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Date:   23 November, 2009  
Focus: Small animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pig & rabbits.

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Rehoming - Attract Attention First With a Good Visual   
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
 First written: Nov 20, 2009.

 
To: The Owner of Rover
Friday, Nov 21, 2009, 4.30 am

 Nowadays, it is not so simple just to post any picture of a dog for rehoming as there are just too many dogs wanting a new home in Singapore.

I have created an attractive advertisement of Rover for you. Good pictures help a lot in re-homing dogs. With a good visual advertisement, Rover has a better chance of finding a good home. The picture shows her looking hopefully into the horizon "LOOKING for a new home."

 Yesterday, one of my clients came in for his dog's annual vaccination and check up. I noted that his Jack Russell, a neutered male of around 3 years was rather stout and has a thick neck. An canine equivalent of the sumo wrestler. He looked 80% of the size of my neighbour's neutered male Jack Russell. Too much of good food and an excellent appetite, I would say.

This dog is much bigger in size than Rover who is athletic and slim even though she was spayed. She had lots of exercise. This stout Jack Russell should command your alpha female's respect. Dog body size seems to matter in Rover's canine relationship with her sibling who was much smaller than her but attracted the most attention from family members. This caused intense jealousy.

I asked the owner whether he could adopt Rover. He had wanted a puppy, but Jack Russell puppies for sale in the internet cost more than $400.

"I don't know whether they will fight," the new prospective owner said to me."  So, I said, "Try this new dog for 2 days. If it does not work out, return the dog to me."  Rover will be in a good home with a garden. I hope she will be happy with this bigger male.

A picture of Rover is attached for your friend to post on the internet if things don't work out well for Rover.

Best wishes
Dr Sing
 
TIPS

MARKETING FOR RE-HOMING DOGS
Many owners don't post attractive pictures in the websites for dogs needing adoption. Once, I saw one Jack Russell pictured in a ferocious position looking for adoption in a website. This was a failure. How would this give the poor adult dog any chance of getting a good home if the first visual impression was that of an "attack" dog.

Use "AIDA". It stands for Attract, Interest, Desire, Action.

Attract prospective owners with a good visual and caption. Without a good visual, AIDA does not work. This picture was taken with good sunlight. Then I used Photoshop to make a good picture. It took me 30 minutes to create and I am not satisfied with this picture. It just takes too much effort, so I can understand why many well-meaning people who post dogs for adoption do not submit good pictures. 
 
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