Santa Maria Valley Humane Society: Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Taking better photos of our adoptable animals.

We have received increased interest in our adoptable animals since posting better-looking pictures on Facebook, Petfinder.com, Instagram and our website.

How many pets did this grant help?

It's difficult to determine an exact number of animals helped but interest has definately increased. We have received many compliments from our Facebook followers about the more appealing photos.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Two-year-old Poodle mix Frannie (first two photos) was at our shelter since June 22. Her photo was not particularly flattering. Since retaking her picture with the One Picture methods and reposting, Frannie received interest from a family in Wisconsin and a family in Northern California, and was adopted on Sept. 4 by family who live an hour’s drive from our shelter. There is no question that the increased interest was a direct result of Frannie’s new pictures on Petfinder.com.

Brandy (fourth photo) was actually a transfer in from a rescue organization we occasionally work with in the Central Valley. She had kennel cough and some pretty bad skin issues when she first arrived, but after medical treatment she healed and perked up quite a bit. She was a resident in our kennels for less than a month before finding her perfect match, a family of four (last photo). You can see what a difference a good photo makes!