Here are some sad and scary statistics.
Every seven seconds a family pet is lost.
Over the pet’s lifetime, one in three of them will get lost.
And only one in ten returns home.
Every neighbourhood has Lost Dogs flyers posted on fences and on poles. The words and offers owners post about their pet makes clear that losing a dog and the occasional cat can be really tough on owners.
In my neighbourhood right now, flyers for one dog is showing increasing desperation.
The dog remains in the neighbourhood and well-intentioned people recognize the dog and are trying to grab it. But the owner is pleading on flyers for people not to chase the dog as its very timid and very fast.
This is not an endorsement, but we’ve recently come across a new app that may be one digital solution to lost pets.
Pawscout Pet Finder claims it is so much more than a traditional dog tag.
Here’s how it works:
Create a profile for your dog with photo and info on special needs, dietary restrictions and any medications tells Pet Rescuers how to identify and care for your pet until he’s back home with you.
Through the app, you set up a virtual leash and receive alerts if the pet takes off. It’s like Find My iPhone for your dog.
When the pet wanders off, sign into the app to check on its last known location and then flag him as missing to have the community looking for your dog immediately. It’s like a digital flyer.
Some shortcomings: the people who can help you look must have the app themselves on their smartphone. So if your dog comes within 200 feet (or 60 metres) of another Pawscout user, you will receive an alert on your pet’s location.
And if another Pawscout customer finds your dog, the user will know how to contact you and take care of your pet until you’re reunited.
The pet finder app costs about $29.95 with no monthly fees. You got to tag your dog with one of the Pawscout tags for it to work. What do you think? Would you buy this?
