icawc 2011: emily garman - mega-adoption events

Empty Every CageEmpty Every CageProducing a Successful Producing a Successful

Mega-Adoption EventMega-Adoption Event

Emily Garman, TheSocialAnimal.com Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

What is a What is a Mega Adoption Event?Mega Adoption Event?

““Mega” Usually Means…Mega” Usually Means…

• More than 100 pet adoptionsMore than 100 pet adoptions

• Extended or unusual time periodExtended or unusual time period

• Event-focused (has a theme)Event-focused (has a theme)

• YOU decide what else!YOU decide what else!

Central Oklahoma Humane Central Oklahoma Humane Society Mega-Events & StatisticsSociety Mega-Events & Statistics

Oklahoma City…Oklahoma City…

• 600,000 people600,000 people

• 621 square miles (1,000 square km)621 square miles (1,000 square km)

• 1 “open admission” municipal shelter1 “open admission” municipal shelter

• Shelter processes 19,000 animals per yearShelter processes 19,000 animals per year

• 48% leave alive48% leave alive

Central Oklahoma Humane SocietyCentral Oklahoma Humane Society

• 5 years old in January5 years old in January

• First Humane Society First Humane Society in Oklahomain Oklahoma

• No shelter – all foster No shelter – all foster homeshomes

• 2,500 – 3,000 adoptions each year2,500 – 3,000 adoptions each year

• TNR and public, low-cost spay/neuter clinicTNR and public, low-cost spay/neuter clinic

We are working to eliminate We are working to eliminate the euthanasia of healthy, the euthanasia of healthy,

adoptable animals in adoptable animals in Oklahoma City.Oklahoma City.

Central Oklahoma Humane Central Oklahoma Humane Society Events & StatisticsSociety Events & Statistics

• Midnight Woofness I: A WoofSummer Night’s Dream, Midnight Woofness I: A WoofSummer Night’s Dream, June 2010June 2010

• Goal: Goal: 300 adoptions 300 adoptions Record: Record: 388 adoptions388 adoptions

• Participating shelter groups: 6Participating shelter groups: 6


• Midnight Woofness II: Fall in Love, October 2010Midnight Woofness II: Fall in Love, October 2010




• Midnight Woofness III: Under the Big Top, May 2011Midnight Woofness III: Under the Big Top, May 2011

• Goal: Goal: 500 adoptions 500 adoptions RecordRecord:: 565 adoptions 565 adoptions



• Midnight Woofness IV: A True Homecoming, October Midnight Woofness IV: A True Homecoming, October 20112011



Petfinder.com Birthday Petfinder.com Birthday Celebration WeekendCelebration Weekend

• 1 weekend, July 20111 weekend, July 2011

• Goal: Goal: 15,000 adoptions 15,000 adoptions in one weekendin one weekend

• Participating shelter groups: 1,063Participating shelter groups: 1,063

• Record: Record: 15,700 adoptions15,700 adoptions!!

You’ll Need…You’ll Need…

• 4 to 6 months planning time4 to 6 months planning time


• Good relationships with other shelters Good relationships with other shelters and rescues in your communityand rescues in your community


• People (300 – 400 volunteers for our People (300 – 400 volunteers for our event!)event!)


• Money! (or get everything donated)Money! (or get everything donated)


• Place to have itPlace to have it


• ThemeTheme


• Media AttentionMedia Attention


• Community EngagementCommunity Engagement


• crates/cagescrates/cages


• Internet AccessInternet Access


• shelter/electricity/watershelter/electricity/water

Some Questions…Some Questions…And Things We LearnedAnd Things We Learned

What about the WEATHER?What about the WEATHER?

• Do it at a nice time of yearDo it at a nice time of year

• Fans & shade if it’s hotFans & shade if it’s hot

• Tents stay warm if it’s coldTents stay warm if it’s cold

• Plenty of waterPlenty of water

• People come anywayPeople come anyway

Adoption Fees & ProcessesAdoption Fees & Processes

• Groups usually can’t agreeGroups usually can’t agree

• Consider lowering adoption feesConsider lowering adoption fees

• ““On-site,” “open” adoptionsOn-site,” “open” adoptions

• Instead of finding reasons NOT to adopt to someone, why not find a Instead of finding reasons NOT to adopt to someone, why not find a way to HELP that person become a great pet owner?way to HELP that person become a great pet owner?

How do Cats Fare?How do Cats Fare?

• We had trailers – climate controlled, quietWe had trailers – climate controlled, quiet

• Don’t bring highly nervous or stressed Don’t bring highly nervous or stressed catscats

• Indoors is bestIndoors is best

““But Off-Site But Off-Site Adoption Events Adoption Events

are SCARY!”are SCARY!”

Not as scary as living your Not as scary as living your whole life in a shelter.whole life in a shelter.

• Animals get more interaction with peopleAnimals get more interaction with people

• Stressed out for 1 day, and then get a Stressed out for 1 day, and then get a home… vs. a lot more time sitting home… vs. a lot more time sitting “calmly” in a shelter cage“calmly” in a shelter cage

How do you spread the word How do you spread the word and get people excited?and get people excited?

• Social MediaSocial Media

• Word of mouthWord of mouth

• Posters/PostcardsPosters/Postcards

• Enlist your “Raving Fans”Enlist your “Raving Fans”

• Enlist local radio, TV, newspapers, social media Enlist local radio, TV, newspapers, social media personalitiespersonalities

• Make it an “event”Make it an “event”

Off-Site Adoption Events ROCKOff-Site Adoption Events ROCK• People may not want to come to “The People may not want to come to “The

Pound…” so go where they are.Pound…” so go where they are.

• People may not know you existPeople may not know you exist

• Recruit new donors, volunteers and foster Recruit new donors, volunteers and foster homeshomes

• They’re FUNThey’re FUN

• You increase your adoptionsYou increase your adoptions

• You stay in touch and educateYou stay in touch and educate

Your Questions?Your Questions?

• I will email you my “how-to” guideI will email you my “how-to” guide

• Reach me at:Reach me at:

• [email protected]

• Facebook.com/thesocialanimalFacebook.com/thesocialanimal

• @thesocialanimal on Twitter@thesocialanimal on Twitter

mailto:[email protected]

icawc 2011: emily garman - mega-adoption events

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