I love Twitter. I think it is the most amazing phenomenon of our generation. It crosses states and oceans and boundaries in ways that phones, letters, and instant messaging cannot do. It is a real time discussion between thousands of people and it connects us to each other through endless networks. I think a lot of people take Twitter for granted, and therefore don’t understand or realize that there really is such a thing as Twitter Etiquette. While I’m not a Social Network guru (though I have been called it before), I do use Twitter (and Facebook) a lot to talk with clients about design and web work and share articles and thoughts related to my work.

We also use it to a HUGE extent for helping animals. I Love Rescue Animals was originally started on Facebook, but it really became what is now due largely to Twitter and our many followers (recently we hit 1700!) – we wouldn’t have gotten so big without you. Because we have been using it to such a great extent, I have realized that there is a pretty big difference between my followers on my design/web account and those that follow @RescueAnimals. One – my web-related followers seem to have a deeper understanding of what Twitter was made for and know what social networking can do, and two – they also tend to better understand what is now called “Twitter Etiquette.”

Twitter Etiquette

One of the greatest things about Twitter is that it works in Real Time. Real Time is exactly what it sounds – everything that happens on twitter is up to the second. It’s like a search engine that is constantly updated. This means that someone can “tweet” something urgent and in the span of however many minutes, that “tweet” can be found by tons of people and they can @reply that person and try to help. It’s downright amazing if you think about it, and it is this function that makes Twitter such an incredible and important tool to those working and helping animals.

So how does a rescue worker utilize Twitter? Twitter is all about communication. We can @reply each other, but we can also “Retweet” those tweets we find interesting, urgent, or helpful.

Retweeting with Urgency

Retweeting is the most valuable part of Twitter to a rescuer. With the click of a button, a tweet from someone else can be posted to your account with a RT @Name: in front of it so people know who the source is, and who to contact if they want more information. Likewise, because one Twitter post is only 140 characters total, if a Retweet needs to be changed or modified to fit, the Retweeter will often times place the source’s name at the end of a tweet (with a via @Name). Some rescuers will also do this because they feel that the Urgent message should be the first thing seen, not the name.

Unfortunately, there are some rescuers on Twitter who see Retweeting as a way of copying or stealing, and if their name is not the first thing they see, they consider the Retweeter a thief. And in some even worse occurrences, their paranoia leads them to making their Twitter account protected. In many cases outside the group of Animal Advocate Twitterers, this isn’t that big of a deal. One person’s protected twitters usually means it’s all personal and therefore not as important to the outside world. I’m not saying it isn’t important AT ALL, but for Animal Advocate Twitterers, a protected account can mean life or death to an animal. Personally, I think a protected account for an Animal Advocate is slightly pointless if the urgent tweets don’t get out into the open. If you know of a Rescue Animal Twitterer with protected accounts, let them know why it would be better to have an open account. It’s worth it to the animals.

Twitter has become a huge part of saving the lives of stray animals housed in high-kill shelters. With Twitter, our network has found a way to get in touch with transporters, coordinators, and rescues fast – it’s an easy to use tool that allows us to reach out and touch the larger public with stories about animal advocacy, rescue stories, and the happy endings that can happen by adopting a homeless dog or cat.

You can find ILRA on Twitter @RescueAnimals and @LastChancePets. Are you on Twitter? Add us, let us know what you can do to help, and let’s spread the word together. We can do it!

Filed under: Advice, Twitter Digest, Website Related on June 26th, 2009 | No Comments »

I realize now, as we near the end of the month, that I should have created an orange design. Well, the thought is there, right? Anyway, on to the post.

“Health officials often talk about the dangers of living with a smoker, but few pet parents are aware that our animal companions face similar risks—from respiratory problems to cancer—when exposed to secondhand smoke. New research suggests that secondhand smoke is unsafe at all levels—for humans and pets—so it’s time to get serious about ditching those butts for good.”

In this week’s ASPCA newsletter, there is an article on the effects of second-hand smoke to dogs and other pets called Silent Killer Hurts Pets, Too. Personally, the negative impact smoking has on animals seems (to me) obvious. You don’t want your children inhaling cigarette smoke, why would you want your furry kids to? Nicotine is a toxic substance that should not be in contact with any child – furry or not.

The article gives a few good examples of what can happen to your pet if he or she ingests cigarette wrappers or nicotine or anything that has to do with this unhealthy habit. I don’t know about you, but I get pretty annoyed when someone smokes in my face, but your pet can’t exactly tell you to trash the butt and pick up a better hobby. We’re their voice, right?

Right.

Filed under: Advice, Opinion Article on April 24th, 2009 | No Comments »

As we prepare to drive down to Austin for the ASPCA’s Wag-n-Walk, we have a lot to think about. Spunky as well as the snake are coming with us but all the rest of the animals are staying here with my mother and sister. This means that we have to consider what needs to be done for all of the kids. It can be overwhelming but it is something that absolutely needs to be done. You may think that leaving animals with someone means that everything is taken care of right there but that isn’t true. Before you leave, you need to think about any possible problems that may occur and plan for them ahead of time. Since I am a list person, I sat down and wrote a To-Do lis and a packing list. Those lists were filled with animal related tasks and items. For instance, today I went around and changed all the cat litters as well as added 2 more. That makes for a total of 5 litter boxes. This is because my mom and sister cannot keep up with all of our cats as well as we could if we were here. This way each litter box will last longer and with minimal cleaning everything should be fine for the week or so we’ll be gone. There is also concern over our kitten Merlin because he likes to bolt the door. As well as putting a note on the door to remind everyone to look for him before they open the door, there is also a laser pointer strategically placed by the door in case he does get out. By the way, that was a genius idea that Nikki came up with last night when he escaped on us. She ran off, grabbed the laser pointer and we guided that young man right back inside. Anyway, another task on my little check list is to put the bettas away in a cabinet so that there’s no chance of the cats getting them while they’re gone (trust me, taping the tops on can’t even guarantee that). All of the little ones cages have also been cleaned and we know that there is enough food to last however long we might be gone. As for the packing list, there are always items for Spunky and whatever other animals might be traveling with us. Always remember to pack food, water and bowls for your animals. Even if it’s a short trip or you know you can borrow food from someone at your destination, you should still travel with a small bag of a few feedings worth. All of this is just in case but as with everything else, it’s better to be safe than sorry. And in case you’re wondering why a snake is going this road trip with us it is because she will be staying with someone in Austin until we move down there in a few months. She will be able to have a better set-up there because here we have a lack of space and also don’t want to buy a terrarium here since it is liable to break in the move. Anyway, that’s the reason – we don’t just randomly haul snakes around in a car for fun. ^_-

So yes, if all goes according to plan then we will be walking to raise awareness of animal welfare as well as money to support the ASPCA on Saturday morning. Spunky is looking forward to networking with the Austin pups and to looking snazzy in his bright orange bandana. I’ll hopefully be able to twitter about it as it occurs and there may even be some twitpics of the event to be sure and tune in to @RescueAnimals. If anyone else is participating, it’d be great to hear from you! There will also be a walk in Los Angeles on April 25th so if you’re in that area then look into it! It’s such a great cause! Anyway, I’m off to get ready. Everyone remember to Go Orange for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month!

Filed under: Advice, Events on April 16th, 2009 | No Comments »