More lost animals in Vancouver have been found ever since the BC SPCA launched their innovative online lost and found website in 2012.
According to the data obtained from the Animal Control Inventory on the City of Vancouver's Open Data Catalogue, the percentage of lost animals being found has increased over the past few years.
One main reason that can be attributed to the increase in the percentage of lost animals being found in Vancouver is the launching of the BC SPCA's lost and found website in 2012. The website contains a lost and found database for animals that are in the care of the BC SPCA, as well as other postings from communities across B.C., and provides an outlet for people to look for and post about lost and found animals. This Surrey Leader article outlines some of the key features of the website, such as the public being able to post their own photos and descriptions of lost and found animals directly on the website. It also states that every lost animal that is brought to any BC SPCA shelter is automatically posted on the website, which provides the public with immediate access to lost pets. General manager of community relations for the BC SPCA, Lorie Chortyk, said in the 2012 article, "we believe this exciting new online tool will dramatically increase the number of lost animals who are quickly reunited with their anxious guardians," and the percentages of lost animals being found in the years following the inception of the website prove that she and the BC SPCA were right.
Chortyk also states in the article, "Each year, the BC SPCA rescues more than 13,000 stray and lost animals. Sadly, many of these animals do not have any form of identification linking them to their guardians and we are unable to reunite them with their families." In a recent CBC News article from March of 2016, "4 reasons to license your dog" are highlighted. "Just in case..." is the second reason, as John Gray, assistance manager of animal services for the City of Vancouver, says, "the best incentive for getting a dog licensed is that you get your dog back when your dog's been lost." Registering dogs, cats, or any pet, means that staff will be able to contact the owner if they find a pet that has gone missing.
Similar lost and found websites and apps have been or are being developed ever since the BC SPCA developed their website. Helping Lost Pets is a national map based lost and found registry that helps find lost pets, and does so through their website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. They have multiple accounts for numerous places across both Canada and the United States, such as a Facebook page for lost pets in B.C..
There is a new lost pet app being developed, thanks to four young teenagers from the Lower Mainland. This CBC News article from December of 2015 reports that the new app, called "Find A Lost Pet," will give people an opportunity to help if they happen to come across a lost pet. Co-developer and project leader, 13-year old Stefan Clarinval, said, "I always see these lost pet posters all over the place and I just feel bad that I can't really do much to help them... I figured this is a good way to help families that have lost pets." Before any of these apps and websites came to fruition, posters were how people got information about and tracked down lost pets. Now, people can simply post the same information online, rather than on a post or wall. The app, which is scheduled to be released in a few weeks for beta testing in the Lower Mainland, is a simple but effective database that allows people to post and search missing pets, just like the BC SPCA's website.
The BC SPCA's lost and found website has played a huge role in more lost animals being found in Vancouver, and with more websites and apps being developed, expect more lost animals to be found in the near future.
