SPCA Tampa Bay launched its redesigned website this week, complete with a new logo that bears a deceptive resemblance to Best Friends Animal Society’s logo.
No two organizations could differ more radically. Best Friends actively supports No Kill through initiatives to fight puppy mills and breed discrimination, support TNR, engage volunteers, and connect with rescues to vigorously promote adoption nationwide. No healthy adoptable animal is EVER killed at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
We would like to believe the similarity in logos is accidental, but……
Loaded with emotionally charged copy that is flatly contradicted by the experience of numerous former SPCA/TB volunteers and employees, the new website achieves the goal of “rebranding” but changes nothing in day-to-day operations. Even the Board president’s 2014 letter dismissing every charge brought against the Boden administration remains on the site, a clear message that the rebranding involves no policy changes.
The animals, of course, didn’t have a vote.
It’s a sad fact of today’s world that we can no longer rely on businesses or organizations to keep the promises they make when promoting themselves. Even more sad is the fact that well-meaning and sincere people will be duped by the lies into donating money that will go primarily for inflated salaries instead of helping the animals. Website redesign isn’t cheap. The money spent on this site, which according to one professional web designer is far below par, could have helped several more dogs and cats get adopted.
The Indianapolis animal welfare community is familiar with the rebranding smoke and mirrors. It happened here too, under Martha Boden’s tenure at the Humane Society of Indianapolis. But finally, HSI’s Board woke up.
Can no one on the SPCA/TB Board of Directors hear the alarm?