Meet Emily Hoffman

We recently connected with Emily Hoffman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

The Barking Project was established with one of my close friends, Allison Frizzo, after one of the many days we volunteered at Dallas Animal Services. We felt compelled to take action after witnessing countless adoptable dogs being euthanized due to lack of space in the shelter. The situation continued to get worse as more dogs were being surrendered by owners or abandoned daily. As the shelter filled up, the number of dogs euthanized only increased.

Independent rescues were struggling under the weight of rising medical bills, supply costs, and the urgent need for dog fosters. Many of these organizations save dogs by rescuing them from euthanasia and providing care. We wanted to find a way to support these rescues in adopting out their current dogs, thereby creating room for more shelter dogs in need.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

The Barking Project is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs facing euthanasia in overcrowded Texas shelters and beyond. Founded in 2022 by a group of passionate women who volunteer for shelters and rescues, this organization was born out of a shared desire to address the heartbreaking reality of adoptable dogs being euthanized due to lack of shelter space and resource constraints.

The core of The Barking Project is its large-scale adoption event, which brings together rescues from across Texas to connect adoptable dogs with loving families. By facilitating these adoptions and raising funds, the organization supports shelters and rescues in their ongoing efforts to save lives. Helping rescues get dogs adopted into loving forever homes allows them to take in more dogs on the verge of being put to down that will placed under their care on top of saving lives.

Each year, The Barking Project generates funds through sponsorships, donations, raffles, and a Memory Wall. All proceeds are then divided equally among the participating rescues and shelters. As the organization’s impact grows, so does the number of dogs saved and money raised. By collaborating with numerous rescues and shelters, The Barking Project showcases a wide variety of adoptable dogs and facilitates hundreds of adoptions each year.

Beyond adoption, The Barking Project aims to raise awareness about the issue of overcrowded shelters and the importance of adoption. They encourage people to adopt dogs from shelters and rescues rather than purchasing from breeders. By showcasing the variety of shelter and rescue dogs, we aim to highlight that every breed, age, size, temperament, and color can be found within them. It’s crucial to dispel the common misconception that dogs at risk of euthanasia are inherently ‘bad’ – in reality, they are simply victims of circumstance, often facing this fate through no fault of their own.. The organization also highlights the significance of fostering, volunteering, and donating as ways to contribute to the cause. By bringing together rescues and potential adopters in one convenient location, The Barking Project fosters a sense of community and empowers individuals to make a positive impact on the lives of animals in need.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Starting a non-profit requires a deep passion for your cause. Balancing a career while launching and managing a non-profit is challenging and demands a significant time commitment, so it’s essential to genuinely believe in your mission, as it will consume much of your personal time.

Fear of failure must be absent, paired with the determination to achieve your goals. When The Barking Project began with no prior success or credibility, convincing others to support the mission was a tough challenge. To organize our first adoption event, we had to persuade shelters and rescues to join, as well as attract sponsors, donors, and contributors for our raffle. Securing a popular venue for free in an animal-loving community and encouraging attendance added to the difficulty of ensuring success. We were told no plenty of times at first but we will be forever grateful to the people that said yes and took a chance on us.

Having resilience and a readiness to tackle any task is crucial. The saying “no good deed goes unpunished” rings true; despite the time and effort invested in The Barking Project, there will always be someone who complains. Many people overlooked that this was a labor of love done on our own time, impacting both our paid careers and personal lives. It’s vital to view criticism as constructive feedback and let negative comments slide. While we often received valuable advice, we also faced unwarranted negativity. Staying focused on what you believe in is key, regardless of what others say.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

We are absolutely always looking for people and companies to get involved or partner with us in some fashion. Any animal lovers that are actual doers are always needed to either volunteer at our events, spread the word about our cause or help plan our events and much more.

The same goes for companies as we always need sponsorships, help spreading the message through their network and help soliciting monetary or in kind donations.

To explore these opportunities, visit our website at www.thebarkingproject.com, email us at [email protected], or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thebarkingproject.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebarkingproject.com
• Instagram: thebarkingproject
• Facebook: thebarkingproject
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Carlos De Leon