Cat Writers Association Presentation

1. Rebecca Poling, Presenter
CWA’s 20th Annual Writers’ Conference:
Reinventing Yourself for the Digital Age
Oct 31 – Nov 2, 2013
Dallas, Texas

5.  FocusOnRescue.com
 Petfinder.com – Volunteering
with Cats and Volunteering
with Dogs
 Facebook: HeARTS Speak
 Facebook: Unleashed:
The Fine Art of Pet
Photography Workshops

8.  People who have
already adopted
 People who have
never adopted but
might consider it

9. "The desire to save an animal is still the
strongest expressed driver of adoption, but
the frequency with which online pictures of
adoptable pets are cited is noteworthy".

10. According to that same 2011 study by PetSmart Charities, of the people
surveyed who recently adopted a pet:
• 78% adopted because they wanted to rescue an animal
• 41% adopted because they wanted a pet already s/n, vaccinated, and
ready to go, and at a good price
http://petsmartcharities.org/sites/default/files/Ipsos-Webinar-11-27-12.pdf

11.  Focus on the pets and their personalities.
 Get people to feel curious and excited about them.
 Use humor
 Keep it clean

12.  Shelters don’t have the type of pet people want
 Shelter pets are damaged
 Shelters are scary places they just can’t bring
themselves to go to

15. Top Ten Reasons Dogs are Surrendered?
#1 - Moving
#2 - Landlord not allowing pet
#3 - Too many animals in household
#4 - Cost of pet maintenance
#5 - Owner having personal problems
#6 - Inadequate facilities
#7 - No homes available for litter mates
#8 - Having no time for pet
#9 - Pet illness(es)
#10 - Biting

16. Top Ten Reasons Cats are Surrendered:
#1 - Moving
#2 - Landlord not allowing pet
#3 - Too many animals in household
#4 - Cost of pet maintenance
#5 - Owner having personal problems
#6 - Inadequate facilities
#7 - No homes available for litter mates
#8 - Allergies in family
#9 - House soiling
#10 - Incompatibility with other pets

19.  #1 - Pets are part of the family
 #2 – Adoption saves lives
 #3– Adopted pets are a great value
 #4– Shelters offer wide variety of
pets, including purebreds
 #5 – Shelter pets are not damaged
 #6 – Shelters are not scary

21.  First impressions matter
 Keep it upbeat and positive
 Avoid the negative

22.  For pairs and groups, try
sets of things
Starsky & Hutch
Thelma & Louise
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,
Vixen, Comet, Cupid,
Donnor, Blitzen,

24. This little girl is beautiful inside and out! She is just a bit over
a year old and craves a human touch. It is not too often you
find such a gentle creature with so much beauty...one blue
eye and green eye, as well as a solid white coat. She has
the sweetest little chirp when she first meets you as she
peers from around a corner, and then warms up quickly with
a belly rub that causes her to melt in your arms.
Lady

28. Did you say “sit?” See what a good boy I am.
know all my commands and I’d be happy to
demonstrate them for you in person. I’m at
Dallas Animal Services, 1818 N.
Westmoreland, Dallas, 75212 and my staff is
here until 6:30 pm. Just ask for me. I’ll be
waiting right here.

31. Maggie may look tough, but
she’s a champion snuggler!
Really? You’re thinking of
adopting me?

32. At your service! Buddy
is happy to be anything
you want him to be!
Roo loves you already. And
she hasn’t even met you!

39. petlistings.wordpress.com

40. No kids! Because of his size and his
energy level, Bo might be a bit
too much for small children.

41. Very Shy!
Perfect companion for a
senior looking for a lap cat

42. Senior dog Low maintenance, easy-
going, couch potato

43. Needs a home with no
other cat
Melissa is a devoted
companion who prefers
people to other pets – a
great BFF!

45.  The final part of the profile should include words
that encourage the reader to take action.
CALL
NOW!
TELL
YOUR
FRIENDS!
COME BY AND
MEET HER!

