August 2000

Help through the Internet

Several groups have turned to the Internet as a tool to raise funds and inform contributors. Defenders of Wildlife has developed the Defenders Electronic Network (DEN) to e-mail news and action alerts to 310,000 people. President Rodger Schlickeisen terms DEN "a powerful tool to alert citizens about important environmental issues in a timely and cost-effective manner."

The International Primate Protection League also alerts members via e-mail, and The Marine Mammal Center has found the Net to be "an invaluable tool to inform about our work." Susan Andres explains:

We receive website visitors from around the world. It is updated with breaking … events as they occur, so it's a dynamic medium. In addition, when working with the media on stories or others interested in our work, we often refer them to the site for background information. It has helped us to more efficiently address information requests and thereby enhance exposure. Our long-range plans include increasing our online communications and fundraising activities.

Shirley McGreal reports that the International Primate Protection League's Web site has already helped with fundraising. "Our web site ... has started to bring in new members. We link with other organizations and post a variety of primate and general animal lists. This really helps our campaigns and petition drives." Bob Silver reports that the Horse Protection Association of Florida's site "has resulted in a substantial number of contacts and supporters for our work."

The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, Inc. in Zambia has "benefited tremendously over the past 12 months through an increased focus on the internet." Trustee Doug Cress reports from Boston, Massachusetts, that the organization's Web site, which was launched in August 1999, "is already becoming an integral part of the sanctuary's fundraising, logistics and advertising." He continues:

The site itself has received well over 4,000 hits and earned several awards, but it is the ability to advertise our own merchandise, sign up on-line memberships and on-line chimpanzee adoptions, and link up with other animal welfare organizations that has made the greatest difference. In addition, the website allows us to inform our members of news in a much more timely and colorful fashion than the old, quarterly newsletter. Alliances with websites such as Virunga and WildNet Africa have helped us spread the word about our work, and we recently freed two chimps from a deplorable zoo in the Central African Republic—with much of the paperwork and logistics accomplished through the web.

Carole Sanders of Animal Angels says, "The internet has been the most valuable tool I have found to raise funds and support and share information. … The exposure the internet provides cannot even be gauged. … We are able to touch the lives of animals and be touched by them from all over the world." Richard Hoyle notes, "The Internet has been a great help to" Mini-Pigs. "Exposure via our website and linking to other sites has provided a great deal of public exposure for the animals and the sanctuary with a minimal investment in time and money."

Some groups, such as CANTER and the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, work extensively through the Internet. Michael Mountain reports that Best Friends went online in the early 1990s, making the sanctuary "one of the first animal organizations to operate online." Today, he says, "The Best Friends network is primarily internet-based, consisting of an e-mail volunteer network and bulletin boards where people offer advice and assistance to others." The organization will be starting an online membership program this fall.