The events at Orvis Baton Rouge now account for most adoptions for Friends of the Animals.
Photo courtesy Orvis Baton Rouge
Rescue dogs hold a special place in our hearts here at Orvis, and our retail store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is helping these pups find a special place of their own. Every weekend, the Orvis Baton Rouge retail store opens its doors to Friends of the Animals to provide a place for rescue dogs to relax, romp, and find loving new homes. Friends of Animals is an East Baton Rouge organization that rescues, rehomes, and saves local dogs from euthanasia.
“It’s been a one-hundred-percent positive experience,” said Orvis store manager Alex Beane. “The volunteers from Friends of Animals are all such warm and caring people, and our employees and customers have really embraced having the dogs around every weekend. It was a no-brainer: the dogs get a chance to cool off from the heat and hopefully go home with a new family.”
The partnership has been a remarkable success. In the first full year after teaming up with Orvis Baton Rouge, Friends of the Animals’ adoption rate increased 450%—from 37 adoptions in 2011 to 204 in 2012. Over 60 percent of all Friends of Animals’ adoptions now occur at the Orvis retail store.
The dogs are a real crowd-pleaser, attracting people who normally wouldn’t stop in at a shelter.
Photo courtesy Orvis Baton Rouge
“Every weekend brings new and exciting energy to the store,” said Beane. “People who may not normally visit Orvis or know what we’re about will see the dogs and come over to meet them. The smiles from the volunteers and customers can’t be beat. A dog-loving environment is what the store is all about.”
While Orvis Baton Rouge and Friends of the Animals benefit from the reciprocal exposure, the partnership is rooted in a deep and mutual respect for each other’s dedicated work with animals. The partnership—now almost two years old, shows no sign of slowing down. On July 7, Orvis Baton Rouge will be offering free fly-casting instruction at “Pets and Paddles,” a fundraiser for Friends of the Animals at Louisiana State University.
“I don’t see any reason for ever stopping the partnership,” said Beane. “We have a wonderful venue to host the adoptions, and it’s beneficial for all involved. We’re part of the family now.”
For more information, visit Friends of the Animals.