Case Study – First Ladies Farm

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First Ladies Farm's Challenges

  • Using paper records slowed things down
  • Operated mainly via Facebook with no branded website
  • No way to track microchip information, and signing up volunteers was a chore
  • Scattered information made decisionmaking harder and adoption slower

Buzz's Solutions

  • Digitized data made it easier to stay organized
  • The Buzz-built website was inexpensive and streamlined volunteer applications
  • Centralized, organized data reduced administrative difficulty
  • Streamlined operations led to a huge growth in yearly adoptions

Introducing First Ladies Farm

First Ladies Farm is a no-kill rescue and sanctuary set on an idyllic two-acre farm in Riverview, Florida. Supported by their community in the greater Tampa/Gulf Coast region and beyond, FLF was named to honor the legacies of the hardworking (and often unheralded) First Ladies of the United States.

Initially started to rescue cats and kittens, FLF has since expanded to include numerous chickens, ducks, geese and peafowl - many with special needs. Recently they've also started rescuing dogs, which required a new barn to house the kennels.

Growing by leaps and bounds, FLF grew from adopting just a dozen kittens in 2018 to over 300 in just a few years. At a certain point, it became clear that they needed a better system to keep up with their success.

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Before Buzz: Paper Records and Social Media

Years ago, FLF Rescue Director Claudia White noticed that the animal population in her area had exploded due to a lack of spaying/neutering and limited animal control resources. She was determined to do something about it.

While initiating TNVR programs (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) was a good start, with success came challenges. Claudia's team relied heavily on social media to spread awareness and raise donations, and on paper records to track information like microchip data.

As their operations grew, it became clear that FLF couldn't expand further without a change. That's when they met Buzz founder Laurie, who was able to help them get them organized, build them a website, and transition them to the digital age.

“Buzz was our introduction into software for animal rescue, and it’s been a really great learning process. It gives you grounding and grows with you”

Claudia White
Rescue Director

After Buzz: Empowered and Organized

With Buzz, First Ladies Farm finally had the tools to match their growth - and a website as well!

The new website gave FLF what Claudia calls a “landing pad,” a single place for potential adopters, volunteers, and donors to learn about the rescue and take action. Adoption applications were now submitted online, volunteer sign-ups became automated, and donation tools allowed supporters to give directly or set up recurring contributions.

And this wasn't just a one-way street. Buzz itself was also growing, and Laurie couldn't build a useful tool for people like Claudia without their own feature suggestions and good advice.

By incorporating suggestions from clients like Claudia, Buzz was able to build and subsequently offer new tools and modules to support other cat rescues all around the country.

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“One of the best things ever is that I don’t have to deal with volunteer sign-ups anymore. I just say, ‘Go to the website, fill out the volunteer form,’ and the system automatically emails them instructions. That’s totally off my plate now.”

Claudia White
Rescue Director

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How Buzz Does It: What Sets Us Apart

Built for Growing Rescues, Shelters and Sanctuaries

Buzz was designed to support rescues like First Ladies Farm that manage more than just adoptions, from running TNVR programs to organizing events, fundraising, and caring for a wide range of animals.

Streamlined Tools that Save Time

Rescues can't juggle hundreds of animals and countless moving pieces without proper organizational structure. Buzz provides that, and makes running rescues easier. With centralized data, adoption histories, and volunteer activity logged in one place, Buzz reduces administrative work and frees up precious time for what matters most: rescuing and caring for animals.

Simple, Intuitive and Easy to Learn

Buzz was built with busy rescue teams in mind. Even new volunteers and board members pick it up quickly, without long training sessions or steep learning curves. As Claudia explained, her team “figured it out right away,” allowing them to stay focused on saving animals instead of struggling with software.

Making the Switch Is Easy

Switching to Buzz is simple, whether you’re moving from paper files, spreadsheets or another software platform entirely. We make the transition smooth and stress-free, adapting to your timeline and comfort level.

Some rescues prefer to take a few weeks, while others get up and running in just a weekend. No matter what, the process includes four key steps:

  • Website Creation:
    We build your new website (or recreate the look and feel of your existing website)
  • Application Customization:
    We input your organization's unique foster, volunteer and adoption applications
  • Data Migration:
    The Buzz Team will assist in the importation of your data so you can get started without disruptions
  • Training:
    Extensive, live online training complement our video library to ensure all team members can effectively use the new tools from Day 1

Buzz provides hands-on training and ongoing support, ensuring your team feels confident using the system right away. Even if you bring on new volunteers or staff years later, we offer the same resources and guidance to get them up to speed quickly.

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Empower Your Rescue With
Buzz to the Rescues

Partnering with Buzz has helped First Ladies Farm transform the way they operate. With Buzz’s animal rescue software technology, FLF has streamlined its processes, organized its growing database of animals, simplified volunteer management, and built a professional website that drives donations and adoptions.

If you’re ready to see how Buzz can help your organization achieve the same success,
we’d love to show you how.

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