I’ve been working with JR Whippet rescue as web designer/manager since 2016. Prior to that, the website ran on Google’s Blogger platform. And while it was updated and maintained, JRWR wanted to expand the stall – usually seen at dog shows and canine sporting venues – to an online offering. Which was when I got involved.
Overview
Since I came onboard the website has been running on the Divi framework, but with a major reorganisation in process it was decided to give the website a brand new coat of paint and streamline the shop more by giving it it’s own sub domain, unhooking it from the main website.
There were a lot changes being made with regards to content; more emphasis on engagement via web forms for adoption, assisting with fostering, transporting dogs and home checks.
JR Whippet Rescue is not a bricks and mortar rescue. It’s a breed specific network of dedicated, caring individuals who look after the dogs in their own homes, fostering them until their find their ‘forever home’.
Forms
The site makes use of a few forms, and it was one of the major considerations in the revamp. Previously, most were presented as downloadable PDFs. We have now converted all of these over to online forms, with the most complex being Adoption Application and the Relinquishing form for people to get in touch about giving up their whippet(s). It is still possible to speak to a human being, but the forms allow the rehoming officers to gather as much information as possible about their prospective charges.
A couple of the shorter forms. To view the more complex ones please visit the JRWR website.
The Adoption application and Reliquishing forms are sent to the respective rehoming officers. All the forms need to be robust as the site receives a large amount of applicants seeking to rehome. Since the revamp at the end of last year there have been 720 applications submitted through this form alone.
The menu
We needed certain menu items to stand out, so they have been given specific CSS classes to help people find them easily. We have managed to avoid the need for dropdowns by keeping the pages to a minimum.
On mobile, the menu collapses to a hamburger icon, which when tapped brings in the Off Canvas menu, which slides in from the left and overlays the content.
The highlighted menu items retain the CSS colours and fill the container horizontally
JR Whippet Rescue Shop
The shop used to be on the same WordPress installation as the main website. Given it’s own sub domain, it’s much easier to maintain now it’s been ‘consciously uncoupled’ from the rest of the content. We use the standard Woocommerce ‘Storefront’ theme with a bit of tweaking instead of the previous somewhat over-designed version integrated into the main site. I now maintain this and add products for the stallholder as frankly, she has more than enough to do as it is.
I enjoy working for JRWR, as you may know we are whippet guardians ourselves and they are treasured family members. I also look after websites for The Whippet Club, The Whippet Breed Council and West Somerset Whippet Racing Club.
On the whole, we have built up a fairly substantial part of our business with non-profits of varying types including orgs working with the homeless, animal welfare and citizen journalism.
