Social Media for Rescues: Sept 2022

Last year I was packing up to leave for Ghana. What a time that was! I hope this note finds you happy and healthy. I think the Fall season is coming to the US, and I miss it. There's only tropical weather here, and I don't think I've worn long pants in a year!

The reason why I'm putting this together in a slightly updated fashion and earlier is to keep you aware of the opportunities to celebrate and stay positive about rescue. It's easy to get into the zone of always seeking and asking for funds; but it's important to give the communities we serve something more to think about, including education.

This is September upcoming global hashtags and trends that I hope will inspire some of our rescue partners in their content creation this month. If you see a day and a global hashtag that you want to use, go ahead! Let us contribute our likes, retweets, and shares to you - just tag us using @dogsbondgame on any of your posts!

CALL TO ACTION

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are still listing us as robots when we like/follow as many of the rescues as we do - so please like/follow us using your social media first so we can hit that "Follow Back" buttons.

@dogsbondgame on all of your favorite social media

MONTH & WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER GLOBAL HASHTAGS

SEPTEMBER DAY CELEBRATIONS & GLOBAL HASHTAGS

Sept. 1: #GingerCatAppreciationDay - There’s nothing quite like having a furry footed feline friend bombing around the house and being the best buddy a person can ask for. Dogs may be man’s best friend for some, but cats can sometimes be better snugglers. Show us your ginger cat!

Sept. 5: #CanineEnrichmentDay - Looking for some ways to keep your dog happy, healthy and busy? If so try adding in a few mentally stimulating canine enrichment games & activities to your dog’s daily routine. Mental stimulation enriches our dogs' lives by giving them something meaningful and challenging to do.

Sept. 8: #NationalDogWalkerAppreciationDay – This day celebrates the men and women who walk millions of miles each day, exercising and entertaining mankind’s furry, four-legged friends. Dog walkers everywhere deserve a little extra gratitude today.

Sept. 9: #HappyDogDay - Celebrating happy dogs around the world. Who is the happiest? Why do they make us happy? Share stories of happy dogs and how we can make them happy.

Sept. 11: #NationalPetMemorialDay - Today we remember the furry companions that have passed away, these wonderful creatures provide companionship, emotional support and lots of joy. Share photos of your pet that passed on and share a memory you had with it.

Sept. 17: #ResponsibleDogOwnershipDay - This is a day on which people are encouraged to educate themselves on their responsibilities as a pet owner and are also encouraged to forge a tighter bond with their pets. When a person gets a dog, they are not only responsible for providing them with adequate housing, clean water, and food, but they’re also responsible for their grooming, training, veterinary care, and their socialization. Owning a dog isn’t easy, but discuss some of the things that make the experience a responsible way to care for an animal.

Sept. 18: #LoveYourDogGroomerDay - Pet Groomers are extremely compassionate individuals that have an incredible amount of love and passion for this career! They deserve to be celebrated as a vital member of the pet professional community. Celebrate this day by posting and tagging your groomers on social media and get them a lovely present for your appreciation.

Sept. 19: #NationalMeowLikeaPirateDay - Cats are a sign of good luck, and believed to be good luck for pirates too! Today is a special day to dress your cat up like a pirate and post it on social media for all your friends to see your pirate kitty.

Sept. 22: #NationalWalknRollDogDay - Today we honor all of our mobility-challenged pets! Whether they use wheels, strollers, drag bags, or something else we honor them and the life lessons they bring! Show us your Walk ‘n Roll pet!

Sept. 23: #AdoptedDogDay - This day is a reminder for people all over the nation to make an effort to help an animal at a pet shelter. Many people live alone and having a pet is indeed one of the best things to keep them company. Share stories, pictures, or videos with your pets on social media and create awareness among people about how cool it is to have a pet. Use #AdoptedDogDay and inspire people to go to a shelter and adopt some pets!

Sept. 24: #WorldsLargestPetWalk - The World’s Largest Pet Walk helps fund the Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program, which includes visiting therapy animal teams that provide comfort and delight to public patrons. Share photos of your walk on social media using the hashtag #WorldsLargestPetWalk.

Sept. 25: #NationalSchnauzerDay - Every day is a day dedicated to all things schnauzer when you're owned by one, but even better is their own dedicated day to share our love of schnauzers, big or small!

We want to celebrate all things schnauzer on 25th September, a day devoted to the love of this very special breed, so let's get social and share our stories, our photos, our adventures, our top grooming tips and get schnauzers trending!

Sept. 28: #WorldRabiesDay - It is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention and to highlight progress in defeating this disease. Educate yourself this day and share your knowledge with others.

That's what we've found for this upcoming month of September!

