Mayor Kerry Thomson

Page last updated on June 12, 2024 at 2:49 pm

Marketing your foster is the best way that you can help them find their forever home! You know your foster best which makes you their biggest advocate. We highly encourage foster guardians to actively share photos and updates of how their fosters are doing in their home so that we can update our website for potential adopters to see. It is really valuable to see how an animal does in a home environment, and can go a long way with helping your foster find the right forever home. You can also market your foster and spread the word on how easy and fun it is to become a foster guardian on your own social media!

Photos:

Photos are one of the most valuable marketing tools for finding your foster their forever home. As a foster guardian, you should prioritize building a diverse collection of photos of your foster to share online and on social media for potential adopters to see.

 

Capture all the angles:

 

  • Headshot: Smiley close up of their face looking at the camera.

  • Full Body: Overall body size and coat color and pattern.

  • Personality: Goofy or stoic expression.

  • Simple Pleasures: Playtime, snuggle time, hiking, swimming, and other endearing moments.

  • Compatibility: Moments with dogs, cats, and people (as appropriate for the animal).

 

Tips for quality photos:

 

  • Take Some as Landscape (Horizontal): Provide more photo options for use on profile and marketing platforms.

  • Take a Few Steps Back: Allow for buffer space. Closeups are harder to use on profiles.

  • Use Natural Light: Get outside to take advantage of the sun. When inside, get near a window or turn on lights to ensure they are brightly lit.

  • Say Something with Your Photo: Capture the simple pleasures your foster loves--snuggling, playing, napping, walking, snacking, etc.

  • Focus on the Eyes: Show off the most expressive part of the face. Use lures (toys, treats, sounds) to get them to look at you.

  • Choose Contrasting Background to Dog Fur: Make them stand out with contrasting color backgrounds. Lighter for dark dogs and darker for light dogs.

  • Shoot in Their World: Take photos at their level and from a distance, if they are comfortable.

Bios:

Along with photos, your foster's written bio is the first impression that potential adopters will have of your foster animal. It is really important for the bio to be informational and positive.

 

Keep these things in mind when writing about your foster animal:

 

  • Keep it positive.

  • Aim to build emotional connections between potential adopters and your foster animal. 

  • Identify what sets your foster animal apart from all of the other animals awaiting their forever homes, and focus on that.

  • Avoid any "stop language" or negative phrases. Be creative when describing your foster animal, their less desirable behaviors can be displayed in positive ways. Remember that we will talk with potential adopters about any medical or behavioral concerns during adoption counseling.

  • Focus on the animals future. 

 

What information you should share:

 

  • Funny or heart-warming stories about your foster animal.

  • Adventures that your foster animal has embarked on.

  • What do they like? Be specific. (toys, activities, snacks, kids, etc.)

  • What is their personality like? Are they mellow? Are they affectionate? Hyper? Be honest and specific.

Examples of Good Marketing in Written Bios for Fosters:

"Hoo, Hoo, Hoo, Hooper! Hi, I'm Hooper, and I really love hiking, walking, sniffing, and swimming and everything outdoors! I also really love to hang out with my person and I simply don't get to do that enough at the shelter. I do well with some other dogs and do my best to keep a clean kennel. I am prone to adventuring if left to my own devices outdoors, so I would prefer that my people stay with me while I'm outside. I also am very good at riding in cars and especially love to feel the wind on my long nose! I'm ready to start a new lease on life as your best hound buddy, Come meet me today!"

  • This is a great example of a bio for an adoptable dog. It touches on his personality, the things he likes, and also speaks to his future, post-adoption life. Another thing that this bio does great is how it acknowledges a less ideal behavior in a positive way. Rather than saying "Hooper will run off when left unattended", this bio makes it clear that he needs to monitored while outdoors, but does so in a more positive, personable way. 

 

"Icarus may be a bit of an older lady but she will fool you with her random zoomies and curious nature. Although she likes to play and investigate, she loves to settle down and snuggle. When she snuggles, she often perches on your leg similar to a gargoyle.  She loves to look out windows and watch the birds and people walking by. We believe she is mostly deaf but she still likes to chat with you and let you know how her day has been. This petite little lady would love to have a place to retire with someone who loves to play a bit and snuggle a lot."

  • This is another great example of a bio that is positive, focused on the animals personality, and sheds light on their future. 

 

"Nelly is a shy sweetie with a gentle demeanor. She might take a moment to warm up to new people but after you get her out of her shell Nelly is a clever, affectionate wonderful companion. Nelly has been having a major glow-up in a foster home with cat and dog buddies and has shown herself to be a grade-A snuggler! This sweet pup is definitely worth the time to get to know!"

  • This is a good example of a bio for a shy dog because it let's potential adopters know that their first impressions of the animal may not align with who the animal really is. Having an informational bio like this is super important because it informs people on how to approach the animal, and also gives them an idea of what they have to look forward to as they get to know them.