Both branches are also located in areas where pets are not always considered to be a priority. Even before the economic downturn, there has been little in the line of humane education in either area to make a significant difference for the animals.
Both branches are located well away from any of the others in the province. They are both very nearly the same size.
But that is where the similarities stop. There is a country mile of differences between the two branches with respect to their:
Websites ... The current new edition of the Yarmouth SPCA website is at least the third complete redo that has been done since the inception of the homeless pet site two years ago. It is up to date, informative and easy to navigate. The Cape Breton SPCA site is getting outdated and in spots is getting a little 'frayed' around the cyber edges ( in other words, not all of its frames and links are visible and functional )
Consumer relations .... Queries to the Yarmouth Branch are answered in a timely and friendly fashion. In all honesty, I 'save my breath to cool my porridge" rather than try to contact the Cape Breton Branch anymore. Even though me and my big mouth may be persona non grata with them, that does not excuse it. Nor does it explain why any other query from anyone else that I know of has either been dismissed or gone unanswered. And of course, last but not least, the biggest difference lies in how the two branches promote their adoptables
Petfinder.
- The Yarmouth SPCA petfinder listings all have good photos and their writeups are witty and informative. For instance, ... visitors know that Brock is a blind senior, who is friendly and active.
- In addition, they provide as much of the pets history as they have, so that visitors can also read the heart wrenching story of how Brock came to the shelter. The affection that their petfinder rep has for the animals shines through in every appealing and informative bio.
- Nor are the kitties treated as second class kittizens... visitors can learn how appealing Willow is.
- Best of all, each and every one of the adoptables has an appealing name like Pudding .
- What a difference from the nonchalant, on again, off again listings from the Cape Breton SPCA.
- The last time that new pets were listed at all on their site was in November.
- For pretty much all of December there were only four cats and one dog listed.
- Since the end of December, there are no listings at all again.
- Sadly, when there are listings, visitors are rarely offered any of the information that adopters need to know before making the trip.
- Even if there is noone available with the bio writing skills that the Yarmouth rep has, adopters won't be motivated without knowing the pets age and if he or she is altered / good with other pets / kids/ on a leash/ etc.
- Even more sadly, the adoptables often have odd names that are even more off putting than the poor pictures and sketchy bios.
- Worse, all the adoptables are usually loaded at once and taken off at once, leaving adopters to wonder if any of the listings are still alive and/or available.
In this virtual world, a good website and up to date petfinder listings are essential components in the animal rescue tool kit. More importantly, appropriate use of petfinder can engage adopters .... to do anything less inspires suspicion and mistrust. ie WHY aren't the animals posted? WHAT is happening to the animals? WHERE are the animals going? WHO is hiding anything? HOW can things change for the better if things stay the same?
What time is it? If positive changes are being made, its time for the Cape Breton Branch to stop shining its light under a bushell. If they need help .. its high time that they ask. They are an animal rescue shelter, not a top secret research facility, and being open and above board is part and parcel of that.
No comments:
Post a Comment