Director's Corner
Greetings,
Getting the word out about senior dogs is so important. Results from our 2021 Grantee Survey (thanks to all who participated!) showed that marketing continues to be an area in which more resources are needed. We hope these tips and toolkits spark some new ideas about how to shine a spotlight on senior dogs.

As always, we'd love to hear from you about what's working and what's not. Please share your experiences on our Facebook page. Thanks for all you do to make life better for senior dogs. The more we can learn from one another, the more senior dogs we will help.

Sincerely,
Lisa Lunghofer, PhD
Executive Director
Getting the Media’s Attention
In this candid conversation, shelter spokesperson Melissa Knicely at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control shares tips and tools for working with the media and getting your organization's stories told. You may recall Charlotte, the little brown dog, who became a social media sensation when her video was posted on the shelter’s social media—landing a story in People magazine, countless TV hits, and a spot in a National Geographic coffee table book.
Social Media Magic For Senior Dogs
Senior pups deserve the spotlight. What better way to help them find a foster or adopter than highlighting them on social media? Success requires being intentional with each social medial platform.
 
Created by HeARTs Speak under the auspices of a Grey Muzzle grant, this guide includes tips on using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, senior-dog-specific promotion ideas, hashtags, and more!
Lessons from 2020:
The Future of Marketing Animal Services
Join us September 16 at 1 ET for our first grantee webinar of FY22. Caitlin Quinn will look back at our field's response to critical moments in 2020 and highlight practical ideas to help us better connect with the communities we serve; leverage the power of teamwork and information sharing; and craft a strategic approach that welcomes more community members to be part of our life-changing work. Please be sure to register!

About the presenter: Caitlin is passionate about working with animal services organizations to reimagine the way they tell their stories and connect with the community. She has worked in the animal welfare field since 2008 and is currently the Director of Operations for HeARTs Speak (www.heartsspeak.org).
We Asked, You Answered
Thanks to all of you who completed our 2021 Grantee Survey. We truly appreciate your input and will work hard to offer meaningful resources and opportunities for engagement.

If you have resources to share or would like to be a webinar presenter, please let us know!
Still Time to Get Press!
Customize this press release and use it to garner good PR! If you haven’t yet done so, please distribute your release by 8/31. Rochester Hope for Pets' news story is just one example of our grantees' media success to date!

Volunteer media manager Barbara Castleman is happy to help!

The Grey Muzzle Organization | Website