Have you ever used data to save a life?
by Dr. Melo Yap
Last month, I leveraged data that I have collected to help advocate for a shelter dog named Holt, a house-trained, cat-friendly, two-year-old, playful, and affectionate brindle boy who was recently and abruptly designated as “too dangerous” and a potential candidate for euthanasia. I used data that I recorded myself (a dog walking log every time I volunteer at LifeLine Animal Project & photos/videos) to make a case that this dog is essentially a happy, healthy, and adoptable dog!
More about Holt:
Quantitative & Qualitative Data:
I have been keeping a dog walking log since I started volunteering in late February. This log contains info such as date, dog name, kennel location, days in the shelter, age, sex, my own notes, etc. I also color code the dogs if they’ve gone to foster, been adopted, or been adopted but returned. I consider all of these factors when figuring out how to prioritize who to walk for the day/week. I usually prioritize dogs who are older and have been at the shelter for a while, plus if they have been walked recently or not (based on the walking boards in the kennel rooms).
What also helps me remember who I walk are photos & videos. Aside from potentially sending these photos to the social media content department, I use these so that I remember how each dog looks. Photo timestamps help me keep track of how long I have been walking the dogs.
I also post these as reels on Instagram. Here’s a reel I created of when I took Holt to Starbucks & Hollywood Feed:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cebzc9bJ5kH/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Using Data to Advocate for Holt
While I intended my dog walking log merely for personal record-keeping, I actually was able to use it to see which dates I walked Holt. I then added the exact dates of when I walked him (at least 30 times in almost three months) to my email, which can be verified by the shelter’s Cheetah app log-in system. Being able to quantify how much interaction I have had with Holt—along with the qualitative (photos/videos/observations) data I also collected—helped establish my relationship as an advocate. I was glad that I was able to enhance my advocacy using data! Talk about using data for impact!
I would not take all the credit for saving Holt’s life on my own—I know of at least five other volunteers who advocated for him. It literally took a community of caring volunteers and considerate staff members to help save Holt’s life!
Actually, after successfully advocating for Holt, I took him out again for the day with another volunteer. Here’s another reel I created of our adventure going to Downtown Pooch in Roswell, Georgia. I always bring shelter dogs there, because the owner is so kind and compassionate–she makes them feel like they are in a magical place for shelter dogs:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfkfCujpJ02/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Haiku I wrote about Holt
Two years old, housetrained.
Happy like hope rising—-float
Like a dog balloon.
Adopt Holt!
Holt is the perfect partner to get Starbucks iced drinks this summer! He’s a great car rider & didn’t try to jump to the front seat when I day-fostered him last month—very chill companion. He loves smelling flowers & enjoying the little things!
Please foster, rescue, or adopt Holt!
#adoptdontshop #animallovers #dataforgood
Interested in how to design data-driven projects that have maximum impact? Submit an intake form today so we can discuss the potential solutions for you!