Few things are more distressing to pet owners than losing a dog, cat, or other beloved pet. Unfortunately, pets go missing all the time, and the statistics show that un-microchipped animals that get brought to shelters only have around a 20% chance of being reunited with their families.
The internet has made it much easier to share information about lost and found pets than ever before. Besides social media, which can be a great lost pet resource, more and more people are also turning to lost pet apps. Here are a few of the most popular ones to check out:
Fur Alert: The Fur Alert app is promoted as a kind of Amber Alert for missing pets. Before your pet ever goes missing, you can download the app and create a profile for your pet. If your pet does get lost, you can activate a missing pet report that will send an alert to other users in your vicinity. You can also be a hero and help other people find their lost pets with the app.
Finding Rover: The Finding Rover app uses facial recognition technology to help find lost pets. You just take a picture of your dog, mark the eyes and nose, and they will keep your dog’s info on file in case he ever gets lost. If your dog does go missing, Finding Rover will alert a large network of shelters, vets, fellow members, and other organizations to help you find your pet.
Paw Boost: Paw Boost also helps users find lost pets via their app. They have a variety of free tools that enable you to spread the word about your lost pet. Notifications go out to shelters, vets, other members, and Facebook. You can even use it to create a quality missing pet flyer to post around your community.
ASPCA Mobile App: The ASPCA offers a free app that not only helps you find your lost pet by offering a personalized pet recovery kit and a digital flyer tool, they also let you store health record data on your pet and provide advice on how to keep animals safe before, during, and after a natural disaster.
PIP: Similar to Finding Rover, the PIP app uses facial recognition technology to help people find missing dogs and cats. The app analyzes photos of lost and found pets to find identifying features and make a match. They also alert a network of shelters, vets, social media, and other users to help you find your missing pet.
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What great ideas! I wonder if there’s a U.K. equivalent…my four are all microchipped of course, but the facial recognition thing is a great idea! 😺💕
I’m sure there are UK versions as well. Yes, microchipping (and keeping your info up to date) is so important too!
That is such a good point – people update driving licenses etc. but can forget pets…other way round for me!
Haha…same here!
Both of fur-kids are chipped but I’m always blown away by people in my neighborhood who are constantly posting about lost dogs. In an area with a highly educated base, you’d think these folks would (a) keep a collar on their pet and (b) chip them. Oye. Our NextDoor app is constantly pinging about lost pets and handbill flyers are posted more often than garage sale notices. Thanks for sharing these apps. Always good to have a backup. 😍
It always amazes me when I see lost pet flyers in areas like Colorado and here in Cali where coyotes are such a threat to our pets. And of course cars. I’m still haunted by the image of a young runaway husky hit by a car and killed on Ward Rd. near my old house. 😦
Great tips. I wasn’t aware that these apps existed. But, like they say, “There’s an app for that.”
Yes, and local lost pet social media groups are also a great resource.