Basics Done Better video contest

Animal Care Expo 2021

HumanePro & Animal Care Expo are all about collaboration, professional development, networking and sharing great ideas and techniques within animal welfare. This year we will take these initiatives a step further with our new “Basics Done Better” contest.

How to enter

To participate, shelters and rescue organizations across the country will submit short videos related to sheltering or animal care basics that they feel they do well and that others can learn from. The videos will be reviewed and scored by a judging panel, and the top 10 most creative and insightful submissions will be shared on the HumanePro Facebook for Expo attendees & the public to vote for their favorites. The three videos with the most votes will win some well-earned grant money from the Humane Society of the United States! Here is how it works:

Make an up to 4-minute video demonstrating an element of animal sheltering basics that your organization does well and that others can learn from. An example submission and suggested topics are listed below, but feel free to get creative!
Upload your video submission below by March 21, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Visit the Humane Pro Facebook page at 12 p.m. ET on April 13 to see if your video is a finalist, and VOTE by liking your favorites! Voting ends at 6:00 p.m. ET April 22.
Winners will be announced on April 23 at Animal Care Expo!

Prizes

What makes this contest so great, is that participants are not only sharing their talents with other sheltering professionals, but the prizes as well! Winning submissions will take home the prizes listed below!

First Place: $3,000 grant from the HSUS + 2 Free Animal Care Expo 2022 registrations
Second Place: $2,500 grant from the HSUS + 2 Free Animal Care Expo 2022 registrations
Third Place: $2,000 grant from the HSUS + 2 Free Animal Care Expo 2022 registrations
Fourth Place: $500 Amazon Gift Card
Fifth Place: $500 Amazon Gift Card
Sixth Place: $500 Amazon Gift Card
Seventh Place: $250 Amazon Gift Card
Eighth Place: $250 Amazon Gift Card
Ninth Place: $250 Amazon Gift Card
Tenth Place: $250 Amazon Gift Card
Judges Prize: Submission with the highest judges score gets a $2000 grant from the HSUS

Placements will be determined by number of “Likes” per video in descending order.

Need help thinking of an idea to submit? Here are some sheltering basics to get you started and an example to demonstrate:

How to set a live trap	How to determine puppy’s age by teeth	How to setup an education booth	How to reduce stress for shelter animals
Social media basics	How to use snappy snares	Trailer loading for horses	How to pill a cat
How to teach a shelter dog to sit, down, quiet	How to win grants	Inexpensive enrichment options	Virtual volunteer training
TNR tricks	Farm animal 101	How to set up a food pantry	How to walk a shelter dog
How to care for exotics or farm animals	Kitten season	Volunteer orientation	Vaccine Clinic How to’s
Stress free loading/transport for animals	Understanding common vet terms	How to clean a cage, crate or kennel	How to house wildlife
Sexing Kittens	Scheduling volunteers	Virtual adoption events	Canine behavior basics

Sample video

Judging Criteria

Accuracy: How accurate is the information presented? Does it comply with best practices for safety and animal care standards?
Creativity/Originality: How creative/original/unique was their method?
Topic Selection: How unique/original was the topic selection?
Presentation: NOT counting video production, how engaging/entertaining and informative was their overall presentation style?

Thank you to Petco Foundation for their generous support of the Basics Done Better contest, and we look forward to seeing the great work that you do. And celebrating together at Animal Care Expo!

Submission form

Only § 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and official county or municipal animal shelters may enter. Open to U.S.-based organizations only. Maximum TWO submissions per organization.

Document

Basics Done Better video contest official rules