How to Rescue Animals Through MySpace

MySpace is all the rage these days with everyone from teens to performing artists to stay-at-home parents—and continues to grow by leaps and bounds. It’s also perhaps the best way to get the word out about things close to your heart. If rescuing and helping homeless and abused animals is important to you—here are ways that MySpace can help.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Go to Myspace.com and create an account. It’s relatively easy, even for the least computer savvy—and best of all, it’s free (see Resources below).

2. 

   Register the name of your rescue as the name on your account. For instance: Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund or Only Hope Cat Rescue, Inc. If you are an individual, choose a name that reflects your objective. For example: Save The Pitbull or Adopt a Homeless Cocker. You can also register under your own name if you prefer.

3. Fill in your profile. This will include your “Headline,” which is a sentence that sums up your mission and “About Me,” which is your bio. You might want to include your history, for instance, the animals you’ve already helped, as well as your goals. You can also include links and widgets for your visitors to make donations to animal organizations and causes. Fill out the "Interests" section. If you are an organization, you can use this section to list your contact information.

4. 

   Upload a photo, which will be your avatar and displayed at the top of your page. Choose one of an animal or animals that will capture people’s attention. Then add additional photos of animals up for adoption and create a slideshow. You can also include pets that have already found homes.

5. Add entries to your blog. This might include links to animal organization websites, animal-related forums and stories in the news, poems about animals and your thoughts on various animal issues.

6. Choose music for your page that reflects your feelings about animals and/or rescue, or just something from your favorite artist. The ASPCA, for example, has The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" as their music. You can find a particular artist or title by searching MySpace Music. When you find a song you like, simply click Add and it will be added to your page. You can switch out music whenever you like.

7. Request as many "friends" as possible. Your friends can be anybody with a MySpace account. Choose animal organizations, rescues, pet-related businesses and anyone who is an animal lover. By adding them as friends you will be giving them exposure and vice versa. Put your favorite animal organizations and rescues in your "Top Friends."

8. Send out bulletins about specific pets you have up for adoption or are up for adoption elsewhere, especially if the animal is scheduled to be euthanized and time is of the essence. You can send out bulletins regarding rescue-related events that are sponsored by you or others and bulletins soliciting donations for rescued pets that are in need of medical help. You can also repost bulletins from your MySpace friends to alert your other friends about animals that are in urgent need.

Tips & Warnings

• You don’t have to run an actual rescue to get involved with rescuing animals through MySpace. Just helping to spread the word can do a world of good.
• Verify that a rescue group is legit before making a donation or helping to solicit funds.

Resources

• MySpace

[MidniteWriter]

on 1/11/2008 This is great, I never would have thought of this!

[grouch]

on 12/20/2007 This is a great idea to help out some homeless animals. I wish I could help them all.