Continuing with my theme from last week, using digital media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, can extend a company or anyone's reach significantly, specifically when it comes to dogs. Last week I focused on adopting from local shelters, such as the Athens Area Humane Society. This week, I'm going to shift gears a little bit and talk about an organization that has a big piece of my heart, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind (GDF). I recently raised Jetta, a golden retriever puppy, for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and could not be more proud of all she has accomplished and will continue to accomplish during these next few months of final training before she is matched with her future handler.
Over the last several years, service dog awareness has increased tremendously and is continuing to increase. One of the main reasons for this increase in awareness is due to the fact that many more people are using service dogs. Another reason, the one I'm going to focus on, is GDF's ever increasing presence on social media. From their Instagram to their Facebook page, GDF is constantly posting pictures and articles about what the foundation does and how they do it.
Recently, GDF used Facebook's live feature and live streamed a video featuring Hallie Wells, GDF's Puppy Program Manager, talking about the volunteer puppy raising program and answered any questions people posted throughout the live stream. I felt like this was a great way for GDF to stay connected with its followers, especially since Hallie was able to answer questions as people asked them. In addition to GDF's constant presence on Facebook, a lot of people currently raising puppies for GDF create Instagram accounts for their pup. Jetta had one (@jetta_futureguidedog), and I still use it to post updates whenever I get them from her trainer in New York.
Furthermore, the Guide Dog Foundation's sister program, America's VetDogs (AVD), has been in the spotlight because the Today Show is sponsoring Charlie, a black lab, to be raised as a service dog for a veteran once his training is complete. The amount of exposure the Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs has received is overwhelming; as a result, awareness about both of these incredible programs has skyrocketed. The Today Show posts pictures on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook of Charlie with celebrities and other people who appear on the show every day, which continues to drive traffic back to GDF and AVD. This traffic is incredibly important because it teaches people about the organizations and their purpose.
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