BRYANT, Ark. (KATV) — The Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center is 1 of 25 shelters in the country that will be participating in a newly formed pilot project focused on reducing the killings of dogs and cats in shelters.
Almost 2,000 organizations were on file to receive acceptance to join the program.
“Network Neighbors is all about working together to get lost pets back to their families, and save lives while doing it,” said Whitney Bollinger, Director of Strategy & Network Operations, Best Friends Animal Society. “We are grateful to the Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center and local volunteers for being part of this important project, the lifesaving impact of which will be felt in Bryant and across the country.”
With assistance from local volunteers, the city has been engaged in providing bilingual yard signs with a QR code attached.
The QR code takes users to Petco Love Lost, which is an online tool that serves as an online database for pets that are lost.
As of now, it has brought 100,000 pets back into the arms of its owners.
Through image recognition software, photo matches are made between pets classified as lost and those posted as found.
Nextdoor and Neighbors by Ring's postings will be included in the database, as well as more than 3,000 animal shelters.
Data from the Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center's operations has shown an above average number of lost dogs.
“It is truly heartbreaking when a lost pet enters the Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center and we know someone is missing them as much as they are missing their family,” said Director Tricia Power. “We are thrilled to be part of this project and help more of these pets get back to the people who love them. Not only are families reunited, but doing so makes sure our kennels aren’t filled with pets who already have a home.”
According to a release, about 70% of lost dogs are found within a mile of their home.
The community's effort continues with plans to record even more data to measure the program's progress.
Bryant Animal Control & Adoption Center, Best Friends, and Petco Love will work to evaluate and record dog data because of the amount already recorded from locations where lost dogs were found.
Lost dog data and the city's drive for innovation in saving more pets were determining factors for the organization's decision.
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