"Text alert scheme" for lost dogs sought

Animal-loving Lib Dem councillor Karen Chilvers has put an idea to the council which aims to quickly reunite lost dogs with their owners.

Cllr Chilvers has suggested that a "text alert scheme" could be used to alert dog owners to a missing animal in the town. She said:

"If a dog goes missing, it is very common for other dog owners to discover it whilst walking with their own dogs; it's certainly happened to me and other dog-owning friends of mine.

"This scheme allows all dog owners to register, perhaps for a small registration fee, and then receive texts with a description and rough location of the lost pet so everyone is on the lookout. If they come across the dog, it should then make it easy for everyone to be reunited quickly."

"A similar scheme has been operating in Wokingham for a while and it has generated a number of happy endings."

The motion has also asked for a "Lost and Found" section to be created on the council's website, to assist in reuniting dogs with their families and assisting the dog wardens in their duties.

Cllr Chilvers' motion will go before the council on 24th June and will be referred to committee for discussion. She will be asking the council officers to produce a report and aiming for the scheme to be at least cost-neutral.