Houston Beagle Rescue (HBHR) Site Redesign
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In December of 2018, I started to hang out with my uncle fairly often. I already was seeing him almost every day of the week because he was generous enough to offer me rides to school, so more often than not I would go to his house during my free time to visit him... and his beautiful dogs. My uncle Gary has had countless dogs and going to visit him is always an experience when you have the most enthusiastic welcome wagon ready to greet you (and see if you have any treats in your pockets). Most of his dogs at that time were beagles, and I asked where he got them from. His answer was the Houston Beagle and Hound Rescue (HBHR, but usually shortened to just Houston Beagle Rescue).
He asked if I wanted to volunteer at their annual gift wrapping event. I told him I was rubbish at wrapping gifts, but he said that was okay because they needed Beagle Wranglers - someone to hold onto a dog or two, a sort of "mascot" for the occasion, while the rest of the volunteers took donations to wrap Christmas presents. So basically I was being asked to hang out with cute dogs? For free? Of course I said yes. Little did I know that this was only the beginning of my adventures with the beagle rescue. |
After becoming something of a regular volunteer at their monthly meet and greets (times when families and prospective foster parents/adopters can visit with the beagles), I explained to the organization members that I was a college student studying web design. The council, consisting of older women with varying degrees of tech skill under their belts, mentioned that the rescue's web site was woefully outdated.
They weren't kidding. The site's copyright is from about sixteen years ago, right after the organization was first founded. I was in shock. I realized that I wanted to lend a hand for more than just holding leashes and bringing excited beagles outside to go potty. I wanted to help them modernize their website and, most importantly, make it mobile friendly.
So I hopped onto WordPress and did some experimenting.
They weren't kidding. The site's copyright is from about sixteen years ago, right after the organization was first founded. I was in shock. I realized that I wanted to lend a hand for more than just holding leashes and bringing excited beagles outside to go potty. I wanted to help them modernize their website and, most importantly, make it mobile friendly.
So I hopped onto WordPress and did some experimenting.
I showed my basic template to the founder, Sandra Kos. She loved the idea. But it would take a little convincing to get the other board members on... well, board.
After a few months, I was able to properly attend a meeting where we discussed just how involved this project would be if I really wanted to make it happen. There was a lot of information to copy over and a lot of old systems that may or may not have compatible counterparts inside a new environment. I had no idea just how much work was put into the behind-the-scenes system that was used to keep track of dogs, fosters, and volunteers. I started working on the basic parts of the site that would be easier to copy over, such as their rules for adoptions, a little bit of their lengthy educational section, and some of the upcoming events.
Unfortunately, school took over my priorities after that because by then I was entering the third semester of my degree and the beginning of my final year. I had to step away from the project, and sadly it seems as though no one has stepped forward to take the reins in my place. I hope to revisit the idea with them sometime. In the meantime, they're still working diligently to get homes for all those beautiful barking babies.
After a few months, I was able to properly attend a meeting where we discussed just how involved this project would be if I really wanted to make it happen. There was a lot of information to copy over and a lot of old systems that may or may not have compatible counterparts inside a new environment. I had no idea just how much work was put into the behind-the-scenes system that was used to keep track of dogs, fosters, and volunteers. I started working on the basic parts of the site that would be easier to copy over, such as their rules for adoptions, a little bit of their lengthy educational section, and some of the upcoming events.
Unfortunately, school took over my priorities after that because by then I was entering the third semester of my degree and the beginning of my final year. I had to step away from the project, and sadly it seems as though no one has stepped forward to take the reins in my place. I hope to revisit the idea with them sometime. In the meantime, they're still working diligently to get homes for all those beautiful barking babies.
