[Lucille]

A lot of rescue efforts have moved online. Shelters, through places like Petfinder, can list their dogs, other people and shelters and rescues list on Craigslist, Ebay Classified, etc.
I'm thinking that rescuers have had to develop a whole new set of skills. They have to be computer savvy, good enough writers to be able to showcase their dogs in just a paragraph, and photographers of dogs that don't want to sit still for a picture.
And with a deteriorating economy they have to develop a sixth sense about potential adopters- there are many less than ethical people patrolling dog ads in order to flip dogs for profit with money being the deciding factor, sell them for research, or even eat dogs they can get without too much trouble.
It's a whole new ball game, and people who devote time to rescuing dogs and educating the public sure have my respect.

[LuckyPaws]

You're absolutely correct! Many of the rescues and shelters don't have the skills/time/volunteers to market a dog. I hate to use the word "market" but really, that's what it is. When I look through petfinder and adoptapet, etc. I realize what a difference a decent photo can make to an prospective adopter. And the description of a dog as opposed to the basic, nuetered/spayed, size, and age of a dog. both can literally mean the difference between life and death.

[GingeryDaveysmom]

I agree it is always nice when they add a picture with more info than the basics that way you get an idea if the dog you are looking at is even close to fitting what you are looking for that way you don't waste the rescues time or your time not to mention that you get your hopes up only to find its no were near what you want.

[StarfishSaving]

Oh man, Lucille, you have no idea. You are so right!!

My rescue is mostly a one-horse town, except a few wonderful volunteers that I don't know what I'd do without! I'd love more help, especially with web stuff, but have had little luck finding someone dedicated, web-savvy AND reliable. So instead, I'm the webmaster, writer of every bio, photographer, receptionist (I'm horrible at this because I HATE the phone and suck at filing, btw,) fundraising and volunteer coordinator, driver (for vet trips, retrieiving dogs, and home visits/adoptions), trainer, evaluator, "nurse" and nutritionist, adopter of hospice pets, accountant, marketer, primary foster home (over 80% of our pets have been fostered here), tax preparer, adviser to foster homes and adopters that are having issues, I coordinate and attend every fundraising event our rescue does and I make all the decisions, easy or hard. I've held in my arms every animal from my rescue that has ever had to be euthanized due to a health or aggression issue (fortunately not many, but it happens) and had my heart broken a million times. I have to be a judge of character when it comes to adopters and volunteers, and when something goes wrong, I have to live with the guilt and the second guessing and wondering if I did something wrong. Folks say "I am going to start a rescue!" and I try to warn most of them out of it. It's not that we don't need more rescues, but it is not for the faint of heart.

On the upside, though, this has enabled a whole new set of volunteers to step forward and help out using the skills they already have- many professional photographers, for example, donate their time to help shelter pets. People who have trouble walking into animal shelters (way more than you can imagine), kids not old enough to walk shelter dogs or volunteer without a parent's help can now volunteer from home. It's great.

[leslie42363]

Hey Starfish, if you're looking for some web assistance, I might be able to help. I'm a programmer/web developer 'in real life' and 'webmaster' of my local retriever rescue. Not sure what you're looking for/in need of but I'd be happy to assist if I can. drop me a PM if you want...

Back on topic, a friend and I are just starting to work with a local shelter to take 'better' pictures of the dogs there to promote on the web. That would be the area I think rescues/shelters need to work on first. Recent research is indicating that a good picture (of a happy dog) can do wonders to improve adoption rates.

[StarfishSaving]

Thanks, leslie, I may drop you a line when I get my thoughts together!

Attached some pics of two dogs for comparison. You can tell which photo in each pairing would get the most attention. I used to take photos for shelter dogs when I was manager at the local no-kill facility. I would take great pains to photoshop out leashes and "choke" collars, people, etc, so you had a nice, artsy photo of handsome dogs. It worked great

[leslie42363]

Wow - your pictures are a perfect example of the idea making its way through some of the online rescue/blogging community these days.

I have to learn that photoshopping technique but figure we can at least start with simply better pictures of calmer, happier dogs.

[Lucille]

Star you are an awesome photographer. You help those dogs in so many ways!
Too many shelter photos are of a kennel assistant with a leashed, miserable, cowering dog that does not understand why they are in the shelter. I think people sympathize and want to help, but many adopters may want a happy upbeat dog if they are looking for a companion.

[StarfishSaving]

I am putting together a quick blog about photographing dogs for adoption, actually, and would be happy to copy and paste the text into a thread in our rescue forum here when it's finished. I have started so many blog posts and not finished them due to lack of time, but this one and one about evaluating dogs for rescue are up there on my list to get finished.

I have to learn that photoshopping technique but figure we can at least start with simply better pictures of calmer, happier dogs.

Clone tool Just cloning other parts of the background (so you have to make sure you have a background that can be cloned!) Here are a couple of the pics I photoshopped so you can see what I mean. I didn't have a DSLR back then or know anything really about photography, so they're not perfect, but it gives you an idea how to clean up photos (really takes no time at all once you get the hang of it) to make a good impression.

[StarfishSaving]

Just a few more.