Dogs on Zoom: Online pet adoption is the new normal
By Death Wish Coffee — / Death Wish Coffee Blog
ADOPT A HOMELESS PET TODAY
By Angela Garrity, Guest Blogger
Online meeting platforms are being used in ways that we likely never dreamt about. This technology is truly saving lives in uncertain times.
MSN explains how shelter pets are joining video calls and making meetings 100% better. “Earlier this week, Tennessee’s Nashville Humane Association hosted meet-and-greets between adoptable dogs and potential adopters. While the animals played, shelter employees answered questions about the pups’ personalities, affinity for kids and medical backgrounds — for the nearly 3,000 people watching on the videoconferencing platform Zoom.”
© Courtesy of Michigan Animal Rescue League
Homeless pets are getting a chance to shine on screen for their potential new families and it’s working. Droves of onlookers are tuning in, ready to open their hearts and doors and increase their family count numbers.
“All of the dogs featured so far on the new Dogs on Zoom program have people applying to adopt them. When the adoptions are finalized, the shelter will provide a curbside pickup to keep the exchange as contact-free as possible.”
“The adoption fees will also be free, since the Pedigree brand sponsors dogs adopted through the program. Nashville Humane Association was the first beneficiary, but Pedigree is in talks with a number of shelters around the country to schedule virtual adoption events throughout May and into June, according to Craig Neely, vice president of marketing at Mars Petcare.”
“During this time of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders, many people are turning to pets for companionship,” he told TODAY in an email. “The Pedigree brand wanted to help share this new best practice of virtual adoption, making it easy for people to find their new best friend, and for adoptable pets to find their forever homes.”
As new events are confirmed, they’ll be added to the Dogs on Zoom website at MeetYourNewDog.com. The site also offers a free digital toolkit for any shelter interested in creating virtual adoption events.