Although the public hears news about the recovery of big cats from homes unable to manage them or the rescue of lions and tigers from entertainment venues, the day-to-day work of rescue groups often goes unnoticed. When fundraising depends on staying top-of-mind with donors, having an ongoing animal welfare public relations plan to raise funds for the lions, tigers and other cats in your care is invaluable.
The challenges of awareness and fundraising
While high-profile situations (both good and bad) make headlines and can be great fundraising opportunities, those stories are rare. In the middle of those stories, animal welfare non-profits struggle to keep the lights on, often literally. The nature of big cat rescue necessitates more expenses than domestic animal-rescue organizations because of security, special diet, exotic veterinary care, etc.
However, in big cat rescue you have more press opportunities presented by the mundane. When your rescue focuses on animals that capture the imagination of humans throughout the world, an ongoing public relations plan will use interesting animal, organization and volunteer stories to secure opportunities with industry publications and podcasts.
Who has the time for public relations?
For most rescue organizations, time and money are in short supply. Adding to that, volunteers can be undependable, and those most dedicated drown under the daily operating challenges. So, the very idea of adding PR to the to-do list seems unrealistic. That’s why an investment in a partnership with a PR agency that specializes in animal welfare public relations, like Orange Orchard, will pay off.
Having PR professionals weed through story possibilities pertaining to your rescued cats and the organization can save you time. Knowing how to include an appeal for donations and other support in a way that actually works will pay off your initial financial investment many times over. And if a crisis happens, a PR agency has the skills to communicate needed information to the public and manage any fallout, which helps you maintain your reputation.
At Orange Orchard, we have a deep love for animals, both pet and exotic variety, and we embrace opportunities to support the exotic cat rescue community with animal welfare public relations. If you are interested in working with a PR agency that shares your love for exotic cats, contact us online or call us at (865) 977-1973 today to get started.