Speed Dating for Dogs!

Speed Dating For Dogs!

The New Hampshire SPCA announced a brand new, fun adoption event scheduled for tomorrow, August 11.  Speed Dating for Dogs is scheduled from 4pm until 7pm on Thursday.

The event is the latest in a series of events meant to bring attention to animal adoptions and the three month long Love Is…Adoption Campaign which began on August 1st. 

“Most people of heard about Speed Dating, but have never done it.  So this is their chance,” said Sheila Ryan, NHSPCA Director of Development and Marketing.  “Our special twist is that it’s Speed Dating for Dogs!  The dogs will be outside where they can be themselves.  Potential adopters can take a few minutes and if there’s chemistry, they’ll take that dog to a cozier spot and get to know each other better.  Hopefully they’ll make that love connection and decide to adopt that dog.  If they don’t connect, the adopter moves on to the next pup, with no hard feelings.”

This particular event is focused on the dogs mostly because it is an opportunity to see shelter dogs outside where they are more comfortable and less stressed.  The dogs will be held by qualified volunteers or staff and the adoption process will be the same.     

Discounted adoption fees for the entire day on Thursday, will be:

1)    A free companion cat with on paid cat adoption

2)    Or, 50% adult cat adoption fees

3)    Or, $50 off adoption fees for an adult dog

This event continues the NHSPCA’s participation in the 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge, a nationwide competition for animal shelters. The New Hampshire SPCA in Stratham, NH is the only New Hampshire shelter participating.  The Challenge runs from August 1 to October 31, 2011, and the New Hampshire SPCA is competing with 48 other shelters across the country!  The shelter that saves the most lives, will earn a grant of $100,000 from the ASPCA.  There are also regional and community engagement awards at stake.

The New Hampshire SPCA is in need of volunteers to help care for more animals than ever before as well as people who would like to help find homes for specific animals.  The grassroots efforts of our “Community Matchmakers” will truly help put us on the road to winning.  The ‘Community Matchmakers’ will select an animal for whom they wish to advocate.  They can use their business and social networks to spread the word about specific animals and the beauty of adoption.  Once their first animal gets a home, they get to pick another.  It should be a great way to extend our reach and we are looking forward to the creativity that folks are going to bring to their efforts.  Community members can sign up at any time to be Matchmakers by going to our website www.nhspca.org and click on the “Love Is…” logo.

The New Hampshire SPCA is a community resource center that provides animal adoption, education, investigation and sheltering services in a professional and compassionate way.  The Adoption Center is open from 11 am – 4pm on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am – 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and closed on Wednesday. For more information about the NHSPCA, visit www.nhspca.org.