Friday, April 15, 2016

Blog the Change - advocate

advocate: (v) to speak or write in favor or; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly
                        (n) a person who speaks or writes in support of a person, cause, etc
(from dictionary.com)


We know what you are thinking....but what can "I" do to make a change? As bloggers, we write about things going on around us. Around here, it is fostering, TNR, transports, spay/neuter. We say, pick a cause and write something. Or if that isn't your thing, think about sharing on social media. Facebook and Twitter are places where a simple click to share can make a difference...you never know when someone is going to read something you have written or shared and it will make an impact.

Remember too though that while some people think that pictures of injured or abused animals make a difference, we have learned over time that they can tend to turn people off from wanting to see anything you share. Be aware of your audience (and honestly, with everything we have seen being IN rescue, we don't want to see those pictures either).

When sharing, make sure to include relevant information. Mom is forever frustrated when she sees people sharing animals that need adoptions or help but she has to dig around to find out where the group or animal is located. Make it simple - put the information and location right up on top.

Other impacts: video. We have shared some of these before but want to do so again:

Lucy Foundation

Cole and Marmalade help feral cats

Our Wish (this is the one we helped with last fall)

Remember, you don't have to be a BIG voice...you just have to BE a voice. 

16 comments:

  1. Great post! That is very important to me--to advocate for animal welfare and to be their voice.

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  2. I can't tell you the number of times someone has shared a post of an adoptable animal and you do just the most basic of digging for information (aka looking on the original post) and find the animal already has a home.

    Sharing is awesome, as long as it isn't noise.

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    1. another great point...make sure you have the most current information before sharing!!

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  3. Although I carefully share on FB and my blog, where I try to make the most difference is in person: talking to folks. I've learned that many people don't listen to their family members, but they will listen to a complete stranger talking to them in the aisle of a pet food store! Or a co-worker in the hallway between meetings, or a chat with a neighbor while out for an evening stroll. We can make the difference! I'll do it all.

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  4. Every effort helps! Humans just need to DO them and know it makes a difference.

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  5. We can all do something to help animals. Nothing is too small because helping even one life matters. I agree with you about the gross photos of animal abuse. It doesn't do our cause any good if our audience doesn't want to hear from us.
    -Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

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  6. I'm not in rescue as others here are, but I can tell you that I won't look at the horrible abuse pictures. It makes me sad and helpless and guilty, and then angry. I think that's just the human response. What does work on me are the efforts that are funny, like the videos from the CATastrophes people. It makes the point while not driving away people.

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  7. Every bit helps! Thank you, Jeanne, for every bit (read big bits!) that you do!

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  8. guys....well written post two day, especially de last sentence ♥♥♥♥ ~~~~~~~~

    heerz two a tiger shovelnose catfish kinda week oh end ♥♥♥

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  9. Wonderful, wonderful post. I've seen some pictures lately that will forever haunt me and they are so unnecessary.

    We all have a voice and we need to use it for the voiceless.

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  10. Y'know...it doesn't have to take much to Be the Change. Just a few clicks on the keyboard. Paws up on a great post.

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  11. You are SO right! Thanks for sharing this!! :-)

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  12. Thank you for remembering us that even small steps can make a difference. Purrs

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  13. Great point on being clear if you're sharing so that someone doesn't have to figure out what what it's for. Social media, though, is such a strong tool.

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  14. If all the little voices got together, they would make a big voice. The smallest things can make a big difference.

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