46.  Remind the reader how happy that pet would be
curled up in their lap, at the dog park with them,
or taking a morning jog with them.

48. Kitten From Pet Store
> $500
Kitten From Shelter/Rescue
$ 55 - $200
 Cost - $200
 Spay/Neuter - $ 225
 Vaccinations - $ 55
 Microchip - $ 25
 Cost - $55 - $200
 Spay/Neuter – Included
 Vaccinations – Included
 Microchip - Included

50. I Love __________
I have __________
I get along with __________
I would rather not__________
I need __________

51. A perfect day for [name] includes:_____
__________________________.
[Name] prefers not to: ________.
If your family _____, then you might be the perfect match
for [name].

52. I'm a very adorable, sweet, fun-loving,
smart, 26-pound, 9-month old male Cattle
Dog-mix looking for the path to my
permanent home.
Are you looking for a goofy, playful pup who
loves people and enjoys other pups? Do
you want a pup that you can continue to
work with and go to training classes with to
build a strong bond? How about a pup that
can stay occupied with a bone or a squeeky
toy? You found him. It's me!
As if that weren't enough I am housebroken,
crate trained and have made great strides in
learning doggie manners (I mentioned I was
smart didn't I?). I have also been going to
doggie daycare where I get to play with my
friends...furry and human alike. Yes, it is as
awesome as it sounds.

53. Nick Names: Odie-O, Odes or "Little Monster" (my foster Mom swears it is a term
of endearment).
Fastest Trick Mastered: "€œSIT"€•and I'm working on more!
Favorite Food: It starts with "T"€•and ends with "€œT"€•and has a whole lot of smelly in
the middle.
Favorite Toy: Hmm, that is a hard one as it changes from day to day. Today it is
the Kong Wubba.
Least Favorite Thing: Not getting my way. Come on look at me, how can anyone
say "no"?

54. Dream Home: Play, walks, toys, treats, hugs, cuddles and lots of love.
Daycare or a furry brother or sister to romp with please! Oh! and one last
thing, since I am still a puppy and teething young children and I are not
the best match.
If you are interested in adopting me, please contact my human guardians
at Info@RainDogRescue.org or submit afoster/adoption application here.
I am neutered, de-wormed, micro-chipped, heartworm negative and up-
to-date on vaccinations. My $200 adoption fee helps to defray the cost of
my care until I can find my family.

55. Hi! I'm Lolita - an adorable and perky eight-
to ten-year-old, six-pound, female, fawn
Chihuahua looking for a perfect paradise to
call home.
I was found as a stray so my past is a
mystery - BUT I know a lot about me now. I
like to bury myself in my blankets so you
can't see me - hide 'n seek! I love to eat and
will earn treats with my happy dance. Food
is definitely a motivator. I love my people
and am a tail wagging, loving pup with my
people.
I've recently had a full dental and am happy
to say that I only had to have 5 extractions. I
still have a lot of life to live and a lot of years
to share with a special person or family who
can find a special place in their heart(s) for
me.

56. FUN FACTS
Favorite Task: Keeping my feline foster sister on her toes!
Favorite Past Times: Sunbathing! Sitting in your lap. Keeping my foster
siblings on the straight and narrow.?
Dream Home: Soft beds! Treats! Love! Snuggles and attention!
If you are interested in fostering or adopting me, Lolita, please contact my
human guardians at Info@RainDogRescue.org or submit a
foster/adoption application at www.RainDogRescue.org/application. I am
spayed, de-wormed, micro-chipped, heartworm negative and up-to-date
on vaccinations. My $200 adoption fee helps to defray the cost of my care
until I can find a home with a perfect place to sunbathe.

