LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Finding more great adopters is one of the greatest challenges facing rescues and shelters these days. Our kennels remain filled with pets, all of whom are waiting for just the right match.
So, congrats to City Dogs for coming up with an incredible marketing campaign in Cleveland. It caught our attention, and if you have room in your home and heart for a new friend, we hope it will grab yours, too.
During election season, you can't take a drive or stroll without seeing them — 'tis the season for yard signs, but there's new signage popping up that doesn't require a trip to the polls, and it's one we can all support.
"These signs are great just because I get a lot of foot traffic around in this neighborhood," Megan Nyerges says.
Nyerges gets in her own walks around the block. She has two dogs of her own, and she's currently fostering two others.
Nyerges fosters for City Dogs, the adoption volunteer program for Cleveland Animal Care and Control. One of her fosters, Winona, is getting a little more attention these days. It's thanks to the sign outside Nyerges' home.
The yard sign reads, "An adoptable City Dog lives here!" The creative minds at City Dogs came up with the signs, highlighting pups in foster care at the homes where they're getting a break from kennel life — dogs like Winona, who Nyerges calls a "love bug."
"She's just a joy to be around," Nyerges told us. "She gets so excited when you show up and it makes us, makes you smile."
The signs can't help but make us smile, too. The idea came from a brainstorming session, as City Dogs — like countless other shelters — tries to get the word out about four-legged companions ready for their forever homes.
"It was like, 'Well, let's have a sign about that foster dog,' and then it kind of morphed into, 'Why don't we do it so that people know there's a foster dog here?'" Beth Heffner, chair of fundraising and events for City Dogs, explained. "If they see the foster parent walking the dog out and about, it creates curiosity."
Each sign comes with an information sheet and QR code. Nyerges hopes it will help sweet Winona find her new family. This foster mom admits to "ugly crying" when her foster dogs leave, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
"They are tears of joy, but they are ugly," Nyerges admitted. "It is just so worth it because I get these updates from the family that they are living their best life, and I know that it's because I played a role in that."
If you are interested in learning more about Winona head HERE.
Check out more City Dogs available for adoption HERE.
City Dogs is looking for more fosters. You can find information HERE.