Ever since I started my internship with SPCA Selangor, I have learned a lot and I realized that there is a big difference between working for an organization and working for a non-profit organization, especially those which are for animal welfare. By working with SPCA Selangor, I have seen the challenges that a non-profit organization has to go through in terms of raising funds for the animals and also tackling crisis that occurs.
Since SPCA Selangor is an animal shelter, their key public is not just people but are mainly the animals. So by working there I was given the chance to not only interact with the public but with the animals as well which is a great experience. For me, socializing with dogs and cats are so much more fun and easy than socializing with people as the animals have less demand than human beings. :-) Many people think that cats and dogs are just animals and that they do not understand anything that we do or say. However, this is where those people are mistaken because the animals actually do understand us.
Everyday there will be people coming in to the shelter, whether it is to surrender an animal or to adopt an animal. But for which ever reason, everyday is like a public relations day for me at the shelter because I get to interact with so many different kinds of people each day. And of course not forgetting the cute and fun loving dogs and cats at the shelter. :-) Playing and spending time with them is the most enjoyable thing. The reason I say that everyday is a public relations day at the shelter is because we (the staffs) are the representatives for these animals like for example if someone wants to adopt a dog, we would have to show them around and help them find a dog which is suitable for them. If the person is happy with the dog that he has chosen, the dog will be able to go to a good home and that is one life saved.
It is said that Public Relations manages the communication section between an organization and the public. Public Relations also plays as a middle party which exposes an organization or individual to the audiences through news items and topics of public interest.
So this made me wonder, many people do public relations for organizations where by interaction and socialization are mostly people to people based. Animals are not considered as people and almost everyone do not consider animals as the public. So when public relations is needed for the sake of animal welfare, is it still consider as public relations as the main importance are the welfare of the animals?
Heng Fong :-)
4 comments:
Wow really interesting, would love to work for animals too.Its gets hectic trying to socialise with collegues at times.
Are the animals really the public? Because i would think they are not, people who are targeted by PR in this case may be families, or just people who love animals? they do not have a say or have the purchasing power, so that wouldnt make them the public. Well i do not understand please inlighten me...All the best!
I agree greatly with your discovery, it is true that animals are considered nothing except just pets but like you said they too can understand human behaviour and therefore would justify them been categorized as "a public".
It sounds like your experience has been one of the many priceless oppotunities in life in the field of public relations as your academic mind has been open to a bigger picture of the importance of dealiong fairly not only with human beings but also with creatures/animals of which most take for granted.
I believe public relation is more to just dealing with people. Its about creating better bonds and making better environment. The animals can be considered as key public in this case as the organization directly deals with animal well fare. Is the same way how children are considered as the key public for UNICEF. Since the organization deals with child welfare.
When it comes to organization such as SPCA their mission is to save a life that does not have a voice.
Adoption of an animal is more than just taking a pet back home. Its about providing a better life to a living being.
got to admit, the tittle of this post warranted a chuckle from me. i think you have brought out an interesting point "are animal the public too?"
but i would not necessarily say they can be considered the public because no matter what you do, no matter what campaign you hold for them, they won't respond per se but rather the general public will get the message.
its rather a tricky one, yes they may be more than just pets but considering them a key public in the literal sense would be stretching it a bit thing.
Thought provoking post man
baxx
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