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I’ve been writing a lot of articles lately that relate to what it’s like to be a pet lover in the internet age. The internet has changed how shelters can communicate and how potential pet owners might find their future animals. Today I will examine how we can use the Internet as a tool to locate missing pets.
People probably began posting messages about lost pets online almost as soon as the internet was introduced. Now that sites like Craig’s List and similar local-based online classifieds have put the concept on the computer, we can find pets, supplies for them, and post about our missing animals all online.
However, there’s a new website that’s taken the simple “Lost Dog” poster concept a step further. Animal site ZooToo has a profile of and an interview with Fido Finder and Tabby Tracker creator Wes Cutshall.
You can probably guess what Fido Finder and Tabby Tracker do, in a nutshell. They’re websites devoted to reuniting lost cats and dogs with their owners. But they take the process farther than it’s ever gone before.
It all started in 2004 when Cutshall, a computer programmer, was driving home from work and saw a Lost Dog poster on a stop sign. Cutshall realized that given his profession, he had the means to revolutionize the process of finding a missing dog.
Putting ads about your missing pet on local or state websites and hoping someone has information is one thing; what Fido Finder does is another. While it does allow users to post and search through listings about missing pets, it also matches user profiles.
Guests create a profile on the website if they’ve lost or found a dog. They input the pet’s details – rough age, breed, size, coloring, any other distinguishing features – and then the site works its magic.
Fido Finder analyzes these listings and connects users whose “lost dog” profile might fit a “found dog” profile. The website does this on its own without users actually having to commence the search themselves. They’re contacted when a potential match is found. Searches are obviously done locally, but Fido Finder might also connect people who live farther away; after all, it’s not unheard of for a dog to make its way far beyond its home.
Obviously the site isn’t perfect; for it to work both the parties who lost the dog and those who found it have to register. It doesn’t just tap in and search local Craig’s List classifieds. No one I’ve asked so far has heard of the site before, which means it has yet to really catch on.
But Fido Finder is still doing great work; on average it manages to return 200-300 dogs to their owners per year. Those are some fantastic numbers for a site that’s only been in existence for 7 years.
So animal lovers: spread the word. Tell your fellow pet owners about Fido Finder and Tabby Tracker. The more people who know about and use the site, the more good it will do. I think Cutshall’s efforts are fantastic, and I can’t wait to share his websites with my fellow pet-loving friends and volunteers at my local animal rescue.
Related Articles:
What Does Your Pet Do All Day?
Thoughts on Reuniting Lost Dogs with Owners
*(This image by Daquella manera is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