I'd love to get your thoughts, feedback, and of course ideas on how I might be able to build this into a greater resource for rescues! Have a great September!

Social Media for Rescues: Aug 2022

It's time to start thinking about back to school, and there's going to be a lot of coverage around that. Dogs BOND has been hailed as a triumph in several educational conferences, as well as featured in magazines as a way to promote empathy and compassion - two concepts that you need if you're going to be a good dog parent. Or any kind of parent really. Let's keep things fresh and positive as we all get back to our normal.

I found these upcoming global hashtags and trends that I hope will help our rescue partners in their content creation this month. If you see a day and a global hashtag that you want to use, go ahead! Let us contribute our likes, retweets, and shares to you - just tag us using @dogsbondgame on any of your posts!

CALL TO ACTION

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are still listing us as robots when we like/follow as many of the rescues as we do - so please like/follow us using your social media first so we can hit that "Follow Back" button.

Find us @dogsbondgame on all of your favorite social media

MONTH & WEEKS OF AUGUST GLOBAL HASHTAGS

National Immunization Awareness Month - As we've all seen in the past few years, nothing is as important as your health. There are several shots that we all know our young and old fur family members need to get. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

National Wellness Month - Similarly aligned to the National Immunization Awareness Month, it's also a good time to make sure your animal is happy and healthy with mental and physical stimulation in the routine. Evaluate and adapt as your friend may need.

National Dog Month - Two years ago we were in a countdown mode to get to the board game to fruition. This year, we're happy wagging our tails in excitement to do it again!

Aug. 7-13: #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek - Dogs are regarded as man’s closest friends because of their unconditional affection for their owners. By supporting individuals with disabilities, service dogs go above and beyond their typical doggo duties.

AUGUST DAY CELEBRATIONS & GLOBAL HASHTAGS

Aug. 1: #DOGustUniversalBirthdayforShelterDogs - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all the dogs that are from the rescue system; whose birthday we don't exactly know. What better way to celebrate than by getting them a new plaything, and maybe a copy of Dogs BOND.

Aug. 4: #AssistanceDogDay - There are several types of assistance dogs that deserve recognition and praise for being there for us. Guide dogs and hearing alert dogs help people that have hearing difficulties and vision impairment. There are also seizure alert and medical alert dogs trained to identify the signs of heart attacks, strokes and epilepsy. Today is a special day for our the assistance dog, you know what your dog wants, make your dog feel very special on this day. Be sure to always ask before petting any dog, especially a working dog.

Aug. 5: #WorkLikeaDogDay – A day to work hard and to reward people who work day and night and are very productive. Do you know someone who is a workaholic? Spend the day honoring the hard work they do and celebrate their contribution to the workplace and society by doing something nice for them. Thank your volunteers.

Aug. 8: #InternationalCatDay - Cats are one of the coolest beings on the planet, they are independent, inquisitive, adventurous, have an amazing physique, and the power to heal by themselves at least most of the time. If you have a cat, International Cat Day is the perfect day to have a great time and show love to your baby. Even if you don't like cats, remember to treat them with respect and kindness, take the occasion to spread awareness about respect to cats on your social media.

Aug. 10: #NationalSpoilYourDogDay - Dogs are hilarious and they don’t hold it against us when we make them wear silly hats and sunglasses. Dogs happily slurp any food we drop on the floor. They only want a warm bed, belly rubs and walks. Tell us how you spoil your dogs in your care.

Aug. 16: #SaintRochsDay. Patron saint of dogs – Let’s groom and dress up our dogs in colorful costumes while we also wear matching costumes with our dogs too!

Aug. 17: #NationalBlackCatAppreciationDay - If you don’t already have a black-furred feline friend but have been thinking about adopting one, Black Cat Appreciation Day is an excellent day to visit shelters, many animal shelters, including the ASPCA, run adoption specials for black cats on this day.

Aug. 20: #InternationalHomelessAnimalsDay - The best way to celebrate International Homeless Animals Day is by adopting a pet that is left homeless from your nearby areas. Educate people from around you about the importance of adopting homeless pets. dopt a pet and share your pictures on social media using the hashtag.

Aug. 22: #NationalTakeYourCattotheVetDay - Cats and dogs are an integral part of our lives and every day they make us feel more loved and better persons. Cats, in comparison to dogs, are very good liars and they hide the pain like artists. That is why you, as a pet owner, you should never wait until the last moment to take your cat for a veterinary check-up. Take your cat to the vet today for check-up if you've been putting it off.

Aug. 23: #InternationalBlindDogDay - A day to bring together the owners of blind dogs from across the world, to celebrate the amazing things that blind dogs can do.

