APA! Dog Marketing

Photos

Share Photos. Submit via the Marketing Submission Form or directly to your FosterLuv portal:

Submit well-lit and high-quality photos to get their profile started. As their personalities show themselves or you go on adventures, please feel free to share more! We strive to have 7 good photos published in the profile carousel, following these guidelines:

• Headshot: Smiley close up of their face looking at the camera.
• Full Body: Overall body size and coat color and pattern.
• Personality: Goofy or stoic expression.
• Simple Pleasures: Playtime, snuggle time, hiking, swimming, and other endearing moments.
• Compatibility: Moments with dogs, cats, and people (as appropriate for the dog).

Tips for Taking Great Photos:

• Take Some as Landscape (Horizontal): Provide more photo options for use on profile and marketing platforms.

• Take a Few Steps Back: Allow for buffer space. Closeups are harder to use on profiles.

• Use Natural Light: Get outside to take advantage of the sun. When inside, get near a window or turn on lights to ensure they are brightly lit.

• Say Something with Your Photo: Capture the simple pleasures your foster loves--snuggling, playing, napping, walking, snacking, etc.

• Focus on the Eyes: Show off the most expressive part of the face. Use lures (toys, treats, sounds) to get them to look at you.

• Choose Contrasting Background to Dog Fur: Make them stand out with contrasting color backgrounds. Lighter for dark dogs and darker for light dogs.

• Get Rid of Clutter: Remove distractions to keep the focus on the dog.

• Shoot in Their World: Take photos at their level and from a distance, if they are comfortable.

If you have any questions, would like to set up a photo session with a volunteer photographer, are having trouble submitting photos via the form or through FosterLuv, or anything else pertaining to the photos on your foster dogs’ profile, reach out to [email protected].

Videos

Share Videos. Submit via the Marketing Submission Form or upload to YouTube and add directly to your FosterLuv portal.

Videos are a great way to share your foster's personality. We strive to have 5 good videos published in the profile carousel. When you shoot, remember:

• Orientation: Turn the phone sideways to shoot horizontally, if possible.
• Time: Video clip should be a minimum of 10 sec and a maximum of 40 secs. Full videos a max of 2:30.
• Light: Get outside to take advantage of the sun. When inside, get near a window or turn on lights to ensure they are brightly lit.
• Personality: Show playing with toys or other dogs, doing tricks, going for car rides, or anything else that will catch an adopter's attention.
• Multiple Clips: Share multiple videos as the team can stitch together as needed.
• Language: Be aware of appropriate human language.

Should the file size be too large, please use wetransfer.com to send your videos to [email protected]. You can also reach out to this email with any video questions or if you have trouble submitting.

Details

The details below are completed by the APA! Medical, Adoption, and Dog Foster Program Teams but some may be adjusted by the appropriate teams.

• • Name: Names MUST remain as given unless there is a spelling error. You may call the dog by a different name at home if you prefer, but use APA name when communicating with our teams and potential adopters to remove confusion. For name changes, please email [email protected].
  • Looks Like: Breed MUST remain as assigned in the system once a rabies vaccination is given by APA!. For specific questions, email [email protected].
  • Sex: If there is a discrepancy, email a photo of the dogs’ genital area to [email protected].
  • Current Weight: This represents the current weight of the dog and NOT the weight the dog will be as an adult. If a current weight needs to be changed, email [email protected].
  • Estimated Age: Age MUST remain as assigned once rabies vaccination has been administered. Age will automatically change as your foster ages based on estimated date of birth in our system.
  • Fee: Adoption fees vary with age and medical needs of the dog (For example, parvo is higher given the intensive medical treatment they receive). For dogs who have not been spayed or neutered, a refundable deposit of $100 will be included on top of the adoption fee. For specific questions, email [email protected].

Bio

Share a Bio. Use the Marketing Submission Form to share a written bio or answer questions that will allow the Dog Bio Team to write one for you, or upload notes directly to your FosterLuv portal.

You know your dog better than anyone and can help to highlight what they are looking for in a new home. Be sure to include: Affection and energy level, if the dog is good with kids, dogs, or cats, if they’re house and crate-trained, what commands they know, and all cute and endearing behaviors! If you need some examples, visit the APA! Available Dogs page.

