Imagine my surprise when I looked at our website statistics to see how we're getting most of our traffic - and found that BLOGS AND COMMENTS ON INTERNET FORUMS are the #1 way people are finding out about our website! TWO AMAZING EXAMPLES:


One of our members is an avid marathon runner. She happened to blog about startseeingblackdogs.com. Lo and behold, many folks who had never even HEARD of Black Dog Syndrome were visiting our website.


Ditto for a political website I've never heard of. A black dog owner that found us on the Pet Finder Forums mentioned startseeingblackdogs.com on a political forum he belongs to. Presto! Other forum members were suddenly posting pictures of their black dogs, visiting our website and discussing how they had been totally unaware of Black Dog Syndrome.


Three cheers for the Internet! This amazing tool allows us to raise awareness all over the globe about black shelter dogs -- and hopefully influences people’s companion animal choices. Maybe the next time they add a new dog to the family, wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone who has learned of Black Dog Syndrome on our site made a point to adopt a black shelter dog instead of buying from a commercial breeding source?


OUR APPEAL TO YOU: If you are a blogger, if you post responses on blogs, if you belong to a pet related forum (such as Pet Finder or Dogwise) or belong to a forum on ANY topic WE WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD POST SOMETHING ABOUT STARTSEEINGBLACKDOGS.COM .


We rely on word-of-mouth and viral marketing to get our message out. Many, Many people have no idea about the dangerous plight of black shelter dogs. YOUR HELP WILL ALLOW US TO SPREAD THE WORD MUCH, MUCH FASTER. Something someone reads today could inspire them to choose a black shelter dog tomorrow - saving one more dog’s life. And at the end of the day, that’s the real bottom line.


THANK YOU READERS, FOR ALL YOU DO TO HELP THE BLACK SHELTER DOGS!


Heather

Just to prove that our black dogs (and their owners) aren’t couch potatoes, we’ve created a new page on our website devoted to the types of Black Dog events that have had us out and about all summer. From this past Thursday’s “Beer with Your Buddy” dog event at the Nomad Bar in Minneapolis, to the weekly Black Dog Walk around Lake Harriet and the Pins for Pets bowling fundraiser tomorrow, our black dog group has been in the limelight to be sure.



Some new events on the horizon include The Ride For Their Lives fundraiser at Home For Life Animal Sanctuary and our weekly Black Dog Walks around Lake Harriet. Our weekly walking group meets every Sunday at 10:30 in front of the Linden Hills Dunn Brothers. NEWS FLASH: We’ll be announcing a location in the next week for a monthly Winter Black Dog Play Group that will offer dogs and their humans a chance to burn off a little Minnesota cabin fever while enjoying coffee and treats. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS! In the meantime, be sure check our events page often and sign up to receive e-mails.


WE NEED BLACK DOG “AMBASSADORS” FOR UPCOMING EVENTS. PERFECT DOGGIE MANNERS ARE NOT NECESSARY – ALL BLACK DOGS WHO ENJOY THE COMPANY OF PEOPLE AND OTHER DOGS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN. IF YOU AND YOUR DOG WOULD LIKE TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT BLACK DOG SYNDROME, CONTACT US AT INFO@STARTSEEINGBLACKDOGS.COM.



Heather

If you think social networking sites like Facebook and My Space are only for teenagers, think again. Social networking sites such as these are an excellent way to reach potential adopters, recruit new volunteers, fundraise and get support from your peers. We’ll be adding an article this week on how non-profits can best benefit from social networking sites, so stay tuned for that.


IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU HAVE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT YOU CAN NOW LINK TO my Facebook page and startseeingblackdogs.com at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1310747835


Heather

Okay all you black dog junkies, if you haven't visited blackpearldogs.com yet, now is the time. Black Pearl Dogs may be the first all black dog website, and one we have found to be very inspiring. Co-founders Tamara Delany and her "Big Black Dog" Jake have put together a great site that’s been very effective in raising awareness about Black Dog Syndrome.


I’ll share a brief quote from Tamara that came in a recent e-mail to me which I think expresses what all of us involved in helping these often overlooked dogs feel. Tamara writes "I can't express it enough how truly truly grateful I am for the village building on behalf of the black/dark shelter dog. Truly in my heart and mind the more advocates they have...the better...and won't it be grand someday when our adoption process/education campaign has come the full circle and people adopt based on a personality, lifestyle match and our shelters and rescues have the resources, time and materials to showcase the waiting animals based on their personality characteristics in their optimum environments (well lit for starters!!)."



If you haven’t already, check our Tamara and Jake’s website at http://www.blackpearldogs.com/ Send them a "woof" from us.



Heather

YOU ARE INVITED - Weekly Black Dog Walking Group Meets at Lake Harriet, Minnneapolis. WE walk EVERY WEEK, MAY THROUGH OCTOBER. COME JOIN US!


WHO: Anyone with one or more black dogs. Foster dogs are encouraged to join us. This is great exposure for dogs awaiting adoption.


WHAT: A casual walk with our black dogs around Lake Harriet, or as far as you want to go. Those who want can return to the Linden Hills Dunn Brothers patio for social time after the walk. Owners Carrie and Brian Ehlers are dog lovers and welcome our group.


WHERE: Meet in front of the Linden Hills Dunn Brothers Coffee, and we’ll walk to the lake from there. 2814 West 43rd Street, Linden Hills, 55410, (612) 925-5669. PLEASE PARK AROUND THE CORNER FROM DUNN BROTHERS SO WE DON'T MONOPOLIZE THE PARKING WHILE WE GO ON OUR WALK. THEIR PARKING LOT IS NOT LARGE :) For a map and directions go to:
http://www.dunnbros.com/locate_results. ... tion_id=8#


WHEN: This Sunday July 27th, 10:30 a.m.


WHY: Black dogs are often the last to be adopted and are euthanised in much larger numbers than other dogs. They are frequently overlooked because potential adopters may consider them too "plain," think that they appear more menacing, or they simply may not see them because their darker color makes them disappear in their kennels. Those involved in animal rescue refer to this as “Black Dog Syndrome.” We want black dogs to become more visible and a little black dog herd marching around the lake is a step in the right direction.