Use these sample press releases and media advisories to spread the word about your organization’s involvement in a special event that day.
For more information on writing and submitting press releases, read our How to Write and Send a Press Release tips. Learn more about Working with the Media.
Instructions:
For emailed press releases/media advisories: Copy and paste the entire press release into the body of your email, adding a short pitch note at the top to introduce the press release.
For faxed press releases/media advisories: Print on organization letterhead or place organization logo on the press release.
Issue media advisories two weeks before the event, and again one or two days before the event as a reminder.
Sample Spay/Neuter Day Press Release
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME]
For Immediate Release: [DATE]
Contact: [NAME, EMAIL, PHONE]
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME] to Host Spay/Neuter Day for Community Cats in [YOUR TOWN]
In Honor of Global Cat Day, Clinic Offering Free Sterilization Surgeries and Vaccinations for Feral Cats
[CITY, STATE] On [DATE] , [YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME] and [NAME OF VETERINARY HOSPITAL] will hold a free spay and neuter clinic for community cats in [YOUR TOWN] . This event is being held in honor of Global Cat Day, which is Oct. 16.
“Community cats, also called feral cats, are the same species as pet cats, but they live outdoors and aren’t socialized to people,” said [YOUR SPOKESPERSON] . “Neutering community cats is essential to a program called Trap-Neuter”Return, which stops the breeding cycle and stabilizes their population.”
On Oct. 16, hundreds of thousands of groups will come together at Global Cat Day events worldwide to advocate for community cats and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only humane and effective approach to community cats. In 2017, Global Cat Day evolved from what was previously known as National Feral Cat Day®, which Alley Cat Allies created on its 10th anniversary in 2001 to promote (TNR), raise awareness about community cats, and recognize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for them.
To celebrate Global Cat Day, [YOUR ORGANIZATION] will humanely trap and transport up to [NUMBER] cats to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated at [CLINIC NAME] . While under anesthesia, the cats will also be eartippeda painless procedure in which the tip of the left ear is removedto signify they have been part of a TNR program. After recovering from the sterilization surgery, the cats will be returned to their outdoor homes. Friendly cats and kittens will be put up for adoption.
“We are indebted to [YOUR SPONSOR] and our individual donors for sponsoring this clinic,” said [YOUR SPOKESPERSON] .
Hundreds of communities have adopted official TNR ordinances and policies, and thousands more conduct grassroots, volunteer-led programs. The benefits and effectiveness of TNR is why it’s the mainstream approach to manage community cat populations.
“Trap”Neuter”Return makes cats healthier, and it ends behaviors commonly associated with mating, like yowling and roaming, which helps people and cats coexist peacefully,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “We are building partnerships with shelters and communities to launch Trap-Neuter-Return efforts and other programs that will save cats’ lives.”
For more information about Global Cat Day, visit www.GlobalCatDay.org.
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[SHORT “BOILERPLATE” INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION. EXAMPLE: Kool Kitties is a nonprofit organization based in Smithtown, RI, that supports and promotes Trap-Neuter-Return as the best course of action for community cats. For more information, visit www.koolkitties.com.]
Sample Event Media Advisory
COMMUNITY CAT MEETING
WHAT: Workshop about Trap-Neuter-Return for [CITY/COUNTY’S] community cats
WHEN: [INCLUDE THE DATE AND TIME]
WHERE:“¯[INCLUDE THE SPECIFIC ADDRESS OF THE EVENT]
WHO: [WHO IS ORGANIZING THE MEETING?]
MEETING INFO: [INCLUDE WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING]
During this meeting, we will provide information on how to launch a successful Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, encourage those who care for community cats to network and share their experiences with TNR, and explain how you canhelp promote TNR in [CITY/COUNTY] .
TNR is good for cats and our community. During TNR, community cats, also called feral cats, are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, eartipped (to indicate they have been neutered and vaccinated), and returned to their outdoor homes. TNR is the only humane and effective approach to community cats. Studies show that TNR stabilizes community cat populations, reduces the number of cats killed in shelters, and saves local government money.
