints for Owners• Flyers and Handouts• Fact Sheets

PowerPoint for Owners

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PHOTO TIPS

USE PICTURES TO SPREAD YOUR MESSAGE

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FIVE THINGS FLYERS IN SPANISH

EVENTSEvents are fun for volunteers and are a great way to get the word out!

Events where the public are allowed to bring their dog work best.

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EVENTS• Scan dogs for

microchips and give the owners thethe owners the information so they can go home and see if their chip is registered correctly.

• Have your yFacebook page URL on business cards or flyers.

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH

SHELTERS AND RESCUESRESCUES

• Acknowledge when shelters have been involved with a reunion

• Share microchip clinic dates and information

• Shout outs for stray holding facilities, ACO facilities and shelters who post information about lost or found dogs online

• Provide links to above

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ComparisonLost Dogs of WisconsinFormed March 2010

Lost Dogs IllinoisFormed December 2010Formed March 2010

5 million residents2011: 562 (510 safe, 52 deceased)YTD 2012: 505 (458 safe, 47 deceased)I f i d

Formed December 201011 million residents2011: 705 (679 safe, 26 deceased) YTD 2012: 825 (783 safe, 42 deceased)501( ) (3)In process of going under

LDI’s wing10,476 fans

501(c) (3)Best Friends NMHP partner13,218 Fans* (Chicago is third largest city in U.S.)

FIND A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR YOU

St fl ibl• Stay flexible• Empower volunteers • Check your demographics• Research other pages in

your area before you begin (can you workbegin (can you work together?)

• Fail to plan, plan to failPaige, missing 13 days

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OTHER WAYS SHELTERS CAN PROACTIVELY HELP

• Scan every animal that is brought to your shelter for a microchip using “Best Microchip Procedures.” (available from AVMA website)

• Keep detailed records about where and when an animal was picked up and make this information and photo available to the public on your website and/or Facebook page.

• Keep detailed records of calls from people who have lost a pet. Request that they send in pictures of their lost pets and show the photos to your staff members and volunteers immediately after you receive them.

• Use an easily-accessed bulletin board where owners of lost pets are welcome to post their “lost pet” flyers Use a volunteer to maintain the board and keep it up to datetheir lost pet flyers. Use a volunteer to maintain the board and keep it up to date.

• Add links to your shelter’s website to reference articles and other sites that provide owners with reliable advice about how they can find their lost pets.

• Mention whether a dog that is adoptable or impounded was brought to your shelter as a surrender or a stray.

• Scan every animal one last time before adoption or euthanasia

GOOD IDEAS SPREAD!

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CONTACT US!We would love to hear your suggestions, feedback and ideas!

Kathy PobloskieCo-Founder and

Susan TaneyFounder & Director, Lost Dogs Illinois Co Founder and

Interim Director, Lost Dogs of Wisconsinlostdogswi@gmail.com

www.lostdogsofwisconsin.orgwww.facebook.com/findfido

Founder & Director, Lost Dogs IllinoisCo-Founder, Lost Dogs of Wisconsinlostdogsil@gmail.com

www.lostdogsillinois.orgwww.facebook.com/lostdogsillinois

ASPCAPRO WEBINARSwww.aspcapro.org/webinars

• Strategies to Return Pets to their Homes (6/20)• Strategies to Return Pets to their Homes  (6/20)

• Increasing Adoptions: Dog Adoption Ambassadors  (6/21)

• Transfers: Life‐Saving Strategy  (6/27)

• Canine Communications: Introducing Dogs (7/12)

Check out our webinar recordings many featuring past Challenge contestants