Advice for changing attitudes??

I think this is the right place to ask this question. I work in Marketing and a couple of us within the company have just volunteered to work on an ad campaign for a local animal shelter. Many (most!!) people in our community are very indifferent and unfeeling and some keep their dogs tied up 100% of the time, deny them basic care, overbreed them, etc, and then give them to Animal Control when they are tired of them, where they are destroyed.

Our tasks are: to promote spay/neuter to cut down on the animal population; and to encourage people to realise their "pets" are living things that require care.

Can you suggest any effective strategies that have made improvements in your communities?

Not really sure how to help you on this one. Here's a link to our local shelter. They have email information posted as well.
http://www.vhslifesaver.org/community/programs.html

I dont know how to help you but goodluck anyways

Contact this group:

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com

Also, this group:

http://www.bestfriends.org/

Originally Posted by lee

I think this is the right place to ask this question. I work in Marketing and a couple of us within the company have just volunteered to work on an ad campaign for a local animal shelter. Many (most!!) people in our community are very indifferent and unfeeling and some keep their dogs tied up 100% of the time, deny them basic care, overbreed them, etc, and then give them to Animal Control when they are tired of them, where they are destroyed.

Our tasks are: to promote spay/neuter to cut down on the animal population; and to encourage people to realise their "pets" are living things that require care.

Can you suggest any effective strategies that have made improvements in your communities?

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At a best friends conference I saw some awesome ads that they ENCOURAGED us to use...either the ads themselves or the 'idea' behind them.

I was also just speaking to some experts in other areas about these same issues. Most people around here are equally indifferent and neglectful. Few people bring a dog in their home, if they are not running loose they are chained out back. They suggested addressing the issue from other viewpoints. There are several studies you could use that show that kids who are raised in homes that treat animals respectfully have higher self esteem, as well as the HSUS 'First Strike' info a packet from the FBI that stresses how children are affected by seeing animals misused/abused and how serious animal cruelty is in kids and future crime, etc.
I'd suggest putting a positive spin on it, no one wants to hear bad newss and if i you can't go in the 'front door' on the animal welfare issue...tie it to a concern that DOES interest the community....public health and safety,etc.
Just my two cents! )

Here's a link to our local rescue group which has had WONDERFUL success - they've lowered the "kill-rate" at the shelter by 91%!!!! www.inyopets.org
Our area was quite uneducated till the influx of Southern Calif. relocates, who tend to have higher education and more compassionate views of animals. For example, I'm still trying to persuade people I know to NOT neuter their tomcats themselves (roll 'em up in a towel, hold tight, & cut away - no anesthesia, no nuthin' ) and I had to tell a young teen that NO, DO NOT CUT OFF THE EXTRA-TOES ON KITTENS - he apparently has confused them with dewclaws!!!! He quickly said that he hadn't done it yet, and I told him good, because he could go to jail for animal abuse, or at least have to do community service at the county dump.... {{{Prayers & vibes}}} for success in your efforts!!!!!!!!!!

I ran across this story recently, which brings up the financial angle:
Decrease Your Taxes and Benefit Your Community: Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Perhaps you could contact your city government and do some research to find out what such irresponsibility costs your community financially? If simple human compassion won't move some people, perhaps money will.