Increasing Traffic to Your Shelter and Advocating for Homeless Dogs
Animal shelters play a vital role in rescuing, caring for, and rehoming dogs in need. However, many shelters struggle to attract consistent visitors and engage their communities. Increasing traffic to your shelter not only boosts adoptions but also fosters volunteer involvement, raises awareness, and strengthens support for your programs. Advocacy goes hand in hand, allowing shelters to create lasting change for homeless animals in their communities. In this guide, we’ll explore proven strategies to bring more visitors to your shelter, engage local residents, and advocate for solutions that benefit dogs and the community alike.
Build Walking Trails or a Dog Park
Outdoor spaces such as walking trails or dog parks can transform your shelter into a community hub. These areas provide enrichment for dogs, foster socialization, and draw visitors who may become adopters or volunteers.
Community engagement through activities – Invite residents to bring their dogs for agility courses, obedience classes, or casual socialization sessions. Fun, structured activities encourage repeat visits.
Examples of success – Anderson County P.A.W.S., SC, built a paw-shaped dog park with an amphitheater and play areas, hosting regular dog playdates. Cheatham County Animal Control revitalized hiking trails with storyboards and painted rocks, attracting community members to walk shelter dogs multiple times daily, boosting the dogs’ health and well-being.
Host Walks and Pack Walk Events
Regular walking events help dogs get exercise and give visitors a hands-on experience with adoptable pets.
Walk a Shelter Dog Day – Dedicate a day for people to walk dogs. Even brief 15-minute walks provide enrichment and leave visitors with a memorable experience. Promote the event with social media photos and involve local cafés or delis for refreshments.
Pack Walks – Organize group walks in local parks, either transporting dogs in shelter vans or letting volunteers bring their own pets. Rotate locations to reach more volunteers and potential adopters while exposing dogs to new environments. Assign knowledgeable leaders to ensure safety and proper handling during walks.
Organize Holiday House Tours and Seasonal Events
Special seasonal events attract visitors while supporting the shelter financially and socially.
Holiday House Tours – Shelters can host tours of festively decorated homes, with ticket proceeds supporting veterinary care or supplies for homeless pets. Advocates Saving Adoptable Pets hosts an annual tour benefiting sick and injured animals in the community.
Seasonal promotions – Plan themed adoption events, costume parades, or holiday meet-and-greets. These events create excitement, strengthen community ties, and highlight the shelter’s work to potential donors and adopters.
Offer Free or Low-Cost Dog Training Classes
Training classes provide enrichment for dogs and valuable support to pet owners.
Behavioral enrichment – Offer basic obedience, agility, or trick training sessions. These classes help shelter dogs build confidence and demonstrate their skills to potential adopters.
Community support – Invite professional trainers or local volunteers to lead sessions, increasing shelter traffic and community engagement.
Online resources – Provide guides and tutorials for new adopters to maintain training and care, such as the Animal Harbor Shelter, TN online training library.
Run Drive-Up Vaccination and Microchip Clinics
Vaccination clinics meet community needs while providing opportunities for outreach.
Veterinary partnerships – Partner with local or retired veterinarians to offer affordable vaccines, microchips, and preventive care.
Outreach opportunities – Distribute volunteer forms, foster information, and educational materials during events to increase engagement and attract potential supporters.
Start a Lending Library or Pet Pantry
Offering free resources strengthens community ties and helps keep pets in their homes.
Lending library – Collect and share books or magazines on pet care, behavior, and training. Register with LittleFreeLibrary.org to create a community hub for pet education.
Pet pantry – Provide donations of food, collars, crates, and essential supplies. Partner with local businesses, food banks, or Meals on Wheels programs to reach families in need. Promote through press releases or social media to attract visitors and volunteers.
Advocacy: Leading Change for Homeless Dogs in Your Community
Advocacy amplifies a shelter’s impact by addressing systemic issues affecting homeless dogs. Whether working alone, forming a group, or rallying the community, advocacy begins with taking action.
Research the Problem – Identify gaps, such as no local shelter, underfunded facilities, outdated laws, or insufficient public education. Collect data, local ordinances, and statistics to support your proposals.
Educate Decision-Makers – Meet with officials to discuss how stray animals impact public safety, traffic, and community well-being. Highlight how humane treatment benefits everyone.
Propose Solutions – Present clear proposals, such as improved shelter operations, expanded spay/neuter access, humane education programs, and redirection of taxpayer funds toward prevention.
Publicize Your Efforts – Use social media campaigns, letters to the editor, or op-eds to mobilize the community and encourage local officials to support change.
Helpful resources:
GA Companion Animal Advocacy – Who We Are
Advocacy Tools and Resources
Conclusion
Increasing traffic to your shelter and advocating for homeless dogs go hand in hand. Creating engaging programs, interactive events, and community resources brings more visitors, increases adoptions, and fosters long-term support. Pairing these strategies with targeted advocacy amplifies your impact, ensuring that dogs receive the care and homes they deserve. By implementing dog parks, walking events, seasonal activities, training programs, and pet pantries, shelters can connect meaningfully with their communities while promoting the welfare of adoptable dogs.
