
Back in April, we surveyed Petfinder visitors about their experiences adopting, or trying to adopt, from shelters and rescue groups. A whopping 2,667 people responded -- and boy, did you have a lot to say (
read more about the survey here).
Although 86% of respondents were "very" committed to adopting rather than buying a pet, many were discouraged by a lack of responsiveness from or other bad experience with an adoption group (40% said they had contacted an adoption group about a pet and received NO reply).
Now,
Maddie's Fund is working with us to award
$50,000 in prize money to Petfinder.com member shelters and rescue
groups in the U.S.
who demonstrate good customer service. The
Put Your Best Face Forward program is designed to encourage shelters and rescues to assess their customer service and entice them to improve it if it is lacking.
Here's how it works, courtesy of Maddie's Fund:
From July 13 through September 18, there
will be
three ways to win cash
awards!
Rescue groups--Check your in-box!
Each week, Petfinder.com will randomly e-mail three member
rescue groups with questions about an available dog or cat posted on their
website. If they get helpful information about that animal within 24 hours, the
rescue group wins
$500.
Shelters--Answer the Phone!
Each week, Petfinder.com will randomly call three shelters
with questions about an available cat or dog posted on the website. If a live
person answers the phone and provides helpful information about that animal (or
connects the caller to someone who does), the shelter wins
$500.
Be there live with a winning smile!
An "adopter" will randomly visit one selected shelter in a
different state each week. If the "adopter" reports that the shelter experience
was positive, pleasant and helpful, the shelter will win
$2,000.
Read on for recent winners!