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FOSTER RESOURCES

IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN YOU FOSTER A DALLAS DOGRRR DOG

DOS

We recommend that you set up a confined space for your dog when you cannot keep an eye on them – a crate or playpen will work wonders for both you and your dog We recommend that you establish a routine, for feeding, potty, and nap times to help your dog acclimate to your home and prevent accidents. We require you to have fresh water available all day, in a clean bowl We require that when a foster dog is on a walk that the foster dog is wearing a  fitted collar and harness with a tag.  We require you to follow a quarantine protocol - that is 14 days upon arrival from the south Texas transport, shelter, and or the streets.   We require decompression time that is sometimes a minimum of 14 days, sometimes it may be longer depending on each dog. Allow your dog an adjustment period – this is a whole new environment for them. Do keep up with training, even when you think they have mastered the skill Do check your dog’s collar regularly to make sure it’s correctly fitted and it has a DOGRRR tag. We recommend that you feed your foster animal(s) separately from other pets in your home.

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DO NOTS

Do not leave your foster dog unattended outdoors under any circumstances – even during the day Try not to crate your dog for more than 6 consecutive hours (unless approved by our foster team) Please limit taking dogs for a walk if  the ground is too hot – if you can’t keep your palm on the ground for more than 5 seconds the ground is too hot for their paws NEVER leave our dog in the car unattended – they can overheat and die in a matter of minutes We encourage you not to jump to their rescue the moment they cry in their crate – they will never learn independence DO NOT use verbal or physical aggression to address misbehavior or potty accidents We ask that you DO NOT feed your foster dog table scraps despite how cute they may look when they beg Do not leave doors to the outside open when bringing in groceries or other items. Please make sure the dog is secured before opening the door if the dog is a flight risk. DO NOT USE RETRACTABLE LEASHES- it is very hard to control a dog on a retractable leash. DO NOT PLACE A CHOKE CHAIN, PRONG COLLAR, OR E-COLLAR/SHOCK COLLAR ON ANY DogRRR DOG FOR ANY REASON.

Foster Failing

AKA I Want to Adopt My Foster Animal
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TIPS TO NETWORKING YOUR FOSTER DOG!

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Promote Your Foster Pup on Social Media

Post about your foster pup on social media to get the word out! You never know whose friend-of-a-friend may be looking for a new pooch. Share your best pic of your foster and be sure to specifically ask other users to “share this post to help get [foster dog name] adopted!”

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  • It may feel a bit spammy, but studies have shown that direct, specific calls-to-action (like a request for a share) will get better results than not including a call to action.

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  • Giving your pup defining attributes may allow him to connect with his perfect fit more easily (for example, describing a dog as a hiking machine with wanderlust may attract an outdoorsy owner).

Post About Your Foster on Local Groups

  • In many cities, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of local Facebook Groups designed for residents. Try posting info about your foster to Facebook groups created for new residents, dog walkers, local shared resource groups, hiking clubs, running clubs, etc.

  • Examples: Nextdoor, Neighborhood Ring, Facebook Groups, Breed Specific groups, Instagram stories. Make flyers to put in local pet stores & coffee shops. Even some breweries will let you hang flyers.

  • Just make sure to read the group’s rules first, as some might not allow these kinds of adoption requests.

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Make an Instagram Handle For Your Foster

  • Many foster parents choose to make Instagram accounts specifically for their foster dogs! This allows foster parents to easily take photos and videos showcasing their foster pup’s best qualities and share it all on one dedicated profile to get their foster dog Instagram famous!

  • It’s easy to share the profile online, and also allows you to comment on other community-related Instagram posts and easily direct people to your pup’s page.

  • Make sure to utilize hashtags to get the most attention for your foster as possible. Some hashtag ideas include:

  • Common Dog Saying (#dogdaysofsummer #dogdays #lazydog)

  • Breed Terms (#boxermix #boxers #boxermixedbreeds #boxermixes #boxercrosses #boxercross)

  • Any Variation on “Dog” (#pup #pupper #doggo #bestdogever)

  • Local or Regional Phrases (#AustinTX #AustinDogs #DogsofDFW #DogsofDallas)

  • Foster Terms (#fosterdogs #bestfosterdogever #fosterpup #DFWfosterdogs)

DallasDogRRR Tags

#DOGRRRNATION #DOGRRRDOGSNAME #DOGRRR #dallasdog #dallasdogrrr #rescuerehabreform #dogrrr the dogs name #dogrrrnation  #dogrrr #transformationtuesday #throwbackthursday  #SeniorSpotlight #adoptable___ #DogRRRDude #DogRRRDudette  #DapperDoggRRR #DogRRRfoster #DogRRRcrew #dallasdogrrrpack #dallasdogs #dallas(whatever breed), #dfwdogs, #dfw(whatever breed) #dogrrralum #ThisIsDogrrr #OneDogrrrAtaTime #Thisisdogrrr #betterDogrrrdaysahead #fosteringsaveslives #savedbythedog #rescuedog #fromthesheltertorescued  #RescueLove​

Use High-Quality Photos
(Or Even a Professional Photographer)

  • It’s as true for dating apps as it is for foster dogs – photos make all the difference! High-quality, well-shot photos will get a lot more attention for your foster dog than blurry, old, or low-quality pics.