57. OH! FALL IN LOVE!
This is Bugsy and his adorable factor is
through the roof!! He is a less than a year old,
Lionhead mix who came to the Rescue from
the local Animal Shelter. Bugsy is a snuggle
bug who is already neutered and litter box
trained. His fur is soft as can be and will need
some brushing from his 'fur-ever' family to
keep him as handsome as he is now."
If you're local, you can see gorgeous Bugsy
at Petco in Highland Village, TX. If not,
CONTACT: WildRescue, Inc./Rabbit Rescue
at P: 940) 442-8289 or E:
wildrescuetexas@gmail.com
He's just beautiful, isn't he?! Someone's going
to be very lucky to adopt this snuggle bunny!

59. The humane society has fired
up their killing machine again
and we must get these dogs
out! Share now or they will all
die tomorrow!
The balmy weather lately means
the humane society has seen a
sharp rise in intake lately and
they are out of space. Let’s help
them save lives – please share,
and hurry!

60. PLEASE SHARE - this baby has been at the humane
society too long and her mental and physical health are
in danger. That place is so poorly managed its a
miracle she's still alive. She deserves a home. She's
a female orange tabby and she's about two years old.

61. Tina needs a home. Her owners didn't bother to have her spayed and she
got pregnant. Then they decided they didn't want her anymore. But we
saved her from that crummy life. All her kittens have been adopted now and
poor Tina is still here. She's a 1 year old tortie girl and she needs a home
now. If people would just spay and neuter their pets, Tina would still be in
her home. Why haven’t people learned that yet?

62. Instead of this… Use this…
 Pound
 Shelter
 Kill
 Rescue
 Animal Control
 Dog Catcher
 It
 Animals
 Cages
 Stray
 No Kill Shelter
 Kill Shelter
 Just don’t use it
 Adoption Center
 Euthanize (humanely)
 Transfer
 Only when warranted
 Animal Services Officer
 He/She
 Pets
 Kennels/cubbies
 Lost
 Limited Admission Shelter
 Open Admission Shelter

63. “IT'S NOT TOO LATE, but this cutie is in great danger - CONTACT:
&*(()^)*^@gmail.com with "Polly/Animal ID21177051
This precious girl had a kill date of today, but it's been confirmed
that is still there and deserves every chance to get the exposure
she needs. She was on the kill list because she has heartworms
(treatable and low cost options in NTX).

64. “Danny the goat was brought here by Leslie and
John Shmucko who had shot him twice and then
— oh, gee, we feel so bad — changed their minds
about killing him and dumped him on us! The
Humane Society was no help, of course, as usual.
They were just gonna kill him. Gee, thanks! So we
had to take him. Why do people like that live in this
world? But it’s not Danny’s fault! He’s a sweet guy
and is looking for a great home, with someone
who’s actually nice, for a change.”

65. Poor little Twinkle is the victim
of home ear docking I cannot
imagine the pain this little one
endured in her short life. We
have no time to waste! "
No other details have been
provided; please contact
*#&&$*(&(@5@yahoo.com to
learn more or if you can
adopt/rescue her.

71. #11 has distant

74. Adopt A Shelter Cat Month
World Cat Day
Black Cat Appreciation Day
Happy Cat Day
Responsible Dog Ownership Month
Less Adoptable Pet Week Puppy Mill Awareness Day
Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
Adopt A Senior Pet Month
Mother’s Day

77.  ASPCAPro.org (National Shelter
Outreach Director for your area)
 The Humane Society of the United
States/AnimalSheltering.org (HSUS
State Representative)
 Petfinder.com

78.  ASPCAPro.org (ASPCA’s site for animal
welfare professionals)
 AnimalSheltering.org (HSUS’ site for
animal welfare professionals)
 National Council on Pet Population Study
and Policy (in flux)
 HumaneResearch.org
 The Catalyst Council (catalystcouncil.org)
 The Shelter Pet Project
 MaddiesFund.org

79. #11 has distant
http://animalfarmfoundation.org/pages/Posters

80. http://www.earthpetsorganic.com/CatColorChart

81. http://www.petroglyphsnm.org/dates13.html

85. Rebecca Poling
rpoling1@swbell.net
DFWAnimalRescue.com