Free Greater Androscoggin Humane Society technology will help find lost pets

LEWISTON — Free “Finding Rover” technology for pet owners is being offered by the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, the first shelter in Maine to join the ranks of other animal welfare organizations nationwide in using facial recognition technology to identify lost dogs and cats.
Every dog and cat that enters the GAHS shelter system becomes registered on Finding Rover. Users of Finding Rover can search the shelter and surrounding areas from their smartphone or computer in efforts to find their missing pet, a neighbor’s missing pet, the family of a found pet or search for adoptable pets.
Registration of pets is free at www.FindingRover.com. It includes uploading the pet’s photo, entering a few details and entering the owners name, email address and zip code. Once pets are registered, they’re protected for life.
The more people that are registered on Finding Rover, the more we can all help reunite lost dogs and cats with their families and place adoptable pets in now homes. “In doing this we can all help to save more lives,” GAHS said in a news release.
“While the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society has one of the highest return-to-owner rates in the country for dogs, we struggle to reunite lost cats with their heartbroken families,” said Katie Lisnik, GAHS executive director. “Finding Rover is a wonderful tool to help families find their beloved companion, and to help us get stray cats in our facility back where they belong — their home.”

PHOTO: The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society’s free “Finding Rover” program will help pet owners and lost pets be reunited, as well as help those looking to adopt find pets. (Maureen Milliken photo)