  • There’s a lot you can do with an iPhone these days, but professional pet photographers often know how to capture a dog’s personality in just the right way. We have a professional pet photographer.  If you would like to get a photoshoot scheduled, reach our to our foster team. 

  • When taking a photo crouch down or lie on the floor rather than taking the photo from high overhead.  Try a few shots where you get in close and get a close up.  

  • Natural Lighting take pictures outside tend to be better than those taken with flash (no more “vampire eyes”!) Use treats or a squeaky toy to grab the dog's attention. Sometimes, making a “brrrrr” noise or a “meow” does the trick, too. Exercise the dog before taking pictures; a calmer dog is easier to photograph.

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Create a Story For Your Pooch

  • As humans, we are drawn to stories. They make us emotional and draw empathy.

  • Try to create an interesting story about your dog – this is easier when you have more information about your dog’s history, but it can be done with simply what you’ve discovered about your foster. What activities does your foster seem to love? What would be his “perfect day?”

  • Keep it short, precise and POSTIVE! If the pet has challenges let the foster team and the adoption team know in advance, they can speak to the potential adopters. 

  • Be sure to update their bios. There is a form on the website, or you email intake@dallasdogrrr.org

Make Flyers & Post Them At Local Businesses

  • It’s old school but it works! Consider creating a colorful flyer with a photo of your dog and blurbs about his better qualities. 

  • Make flyers to put in local pet stores, vet offices & coffee shops. Even some breweries will let you hang flyers.

  • Check with local pizza joints we recently have partnered local pizza joints and they have put flyers on each delivery.

  • Feature your foster in your place of employment. A cute photo will allow an opportunity for them to inquire and maybe an potential adopter.  

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Bring Your Foster to Events 

  • Put your foster out there!  Take them along with you to local festivals, farmers markets, dog friendly patios, or kids sporting events. 

  • Check the Event page on the website for upcoming events.  They are also list in the foster adopter page. 

  • Many pet supply stores or local pet-oriented businesses will host adoption days, letting shelters and shelter foster parents bring in dogs to meet the public.

  • Shelters will also often organize adoption festivals and events which foster parents should take advantage of attending so that people can meet your foster pup in person!

  • Check with the event team we have several Hollywood Feeds that will let you host a single foster with prior notice. 

Have Your Dog Wear Special “Adopt Me” Gear

  • When you take your dog out and about on walks or to outdoor patios, make sure to outfit your dog in proper foster attire – for dogs who will put up with it, an “adopt me” harness is perfect for getting attention from those who pass by.

  • There are also “adopt me” leash covers for dogs who aren’t fond of apparel. Bandanas are another option, although they aren’t usually as visible and can move around and become obstructed.

  • If you need some gear reach out to your local Dallas Dog supply depot!

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Attend Local Events & Festivals

  • If your foster dog does well in public, put on some of the “adopt me” gear mentioned above and start attending public events! The more eyeballs on your pup, the better his chance is of getting adopted.

  • Take all opportunities to showcase your foster,  events work it allows them to be seen by a variety of potential adopters. 

  • Check with the medical team to see if they are event ready.

Use Videos

  • Videos continue to make excellent content for social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, so grab your phones and start filming! What better way to show a dog’s personality than by featuring videos of him in a variety of environments outside of the shelter? Consider taking videos of dogs trying a new treat or toy for the first time, ask fosters to share videos of their foster dog inside the home or on a walk – just have fun and get creative!

  • Reel on Facebook and Instagram are huge attention getters.  Post them on your social media platform and tag Dallas DogRRR. Remember to download, and send to the social media team for them to post on the main pages.

  • When you are posting your foster pets, make sure to label them as adoptable and include their DogRRR assigned name. 

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Engage with Instagram

  • Keep your audience engaged through fun and compelling Instagram Stories promoting available animals, upcoming events and sharing other updates from your shelter or rescue. You can also take your stories to the next level by using any of the various sticker options below:

  • Add a hashtag to increase visibility

  • Add a donate button to raise donations

  • Add a location or create a countdown for an upcoming adoption event

  • Create a poll to engage with your followers

  • Animate a photo or video with a GIF

Maximize Facebook Tools

  • Facebook has many features, so make sure you’re taking advantage of them!

