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