Aug. 26: #NationalDogDay - Let’s celebrate the joy that dogs brings into people’s lives and encourages people to help reduce the number of dogs in shelters. Post the photo on your phone of that pup.

Aug. 28: #RainbowBridgeRemembranceDay - A day set aside to commemorate your beloved pet and the ways they made life better. A day time to celebrate the life of the dogs that have brought us joy, unconditional love, comfort, and laughter through the years.

Aug. 30: #NationalHolisticPetDay - A holistic approach to well-being is nothing new for humans, but applying the lifestyle to household pets is still a growing trend. It starts with the basics of good nutrition, lots of physical exercise, and even mental stimulation. Animals need to be mentally active and challenged or they risk listlessness and boredom. Take some time to learn about caring for your pet with the same generosity you give your own mind, body, and spirit.

Again, all of these are suggestions for the tough job of staying relevant on social media. Building a strong content calendar to keep your audience engaged is very important. Don't make the only time a volunteer, supporter, or donor hears from you when you need funds. Stay top of mind in a "pawsitive" way!

Let’s keep in touch with these social media hashtags, and make sure that our partners have a headstart on their social media planning as possible. Thanks everyone!

-Alex

Social Media for Rescues: July 2022

Well it's pretty neat, being overseas for the 4th of July. I think that there's a definite sense of pride, enthusiasm, and genuine appreciation for what the USA has and is offering to other nations. That's probably just an opinion of someone who is mostly positive on the world that's run by the good people - but that's what you see when you work with and celebrate and support rescue. People giving so much. That's who you surround yourself with.

I found these upcoming global hashtags and trends that I hope will help our rescue partners in their content creation this month. If you see a day and a global hashtag that you want to use, go ahead! Let us contribute our likes, retweets, and shares to you - just tag us using @dogsbondgame on any of your posts!

CALL TO ACTION

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are still listing us as robots when we like/follow as many of the rescues as we do - so please like/follow us using your social media first so we can hit that "Follow Back" button.

Find us @dogsbondgame on all of your favorite social media

MONTH & WEEKS OF JULY GLOBAL HASHTAGS

July: Dog House Repairs Month - We've spent so much time in our own homes making our home a better place for ourselves. It's time to think about doing a little refresh on the look and the gear that the dog gets.

JULY DAY CELEBRATIONS & GLOBAL HASHTAGS

July 1: #IDYourPetDay – Let’s urge pet owners to make sure their pet has proper identification. The need for proper ID tags will help your beloved pet if missing or lost. Share a success story of how you helped a missing pet.

July 9: #CoonDogDay - There's a festival is Saluda, North Carolina that is the perfect excuse to celebrate coonhounds everywhere. It doesn’t matter whether you have a coondog or not. Just another fun day to celebrate your dog.

July 10: #NationalKittenDay – Play with your kitten or bring her a new toy. Visit a shelter and adopt a kitten today if you have none too. Share that selfie you took while at the cat cafe.

July 11: #PetPhotoDay – Go to the pet salon and have a day to treat your fur family member. Why not? Since our friends are only with us for a short period of time, take them to a pet portrait spot and let them get a little photo shoot day.

July 15: #NationalPetFireSafetyDay – Research shows that over thousand home fires are accidentally started by pets per year. Learn about the fire safety measures to keep your pet safe when you are out of the house. Share some tips about animal fire safety.

July 16: #FelineLeukemiaDay – early detection is the key here. Talk to your family vet to learn more about this kind of disease and if your animal might be affected by it. We want yours to be a #cancerfree household.

July 21: #NoPetStorePuppiesDay – Dog brokers are middlemen who obtain puppies from puppy mills in bulk and distribute them to retailers. Let’s help end the cruel breeding industry by opting to adopt your next puppy and also encourage your friends and family to do same.

July 22: #AAHA- AccreditedHospitalDay or AAHADay – Let’s celebrate all veterinary teams who do the hard work to uphold the highest standards in medicine and patient care. Appreciate a vet officer in your community.

July 26: #NationalDogPhotographyDay – The perfect day to post as many photos of your companion, beloved, caring, protector and furry friend. Share as many photos with hashtag #NationalDogPhotographyDay

July 31: #NationalMuttDay - Mutts are adorable and there’s no denying that. Their floppy ears, patches of different colored fur and deep loving eyes, and that 'awww' factor. Let’s promote adoption from animal shelters and show everyone that a dog’s individual personality matters more than their pedigree.

There you have them! Hopefully this set of social media hashtags and content help you out and you can share them with your audience.

Let’s keep in touch with these social media hashtags, and make sure that our partners have a headstart on their social media planning as possible. Thanks everyone!

-Alex