Miranda Morrison with Animal Ark Rescue had a brilliant idea about how to get her favorite long-stay dog, Henry, adopted – and it involved pizza and dating. Right away I’m sure you’re thinking this is the typical “invite a dog out for a pizza date” temporary foster idea. But this is something covert and clever. Miranda signed Henry up for Tinder. We know that what matters when matching a dog with an adopter is all about personality. As Miranda began thinking about the best match for Henry, she also thought about some of the weird things she encountered during her single days. She told us: “H ..read more

On November 1, 2017, the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine (JAVMA) published an article called The Dangerous Dog Debate, which posed the question, “Breed bans are popular, but do they make the public safe?” JAVMA senior news reporter, R. Scott Nolen told our executive director that the article was about the current state of breed-specific legislation. This is a good topic to discuss because it’s important that people know breed discriminatory legislation is being repealed and rejected more than it’s being put into place. As a scientific journal in the animal welfare space, JAVMA should ..read more

At Animal Farm Foundation, we like science. We do love a good fairytale (because who doesn’t?), but simply because a story tugs at your heart, doesn’t make it true or helpful in moving society forward. In advocacy, you must always lead with the truth. Unfortunately, many myths about “pit bull” dogs are so pervasive that many advocates believe them to be true and they use these stories as part of their outreach efforts. A prime example of this is the myth that “pit bull” dogs have a higher tolerance for pain than other dogs. One advocacy website writes: “Sometimes presented as a negative ..read more

It’s October. It’s pumpkin spice latte (well, pumpkin spice everything) and Halloween time. If you’re a dog lover, especially if you’re a dog parent whose pup might end up a target of breed specific legislation, this month also means that it’s “Pit Bull” Awareness Month. If you’ve been a follower of Animal Farm Foundation’s work since the beginning, then you know that our approach to advocacy has changed over time. These changes are a direct response to three things: Does science support the language or the methods we’re using? What message are we really sending to the public? Are we evolvin ..read more

*This is a guest post from Tara Garland. Most dog lovers, especially those who own ones labeled as “pit bulls,” are against breed specific legislation and discriminatory legislation. It’s a passionate subject, but effective advocacy requires not only a lot of heart, but also a lot of thought. Here are tips to help you speak confidently and accurately on the behalf of dogs. Don’t Single Out “Pit Bull” Dogs To quote Emily Douglas, the blogger behind the Unexamined Dog: “Every time you utter a phrase like “pit bulls are the most loyal dogs” or “pit bulls used to be nanny dogs because they’re so ..read more

You’ve heard us say all dogs are individuals. You’ve heard us say looks don’t equal behavior. You may be on board with that, which is great, we love that, but you’re unsure of how to get your shelter staff and volunteers to accept the science that breed isn’t indicative of a dog’s personality. We’ve got the best tool for that and it’s in a handy dandy infographic! *All of the images in this post are outtakes from the infographic. Odds are, you’ve seen this infographic before. Maybe you even have a poster hanging in your shelter, but guess what!? We’re giving away giant 70×27 banner-sized post ..read more

Shelter life is B-U-S-Y! We get it. It seems impossible to add another item to your daily to-do list. Take heart! Enrichment can be simple, fast, and inexpensive. Remember, even the smallest changes make a big difference. Source: Marcia Tiersky for Animal Farm Foundation Make the commitment to your dogs. Then reach out for support. You’ll find volunteers who want to do hands-on work, donors who will purchase items from your wish lists, and foster homes who will give dogs a temporary break. But you don’t even need donors to purchase items for you. You have plenty of enrichment tools at your fin ..read more

Just like humans, dogs have five basic senses. Ignoring their sensory needs may lead to stress and undesirable behaviors. Source: Animal Farm FoundationLet’s Break This Down: Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s awesome. But if you ate it every day, it would get really gross. Staring at a computer all day starts to suck after a few hours. You don’t just want to look at something different, your body needs you to look at something different. A 5-hour plane ride with a screaming baby is never fun and the radio gets really tiring when they play the same song ..read more

As humans, we lead stressful lives. We all know that de-stressing is a process. One hour of relaxing won’t keep you calm, cool, and collected for the rest of your life. You need consistent breaks and things to occupy your time and your mind. Source: Animal Farm Foundation Dogs are the same way. A dog needs more than a 15 minute stand alone enrichment activity. Enrichment is a process that creates a more positive and productive shelter experience for the dogs in your care. Enrichment reduces stress, boredom, and undesired behaviors by supporting a dog’s sensory and social needs. It also adds va ..read more

Before video took over social media, the only frame of reference people had for a dog’s personality was static images or words. Of course, those convey powerful messages, but the right video can make someone feel like they are actually with the dog, not just watching the dog. That feeling is even more powerful if you take advantage of live video features on Facebook and Instagram. Remember, it’s awesome if you can have professionals help you make a video, and there are lots who are willing to donate their time, but you can easily create a video with your cell phone. Here are some tips for crea ..read more