• Open with a fun, attention-grabbing introductory statement (“Hunky Brock is ready to romp into your life!”)
• Follow with positive, funny descriptions or a quick story to help adopters feel a connection to the pet. This is where you want to really bring out something unique to the dog. Are they playful or a couch potato? Do they have a favorite toy or a funny habit? How do they show affection, what makes them excited, what makes you smile about them? (“Brock is a gentle giant. You wouldn’t think it, but he loves stuffed plushies and carries them around wherever he goes like they’re his babies!”)
• In a second paragraph, share an overview of their training (housetraining, commands) and if they do well with dogs/cats/kids. Do they know sit and stay? Are they house-trained and crate-trained? Do they live happily with other dogs, cats, or kids (and if you don’t know, just don’t include that part). If the dog isn’t really trained or is hyper, just say something like “he’d love to continue working on his training with you!” and leave it at that. Do treats or toys motivate them? (“Brock has great leash-walking skills and can be left home alone successfully! He also loves kitty cats and would do fine with a feline friend.”)
• Next, if needed, offer a brief description of special behavior, medical needs, or ideal home set-up. Ideal set-up could include a fenced-in yard or people who are home a good amount of time or being your one and only. (“Brock would prefer to live in an adult-only home because his size can be a little too much for small kiddos.”)
• End with a positive closing statement and a call-to-action (“Brock would make a loving companion and wonderful Netflix buddy. Come meet Brock today!”)

In the end, the bio should really be around 3-4 paragraphs long, with some wiggle room on length. For more writing tips, visit the PAW's Pet Bio page.

If you’d like to rewrite your foster’s bio or have minor edits, you can use the Marketing Submission Form or FosterLuv as well. If you have any questions or need help in any way, email [email protected]

Scores

Using the information you provide on the Marketing Submission Form or FosterLuv notes section for the bio, we will assign ‘Scores’ to your dog’s profile. These scores reflect how your dog does with other dogs, cats, kids, and time alone, on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = needs work, 5 = does very well).

Scores do not appear directly on your foster dog’s public profile, but potential adopters can use them to filter dogs on our website.

Make sure to provide accurate information about your foster dog’s interactions and behaviors so they appear under the correct filters and can be matched with the best possible adopter!

For questions please email: [email protected].

Questions: Contact [email protected]

Social Media

We recommend creating dedicated social media accounts for your foster dog—or posting about them on your own pages—and always tagging Austin Pets Alive! so we can see your post and share it on our main page. While we do feature foster dogs on the main page, we’re managing many schedules across dogs and cats both in foster and at the shelter, so the best way to ensure your foster is highlighted is by tagging us so we can re-share in Stories.

Social media gives you the chance to share your foster dog’s priceless moments, funny antics, and everyday personality in real time. These posts help build a community around your foster, spark conversations, and ultimately increase the chances that more people will fall in love with them and help them find a home.

Social Platforms

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Twitter / X

• TikTok

• Other local/community platforms: Nextdoor, Reddit, Craigslist

Best Social Media Practices:

• Post often and consistently: Aim for a few posts per week to keep your dog visible in peoples’ feeds.

• Use calls to action. End posts with something engaging, like “Tag someone who’d love this goofy grin!” or “Inquire about adopting me today!”

• Take advantage of Stories and Reels. If you don’t have time for full posts, quick clips can still go viral!

• Add hashtags to your post using the Dog Foster Social Media Hashtags for ideas

• Engage! Respond to comments and thank people for sharing - interaction helps your post reach more people.

• Cross-post. Share the same photos or videos across multiple platforms for more reach.

• Focus on the positives. Highlight and share what makes your foster unique and special, and help adopters picture what life with the dog will look like.

APA! Communities to Join and Follow

• Austin Pets Alive!. Dog Foster Facebook Page - connect with other fosters and post when you need a sitter

• Austin Pets Alive! Facebook

• Austin Pets Alive!. Instagram

• Austin Pets Alive! TikTok

FAQs

I've been told my dog is "available" or my puppy will be "available" when 7 weeks old but I don't see them listed. When will the dog's profile show on APA! site?: Email [email protected].

I've received numerous adoption inquiries and need time to review applicants. How do I request my dog to be made temporarily "unavailable"? Email [email protected].

Will APA! Marketing promote my dog on social media? The Available Dogs page receives a lot of traffic and a majority of the people who adopt a dog from APA! first see that dog on that page. While we do feature foster dogs on the main page, we’re managing many schedules across dogs and cats both in foster and at the shelter, so the best way to ensure your foster is highlighted is by tagging us so we can re-share in Stories.

Your foster dogs’ story could change everything.

Have questions, need guidance, or just need to chat? The Dog Foster Support is here to help — reach out anytime at [email protected]. Together, we can make sure every foster dog gets the spotlight they deserve and the home they’ve been waiting for.

Key Links and Resources

• Maddie's Fund Foster Caregiver Marketing Guide
• APA!'s Foster Caregiver Marketing Quick Guide
• Dog Foster Social Media Marketing Guide
• Dog Foster Social Media Hashtags
• Dog Foster Potential Adopter Screening Guide
• FosterLuv Portal
• Marketing Templates