{"id":24747,"date":"2025-08-06T12:06:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T16:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/?post_type=story&p=24747"},"modified":"2025-08-15T09:28:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:28:03","slug":"a-paw-sitively-perfect-internship","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/06\/a-paw-sitively-perfect-internship\/","title":{"rendered":"A paw-sitively perfect internship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Luca Houtsmuller \u201925, MSC \u201926, flexes social media skills for Second Chance Animal Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Luca Houtsmuller \u201925, MSC \u201926, has been loving the dog days of summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a communications and marketing intern at Second Chance Animal Services<\/a>, an animal welfare organization with several locations in Massachusetts, Houtsmuller is harnessing the power of social media to help animals find their forever homes. Houtsmuller has been making TikTok videos, hopping onto trends to raise awareness of Second Chance, and writing press releases to promote vaccine clinics and other events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so fun seeing the animals every time I come in,\u201d says Houtsmuller, who is completing a master\u2019s in communication<\/a> through the 4+1 Accelerated Master\u2019s Degree<\/a> program. \u201cThe fact that I get to do this makes me very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever Second Chance receives a litter of puppies, Houtsmuller sees people quickly come in to adopt their newest family member. It\u2019s made him more sympathetic to the older dogs, who often take much longer to find homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI really want these dogs to have a home, and I hope my effort on social media can help with that,\u201d says Houtsmuller, who has always had a soft spot for dogs, including his own pup, Otis. \u201cThey\u2019re man\u2019s best friend. I really bond with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A dog named David Bowie at Second Chance Animal Services.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A dog named Wesley at Second Chance Animal Services.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Luca Houtsmuller \u201925, MSC \u201926, is a communications and marketing intern at Second Chance Animal Services.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Luca Houtsmuller \u201925, MSC \u201926, is a communications and marketing intern at Second Chance Animal Services.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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@secondchanceanimals<\/a>

What can we say? Our shelter pets are amazing and waiting to meet YOU! #adoptdontshop<\/a> #shelterdog<\/a> #sheltercat<\/a> #massachusetts<\/a> <\/p> \u266c Best One Yet – Layup<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>