I’ve come across some grim headlines lately when it comes to animal welfare issues.
A story out of Connecticut discusses a 9-year-old beluga whale that died at a local aquarium. It’s the third of five whales that came to the aquarium to have passed away since arriving in 2021.
Another one talks about 27 animals euthanized and another 100 seized at a Virginia zoo. An investigation is ongoing.
This isn’t to say that all aquariums or all zoos are bad. Many play an important part in conservation and education. In fact, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has spent more than $200 million on field conservation efforts annually for the past six years, according to the organization’s 2022 annual report.
Having said that, we’re strong proponents of the work animal welfare nonprofits are doing. At Orange Orchard, we’ve worked with organizations that have created — or are working to create sanctuaries — for animals that need safe spaces to live out their lives. For example, Born Free USA has a 175-acre sanctuary in Texas that offers a home to primates. Many of them have been rescued from wildlife trafficking or saved from experimentation.
Our animal welfare public relations team loves raising awareness for nonprofits like Born Free USA and others. These causes are near and dear to our hearts, and it’s important to us to help them connect with donors and like-minded individuals who can help further their cause.
Telling your story is one of the most impactful things you can do.
Through media outreach and content creation, we can help you do just that. We can help your founder become a thought leader by sharing their story and the “why” they do what they do. We can also help you build a better online presence through blogs and social media.
Oh, and for the record, not all of the headlines I came across were bad. One organization raised $1.5 million for animal welfare AND helped cats and dogs get adopted.
PR can help tell those stories, too. Contact us at Orange Orchard today at (865) 977-1973, and let us get started.