Get Fresh Minds

The Postal Service 'Stamps to the Rescue' of Shelter Animals

I'm very much in favor of adopting animals. My last two cats were rescues, and they were/are wonderful pets.  And in a couple months, I'm hoping to begin fostering shelter cats while they wait to be adopted.

But, there's only so much adopting a single person can do if they don't want to get the dreaded label "cat lady"!  (And the dating challenges that result!)  So it's nice to see other ways that I can help.

Take this creative “Stamps to the Rescue” campaign between the USPS and Ellen DeGeneres' Halo Pet Foods.  The Post Office is launching a commemorative stamp collection that features happily-adopted pets. At the same time, Halo Pet Foods is launching a drive to donate 1 million meals to shelters around the US - with easy activities that fans can do to donate a meal. 

It's a good idea because it's quick and easy for people to do, gets attention for pets needing home, and provides multiple incentives to get involved. Kudos to USPS and Halo for the idea!

How they could have taken it to the next level:

Instead of featuring 10 happily-adopted pets on the stamps... the USPS's stamps could show adoptable pets that are still waiting for their forever home and provide a link on both the USPS and Halo websites to a website to adopt the postage stars.

Then, they could do a follow-up campaign a few months later showing the postage stars in their new homes. Food for thought for next time...!

Live-streaming... not just for broadcasters anymore.

There are two types of innovation. One is the blue ocean innovation that creates something completely new out of nothing.

The other type of innovation happens when someone sees something cool in a field different than their own, and then brings that technology or system innovation back to their area.

For example, the roller ball technology used in pens is also the same for roll-on deodorant. And the assembly line innovated by Ford was based on a "disassembly" line where animals in a slaughterhouse were systematically taken apart piece-by-piece.

What I like about that style of innovating is that anyone can do it just by keeping their eyes open.  And it doesn't have to be a huge innovation or change to have a BIG impact.

Here's a cool example I just encountered:

Not long ago, online broadcasting platforms such as Ustream made it possible to do live web shows.  Almost instantly, a whole group of broadcasters signed-up, and started performing live, broadcasting sporting events and showing live videos of adorable puppies.

And this spring, the Raptor Resource Project in Decorah, Iowa, is using that same broadcasting technology to show a pair of bald eagles hatch three eggs.

 

It's a great marketing tactic for a small nonprofit that builds and protects nests for rare raptors. Instead of just telling people what they do, the Raptor Resource Project can actually show the results of their work - live!

<Disclosure: the bald eagle cam is hosted on Luther College's website, my alma mater.>

The live broadcast started earlier this spring and has shown the bald eagles building their nest, courting, laying eggs and now hatching their young.

* Click here to view the live camera. *

In 2009, the eagle cam was viewed over 3 million times by people from 102 countries.  This year, the broadcast is hosted on the website of nearby Luther College (which has higher bandwidth) so even more people will be able to see.  This past Sunday, the eagle cam had over 70,000 page views!

In my opinion, this counts as great innovative thinking not because it created something new out of thing air, but because the Raptor Resource Project saw an opportunity to use existing technology in a new way to greatly expand its reach, get lots of attention, and educate thousands about their mission.