Adopting an AI Supported Lifestyle | Author of Breaking Barriers: A Woman of Color's Guide to Thriving in Tech (and Other) Sales | Tech Sales Rep and Former Leader | Marketing Enthusiast
I asked Chat-GPT to solve the problem of people buying rather than adopting and here's what it said. Please note, I've trained Chat-GPT to write in my voice, which is why it's written this way. You've got folks eager to welcome a new furry member into their family, There's this massive, shadowy industry that's kinda exploiting that desire. . First off, let's talk about the allure of puppy mill. The truth is, these places have a knack for presenting themselves in a way that's super appealing to potential dog owners. They've got websites that are slicker than a greased pig, showing off pups that look like they've just waltzed off the set of a pet food commercial. It's all sunshine, rainbows, and adorable puppy eyes that could melt the coldest heart. You get sucked in by the cuteness overload, and before you know it, you're hitting the 'Buy Now' button. Many folks going through these online mills are looking for specific breeds or designer dogs—you know, the ones that come with fancy names and even fancier price tags. There's this perception that certain breeds have certain characteristics, like hypoallergenic coats, specific sizes, or temperaments that are marketed as ideal for families. It's like ordering off a menu: "I'll take one pint-sized pooch with a side of minimal shedding, please. 1/of I'm not sure how many. The rest of it will be in Kristen's comments.
The current state of animal sheltering: myths vs. facts. Overall animal shelter intake trends for cats and dogs are similar to 2018 and 2019, which means the system is recalibrating back to pre-pandemic intake levels. Owner surrenders are slightly lower, while stray intake is slightly higher. Shelters are about to be packed with kittens, just as they are every kitten season. Good news: cats and kittens are faring better, with more live outcomes in general and record adoption numbers. Bad news: Dogs are faring worse, with about 50,000 more dogs euthanized in 2023 than in 2022 and dogs experiencing a longer length of stay. There is a continuous bottleneck of dogs that started during the pandemic and has not levelled off which means shelters are packed with highly adoptable dogs and puppies waiting for homes. In other words, more dogs are entering than leaving shelters, which ultimately increases euthanasia. The root causes of negative trends for dogs are likely twofold: First, there has been an increase in online puppy sales, which are responsible for a higher percentage of overall new dog acquisitions proportionate to a decrease in the percentage of new dog acquisitions from shelters and rescues. Second, there has been a marked decrease in dog transport (moving dogs from high population areas to places where there are more adopters than available dogs and puppies). Third, we restricted adoption access, volunteer, and foster programs at the beginning of the pandemic and have not entirely re-opened our doors. What will 2024 bring? If what we're seeing so far is accurate, 2024 will be much like 2023 unless we can accomplish the following: 1. Increase transport numbers back to pre-pandemic levels; and 2. Rebuild foster and volunteer programs to pre-pandemic levels; and 3. Make it faster, easier, and more fun to adopt a rescue or shelter pet so we can compete in today's customer-focused pet acquisition market; and 4. Invest more heavily in outcomes staff positions (lost pet reunification specialists, adoption counselors, foster coordinators, volunteer coordinators, and rescue/transport coordinators. While number one is somewhat complex, numbers two through four can be easily accomplished in most every community. We have more control than we think over the number of animals that live and die in 2024 but we have to take swift action to implement proven solutions.
