Barks Blog

By Don Hanson

Trainers, behavior consultants and pet professionals, the Shock-Free Coalition needs your help! Specifically, we need your help in educating your clients, colleagues, friends, and family members about the benefits of using reward-based training and the dangers of using a shock collar as a training tool. Our goal is to prepare you so that you can ask pet owners and pet care professionals, especially veterinarians and their staff, animal shelters and rescues, and other dog trainers to sign the Shock-Free Pledge.

Pledge Drive
The Shock-Free Coalition will be launching a 63-day pledge drive on September 20, 2020 and will be awarding prizes to those that get the most people to Sign the Pledge at shockfree.org/2020-Pledge-Drive. This event is open to anyone that has signed the Shock-Free Pledge and will end on November 21, 2020.

How Do I Participate?
1. First, make sure you have signed the Shock-Free Pledge by visiting shockfree.org, log in to your profile and print your membership card. You can do this from the home page by clicking on your name and clicking ‘View Profile’ once you log in.
2. Print lots of cards and distribute them to your friends, family, neighbors, fellow PPG members, clients, students, and colleagues and ask them to take just three minutes to Sign the Pledge.
3. When signing the Pledge, your referrals MUST enter your membership ID into the field between CITY and STATE, labeled “Who referred you to sign the pledge, please enter their ID # here.” That’s how we will be tracking who recruits the most pledges.
4. Participants who recruit the most pledges will be eligible for some great prizes.

How Do I Get Others to Sign the Pledge?
Visit shockfree.org/2020-Pledge-Drive, where you will find suggestions on how to talk to both pet guardians and pet professionals about pledging, and where you will be able to download flyers, promotional materials, webinars, and podcasts to aid you in your efforts. Suggestions and links will also be posted on the Shock-Free Coalition Facebook page at facebook.com/shockfreecoalition throughout the Pledge Drive.

Join the 63-Day Shock-Free Pledge Drive for a Chance to Win Some Great Prizes!

Highest Number of Pledges Recruited by Any Individual or Organization during the Pledge Period
– Winner will receive one FREE Ticket to PPG Summit 2020, including hotel room nights,
and a full-page feature on their business in BARKS from the Guild
– Runner-up will receive one FREE Ticket* to the PPG Summit 2020 and an invitation
to be a guest on a BARKS Podcast to talk about their Pledge Drive

The Most Business Pledges Accrued to an Individual or Organization
across the Three Business Pledge Categories
– Winner will receive one FREE Ticket* to PPG Summit 2020
– Runner-up will receive a $100 credit with PPG

The Most Pledges Recruited by a Veterinary Professional, Animal Hospital, or Clinic
– Winner will receive one FREE Ticket* to PPG Summit 2020
– Runner-up will receive a $100 credit with PPG

The Most Pledges Recruited by an Animal Rescue or Shelter
– Winning organization will receive one FREE Ticket* to PPG Summit 2020
– Runner-up will receive a $100 credit with PPG

The Most Pledges Recruited by a Dog Trainer or Behavior Consultant
– Winner will receive one FREE Ticket* to PPG Summit 2020
– Runner-up will receive a $100 credit with PPG
­
The Most Pledges Recruited by a Pet Guardian
– Winner will receive one FREE Ticket* to PPG Summit 2020
– Runner-up will receive a $100 credit with PPG

*excludes accommodation

Quick Links: ­
Shock-Free Coalition: shockfree.org
Shock-Free Coalition on Facebook: facebook.com/shockfreecoalition
Shock-Free Coalition Pledge Drive: shockfree.org/2020-Pledge-Drive

About the Author
Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, Maine. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed every Saturday at 9AM (ET). A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found here. Don also writes about pets on his blog.