Pioneering Wokingham pet text scheme to capture wayward pooches
Wayward pooches who give their owners the slip are more likely to be traced thanks to pioneering pet text system running across the Wokingham Borough.
Wokingham Borough Council has set up a scheme, called Dog and Bone, to alert all dog walkers in a certain area when a canine companion has gone missing nearby, so they can be on their guard if they spot the pooch.
It is believed to be the first pet text scheme in the country and works by a text message being sent to everyone in the Wokingham borough, who has registered their details with the council, when a dog is reported missing.
The Wokingham council is urging all dog walkers to come forward and register their name, mobile phone number and the general area they live so that the scheme can start working immediately.
As dog walkers as more likely to be out and about where a missing dog could be hiding, the pet text scheme could see escaped dogs being returned safely to their owners much more quickly. Currently the council relies on its animal warden to spot check the borough for missing dogs and on passers-by spotting stray animals and contacting the council.
This revolutionary idea will be a pro-active way of making sure dog walkers were alerted to the fact a pet had gone missing.
As well as tracing pets the Dog and Bone scheme has been set up to reduce the risk of stray animals causing road traffic accidents and frightening nearby residents. Stray pets can also increase the amount of fouling in an area, so reuniting them with their owner as quickly as possible will help to reduce this risk.
Mandy Dorman, the Wokingham council’s animal warden who came up with Dog and Bone pet text idea, said: “ This is a way of making sure that pet dogs, and other animals, who go missing are traced much more easily. If we send a text to make other dog walkers in the area aware that a pet has gone missing, they are more likely to keep alert and spot the animal so it can be returned safely.
“It’s a simple system but for it to work we need as many dog walkers and dog owners to come forward and register their details. All we need is a name, mobile phone number and the area they live in. All details will be kept confidential and texts will only be sent when a pet has gone missing in the borough.”
Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for community safety, said: “ This scheme is a new way of tracking pets that have unfortunately escaped or been stolen from their owners. We need as many people to sign up as possible because this could have real benefits to the animals, their owners and the whole community.”
Anyone who wants to register their details for the Dog and Bone scheme should call Mandy Dorman, the council’s animal warden, on (0118) 974 6356 or email environmentalhealth@wokingham.gov.uk
Wokingham Borough Council has set up a scheme, called Dog and Bone, to alert all dog walkers in a certain area when a canine companion has gone missing nearby, so they can be on their guard if they spot the pooch.
It is believed to be the first pet text scheme in the country and works by a text message being sent to everyone in the Wokingham borough, who has registered their details with the council, when a dog is reported missing.
The Wokingham council is urging all dog walkers to come forward and register their name, mobile phone number and the general area they live so that the scheme can start working immediately.
As dog walkers as more likely to be out and about where a missing dog could be hiding, the pet text scheme could see escaped dogs being returned safely to their owners much more quickly. Currently the council relies on its animal warden to spot check the borough for missing dogs and on passers-by spotting stray animals and contacting the council.
This revolutionary idea will be a pro-active way of making sure dog walkers were alerted to the fact a pet had gone missing.
As well as tracing pets the Dog and Bone scheme has been set up to reduce the risk of stray animals causing road traffic accidents and frightening nearby residents. Stray pets can also increase the amount of fouling in an area, so reuniting them with their owner as quickly as possible will help to reduce this risk.
Mandy Dorman, the Wokingham council’s animal warden who came up with Dog and Bone pet text idea, said: “ This is a way of making sure that pet dogs, and other animals, who go missing are traced much more easily. If we send a text to make other dog walkers in the area aware that a pet has gone missing, they are more likely to keep alert and spot the animal so it can be returned safely.
“It’s a simple system but for it to work we need as many dog walkers and dog owners to come forward and register their details. All we need is a name, mobile phone number and the area they live in. All details will be kept confidential and texts will only be sent when a pet has gone missing in the borough.”
Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for community safety, said: “ This scheme is a new way of tracking pets that have unfortunately escaped or been stolen from their owners. We need as many people to sign up as possible because this could have real benefits to the animals, their owners and the whole community.”
Anyone who wants to register their details for the Dog and Bone scheme should call Mandy Dorman, the council’s animal warden, on (0118) 974 6356 or email environmentalhealth@wokingham.gov.uk
Wokingham Borough Council
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