CONTACT:“¯”¯[WHO CAN A REPORTER CALL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT? INCLUDE NAME AND PHONE NUMBER.]
Sample Global Cat Day Press Release
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME]
For Immediate Release: [DATE]
Contact: [NAME, EMAIL, PHONE]
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME] Joins Global Cat Day to Advocate for Cats in [CITY, STATE]
Encouraging people to sign the Global Cat Day pledge to advocate for cats
[CITY, STATE] [YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME] will honor Global Cat Day on Oct. 16 by encouraging people in [CITY, STATE] to stand up for policies that protect all cats in their communities. By signing a pledge on GlobalCatDay.org, people can support advocacy efforts for all cats, including the cats who call the outdoors their home.
“Community cats, also called feral cats, are self-reliant animals who are totally comfortable outside with no need for human companionship,” said [YOUR SPOKESPERSON’S NAME AND TITLE] . “But too often, local policies lead to these cats being taken from the only home they’ve ever known the outdoors and killed. We’re taking action to protect all cats in our community.”
GlobalCatDay.org includes short videos explaining the nature of community cats, plus the Global Cat Day pledge:
“I pledge to be an ally to cats, including those who call the outdoors their home. I will advocate for compassionate policies that protect every cat in my community.”
On Oct. 16, hundreds of thousands of groups and people will come together at events worldwide to advocate for community cats and raise awareness about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only humane and effective approach to community cats.
“It’s very exciting that interest in advocating for outdoor cats is coming from so many corners of the globe, including [YOUR ORGANIZATION] , because it’s more evidence that this is now truly an international movement,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “Global Cat Day is our collective call-to-action for this movement.”
In 2017, Global Cat Day evolved from what was previously known as National Feral Cat Day®, which Alley Cat Allies created on its 10th anniversary in 2001 to promote (TNR), raise awareness about community cats, and recognize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for them. Because compassion knows no borders, international participation in the event grew each year. Engagement for this year’s inaugural Global Cat Day came from more than 40 countries, from Australia to the United Kingdom, Belgium to Brazil, Saudi Arabia to South Africa and many more.
Follow all the excitement for Global Cat Day on social media with the #GlobalCatDay hashtag.
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[SHORT “BOILERPLATE” INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION. EXAMPLE: Kool Kitties is a nonprofit organization based in Smithtown, RI, that supports and promotes Trap-Neuter-Return as the best course of action for community cats. For more information, visit www.koolkitties.com.]
Sample Global Cat Day Media Advisory
MEDIA ADVISORY
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME]
Contact: [NAME, EMAIL, PHONE]
[YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME to Host Global Cat Day Event Oct. 16
[CITY, STATE] [YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME] will host a free [NAME OF EVENT] on Oct. 16. This event is being held in honor of Global Cat Day, which is a day to stand up for policies that protect all cats in all communities across the country and around the world.
WHO: [YOUR ORGANIZATION/INDIVIDUALS HOSTING EVENT]
WHAT: [EVENT NAME]
WHEN: [DATE AND TIME]
WHERE: [ADDRESS, ROOM NUMBER, CITY]
CONTACT: [NAME, PHONE, EMAIL, WEBSITE]
On Oct. 16, hundreds of thousands of groups and people will come together at events worldwide to advocate for community cats, also called feral cats, and raise awareness about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only humane and effective approach to community cats. Alley Cat Allies, the leading advocate for all cats and the foremost authority on TNR, first established Oct. 16 as National Feral Cat Day in 2001. After years of growing popularity, it evolved into Global Cat Day on Oct. 16, 2017.
For more information about Global Cat Day, see www.GlobalCatDay.org.
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[SHORT “BOILERPLATE” INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION. EXAMPLE: Kool Kitties is a nonprofit organization based in Smithtown, RI, that supports and promotes Trap-Neuter-Return as the best course of action for community cats. For more information, visit www.koolkitties.com.]