  • Hosting a special adoption promotion or in-person event? Consider creating a Facebook event to help drive traffic straight to your shelter or rescue! With a Facebook event, people can RSVP or express interest in attending, and they’ll receive reminders, so they won’t forget. You can also see metrics by looking at your Facebook Insights and clicking in “Events.”

  • Once the event is created, you can increase your reach by creating a Facebook ad campaign using the event itself and setting the objective as “event response”.

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Try TikTok

  • There is a lot of buzz around TikTok, and now is your chance to try it! Use the platform to create short, captivating videos to raise awareness, speak to your fans and reach a new untapped audience. Here are our top tips for using TikTok:

  • Most TikTok videos are made to music, and you can leverage snippets of popular songs to showcase your animals

  • Record vertical videos of adorable animals up to 15 seconds in length and then find a relevant song and add it to the video

  • Humor is a major draw on TikTok, especially when what’s happening in the video correlates with the song

  • Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags

TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR FOSTERS DOGS PHOTO & TIPS ON WRITING THEIR BIO

There are so many options for marketing a foster pet, and so many avenues to get your foster pets exposure. Dallas Dog provides marketing for your pet such as our website, Petfinder, and adoption events. We really need your help with  the marketing materials on your pet,i.e.: – pictures and bios.

 

Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your marketing efforts for your foster pet!

If your dog’s picture is already on the shelter’s website, you should write a biography about his personality. A good bio makes a big difference in the number of calls the dog gets, so be descriptive! Try to include things like: 

 

What does the dog like to do? (play fetch, go for walks, etc.) Is he a cuddler? Does he have experience with other animals and children? 

 

Of course, any cute things that he does or anything you want to point out about his fur or appearance is good as well. It can be as long as you want, but the typical description is a paragraph or two. 

 

If the dog has some bad habits, this can be discussed during the first phone conversation. The bio should generate interest, not turn people away. We don’t want to mislead people; however, we really try to focus on the positive. Please email the bio to the Coordinator. 

 

If your dog’s picture is not yet on the website, there are several options for getting pictures taken and posted. If you have access to a digital camera and would like to take the pictures yourself, you are welcome to do so. Please email them in .jpg format to the website posting team with the dog’s bio.

 

We have the opportunity with several photographers in our group to get professional photographs taken.  The photographs that are taken are used in social media posts, marketing/ branding. 

Foster Resources
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Photos:

It’s a fact that human beings are visually stimulated. We choose our life partners that way, and we choose our pets based on appearances first, so photos are especially important.

  • Show different styles and sides of your pet.  Try to get different attributes of your pet’s personality, such as a picture of them playing, but also get a good clear face shot and a full body shot of your pet.

  • Take new pictures every few weeks. 

    • As your pet relaxes into your home, the photos you’re able to take will get better and better!

    • This step is really critical for those fostering puppies. Their looks change quickly and we need to stay on top of that. We love to have puppies pre-adopted so they can go to their forever home starting at 8 weeks old. 

    • Puppy mommas go through a lot of body changes. Update her picture regularly. Every girl wants to look her best – especially if posted on the Internet. 

  • Be cautious of your background. It may be cute that your son or daughter is playing around with your foster pet in their underwear, but please save those moments for your family to cherish. We don’t really feel comfortable sharing that kind of thing on the internet. 

  • Portrait orientation shows best on the web.​

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Videos:

Videos should be taken in good lighting and should be shot with landscape orientation for best viewing on the web. You want the video to be long enough that the viewer gets a good idea of what’s happening, but not so long that they click off of the video before it’s over. An ideal length is between 30 seconds and 1 minute. Finally, all videos should show something unique about the foster pet.  

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Bios:

Bios serve as more than just a blurb about your pet for the reader. Good bios save volunteers a lot of time because they’re able to answer questions for a potential adopter when you’re not around! No worries if you’re not comfortable writing a bio. Send us the info and we’ll write it.

  • The adoption is in the details. We hope all your foster pets are loving, and love to snuggle. We need the little tidbits that you only get by living with them. Examples are your pet does tricks, lets your toddler crawl on them, or drags a blanket around. 

  • Be honest about what you know. If your pet has some negative traits (hey, nobody’s perfect), we need to disclose that, but you don’t tell someone on a first date about your crazy parents.  Lead with all the wonderful stuff, and then ease the reader into the pet’s faults. 

  • Where did they come from? Adopters love to know the story of the dog’s history. If you know the story, it’s riveting, and you can share it in a sentence or two, please do.  

  • Keep it short and sweet. To avoid reader fatigue, hit the highlights, and keep the bios to 3-4 paragraphs of 3-4 lines each.

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