Help needed on Adopt-a-pet column in local newspaper

[Muppet]

I work as a reporter at a small community weekly paper in Va. Recently, I managed to talk my editor in adding an "adopt-a-pet" column featuring dogs at the county animal shelter.
Every Friday, I go to the shelter (actually, I go just about every other day)to take the photo of the featured pet of the week. The next issue will be the third time that the column has ran.
This morning I was depressed and shocked to find out that two of the first three dogs featured were scheduled to be put down as soon as I left the shelter.
So far, only only of all the dogs that have been featured has been adopted. (I also know that one other dog has been adopted that was not featured because she's in my kitchen right now.)
Both the shelter employees and myself are financially at our limits when it comes to rescuing these unwanted dogs. (I'm now up to eight and I fear if I go any higher on my pathetic reporter's salary that my husband may decide to divorce me and find a "sane" person. Although the last canine member, Elvis, was taken in by him and not me.)
Do any of you have any idea about how I can do a better job of reaching people and saving these dogs? The column features one to three photos along with descriptions of all the dogs availble for adoption along with the shelter's hours. I even include a "tag line" at the end giving helpful care tips like a collar with proper tags is a dog's ticket home, spaying and neutering decreases the health risks of a pet.
Today, I and the othershelter worker managed to beg, pled and con the animal control officer in to given a female Chesapeake Bay Retriever and her three puppies an extra week. But eventually, all the dogs' time runs out unless homes are found and in this county that would mean a lot of homes. The shelter puts down an average of 250 dogs a month.

[sillysadie]

I applaud you for a worthy effort. It takes a big heart to go to the shelters each day and pass by the cages. I confess it is not my strong point.

Does your state have an e-list that consists of Rescuers? In New Mexico we have a group list that allows different rescue org. a chance to interact with other groups. We have a lady who goes to the shelter and compiles a list of purebred and mixes that a rescue person might come and pick up. It really works well. Many purebred rescue groups will come pick up their breeds leaving more room for the others and giving them a longer period in which to be adopted. You might also put their PTS date under the picture just to let people know that these animals will be killed if they are not adopted ASAP.

Even you don't have a list it would be easy to create one and invite different org. to join. We have had a lot of success with it this way.

I hope this helps!

Shelley

[~8DachsieAngels~]

I live in Greensboro NC and we also have a pet of the week article ... but i do know that alot of rescue org.'s work in conjunction with our shelter ... dachshund rescues, golden retriever rescue, and the North Carolina Hugs for Pugs assoc. just to name a few maybe if u could get in contact with some of these org.'s in your area they would take in some of these dogs ... some will even take in mixes with their breed in them ... they can foster them until good homes are found and give them the much needed extra time for the right family to come along... its a wonderful but im sure frusterating thing u are doing ...i know our county shelter puts down alot more than 250 a mo here http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif Keep up the good work!

Jen

[Penny's Aunt]

Does your shelter have a website that maintains photos of available pets? Many shelters do. They take a photo of each animal as it comes in, scan it onto their website, & add its shelter number, probable breed(s), description, approx. weight, guesses as to how large a pup might get, personality, status (waiting for owner, available now, PTS date, etc).

If they don't, maybe you could set one up. Does your paper have a website that this could be added to? Then you could post the website in your column, where any prospective owner could see what's available.

If neither the shelter nor the paper has a website (or don't want to do it), maybe you could get someone who does websites to donate one for the good of the animals. (Make sure you get someone that really knows what they're doing -- ask for sites they've already done.)

And maybe you could talk a camera shop or other place that sells photo equipment into donating a digital camera for taking photos of the animals, with an on-going thank-you line somewhere for the gift (free advertising/company with a heart). If you leave it at the shelter, make them responsible for its safety, that they have to replace it if stolen, & put permanent ID on it: "STOLEN FROM...".

Get some animal people together & start brainstorming. Who knows what you could come up with.