Dog and cat home fears for future as donations tumble

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 20 May 2007, 12:07

From the EN:

Dog and cat home fears for future as donations tumble

Dog and Cat Home website

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 20 May 2007, 22:29

They have to keep up with the times and hopefully their new website will reflect this. They don't seem to do nearly enough advertising. How about a sponsor a dog scheme? I sponsor a dog at Dog's Trust but would rather have done it for the Dog and Cat Home. I know people can sponsor a kennel but this isn't advertised widely either. They need to get out there and let people know about the great work they do (in all weathers

). If all goes to plan a member of their staff is going to take a dog or two up to the High School next month to chat to the kids about the work that's done at the home and encourage people to donate.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 21 May 2007, 19:22

Woof

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 21 May 2007, 19:46

Pal of Porty wrote:Woof

Grrrrrrrrr!

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 21 May 2007, 20:21

Did someone call?

arachnid · Post by **arachnid** » 22 May 2007, 20:18

The cat and dog home perhaps do this already but what about an open day to show what happens at the home etc. Could maybe get sponsors that way.

Stray NO.666 · Post by **Stray NO.666** » 12 Aug 2007, 16:11

arachnid wrote:The cat and dog home perhaps do this already but what about an open day to show what happens at the home etc. Could maybe get sponsors that way.

We do have an open day! People can come n have a look round all the kennels even the staff only ones

Theres police shows and things to do in our paddock! Its the 2nd of september i think! If im wrong ill get back to you all!

x

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 12 Aug 2007, 17:45

Stray NO.666 wrote:
arachnid wrote:The cat and dog home perhaps do this already but what about an open day to show what happens at the home etc. Could maybe get sponsors that way.
We do have an open day! People can come n have a look round all the kennels even the staff only ones

Theres police shows and things to do in our paddock! Its the 2nd of september i think! If im wrong ill get back to you all!

x

Have you thought about teaching the dogs to beg?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Aug 2007, 00:25

Seriously tho'; i think the main issue for the EDCH is marketing. I have nothing to offer on the management or marketing of cats, cos i neither like nor understand them.

Dogs are different from cats in many ways. I imagine that very few cats are abandoned, or at least it is difficult to positively identify them as abandoned, cos they skulk about looking homeless for a living. Is that true?

Dogs are more readily identified as abandoned, in fact most people, even non dog lovers are alert to a seemingly abandoned dog. Is that true? ( I don't necessarily mean evidentially, I mean instinctively).

If the above are true or even sort of true then the EDCH are missing an obvious trick when it comes to placing stray and/or abandoned dogs and it would not cost much to fix.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 13 Aug 2007, 07:09

What are you suggesting here Porty - tie their current stock to various drainpipes around porty and the moment someone unties one, have someone spring out from under cover with a direct debit form?

I've come up with a new term for the sport of walking from one end of Princes St to another - it is the Charity Slalom.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Aug 2007, 11:15

No, not exactly. The EDCH has trouble attracting enough people to adopt their lost/stray/abandoned dogs. Its a bit like a bar that doesn't offer table service. More drinks will be sold if you take the offer to the people.

Most people are fond of dogs, many people are thinking about getting one but do nothing about it. Many people who happen upon a lost/stray or abandoned dog will take that dog in to their own home rather than take it to the cat and dog home. A recent survey suggested that 40% of discovered dogs become part of the family that discovered them.This is especially true if they have the dog for a couple of days and grow fond of it.

So here's what the EDCH should do; on a random day or days of the week they should pack all the dogs into an unmarked, sound-proofed truck, drive around and abandon dogs in different neighborhoods. That way a possible 40% of dogs will find new homes. The chances are that dogs who don't get lucky will be returned to the EDCH and will experience the happiness that comes with returning home!! This percentage could be increased if the EDCH decided to close on a random 3 days every week so that when people turn up with their found dogs they can't leave them, they spend another day or so with the dog and grow more fond. The EDCH save money because they are only open half the time and they house 40% more dogs into the bargain. I'm fairly sure that the problem would soon become supply, with not enough dogs to be abandoned on a regular basis.

Its a great plan, i really can't see the downside.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 13 Aug 2007, 11:48

Agreed. My mistake - I thought it was that they needed funds - you aim to solve the problem by making savings.

Thing is, I'm not sure if a soundproofed van which drops off dogs is good enough.

I'd go for one of those Hercules aircraft whereby instead of dropping aid, they drop dogs in parachutes. Who could resist a pooch that came out of the sky?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 13 Aug 2007, 12:03

You obvioulsy don't understand product development. At first we go with the truck. After a while people will become immune or resistant to a dog dropped out of a truck. That's when we introduce the plane and parachute idea.

I honestly don't think we will need to go that far cos once it gets round that all the cat and dog home will do with dogs that are handed in is abandon them, people will avoid the place like the plague. Its pure genius.

Its a radical idea but it would work.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 13 Aug 2007, 12:34

Oh right, sorry. I'm a n00b when it comes to pet dispersal and such.

I think that we can do so much better and also ensure the continuation of the place and the staff wages.

We can also bring in much needed tourist dollars to the local economy at the same time.

We have a constant supply of product.

All we need now is to build the dogfight arena and restaurant next door and there you have it.

Stray NO.666 · Post by **Stray NO.666** » 13 Aug 2007, 20:14

im not sure what to say to all this haha!

Its a thot tho i supose!