RSPCA teaming up with Animal Search UK to reunite missing pets in the East
810 pets were recorded as missing in the last twelve months across the whole of the East
Last updated 19th Apr 2022
The RSPCA are teaming up with Animal Search UK to reunite missing pets in the East.
It comes as the latest available data from the animal charity shows that 810 pets were recorded as missing in the last twelve months across the whole of the East. While the figure is close to 10 thousand, nationally.
Saqqara Richards is from the National Pet Service and told us how this joint venture is going to work: "Say for example a RSPCA agent finds a black cat in the East and there is also a black cat that's gone missing in the East at around the same time and has similar markings. Then we will inform owners of potential matches. It goes on a percentage scale, so you've got a 60 per cent chance that this is your cat".
She went on to say that public involvement in this is vital: "We will ask anyone who's pet goes missing to register on our website. This is a completely free service for people and it will take you about 5 minutes to get registered. Once you are signed up you can also be a part of pet watch community- it's very important for us to have more eyes on the ground keeping a look out".
"We're seeing those numbers go higher and higher each day and it's such a shame"
She went on to tell us that while the alliance is going well, there's no guarantee it will have an instant impact on numbers, that are heading in the wrong direction: "All of the RSPCA agents have been registering all of the found animals to our website. This has increased the amount of auto-matches that we have and has increased the amount of potential matches that we've been able to give over to owners and fingers crossed this will mean an increase in any reunited cases across the coming months.
"We hope to see a decrease in the missing animal numbers however just with the amount of animals, the amount of pets brought over lockdown especially dogs, we're seeing those numbers go higher and higher each day and it's such a shame. We just hope that we can unite as many people with their pets as possible, thanks to help from the RSPCA".