Hillsborough animal services launches Facebook page
August 21, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
TAMPA –
Facebook gives its users the chance to plow the fields of FarmVille or update their friends on what they’re having dinner.
Hillsborough County Animal Services recently decided to use the popular social networking website to help pet owners reconnect with their lost animals.
In late July, the agency launched the “Lost and Found Pets of Hillsborough County” page on Facebook.
“A couple of years ago, there weren’t as many people using Facebook, and certainly not for this,” said Marti Ryan, community relations coordinator for animal services. “This is a very specific project for this specific purpose.”
Users can log on to the page and post a photo and description of their missing pet.
Hillsborough County Animal Services volunteers who walk around the kennels at the shelter throughout the week are able to keep an eye out for animals that match the description of those posted on the Facebook page.
The shelter, 440 N. Falkenburg Road, is also open from noon to 3 p.m. Sundays for the public shop or look for their lost pets in the kennels.
Nancy Latimer of Seffner first began volunteering for animal services in 2007.
“When I first started, I’d escort people through the shelter and help them look for their pets,” Latimer said.
Eventually, Latimer began cutting out classified ads in the paper and printing out Craigslist postings for lost pets and seeing if they matched up with animals in the shelter.
Latimer said the Animal Services’ “Lost and Found” project officially began in 2008, with the goal of helping and educating those who are missing or have found pets within the county.
The Facebook page is the latest tool to help bolster the project.
“Ideally, we wanted to have one central place where people could go, look at pictures and keep the talk focused on the animals,” Latimer said.
Though it’s early, Latimer is happy with the page and says it has already led to some success stories.
“This shelter is responsible for about 1,100 square miles worth of lost pets,” Ryan said. “We’re the mother ship, but if they can’t find their pet here, we can put them in touch with the proper rescue groups.
“Hopefully this page will help people realize this is where they need to come.”
For information, go to www.facebook.com/lostandfoundpetsofhillsboroughcounty.
