Share and Follow
In a bid to enhance the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners, Jacksonville’s Animal Care & Protective Services (ACPS) has revamped the lost and found section of its website.
Residents of Jacksonville, Florida, will notice a fresh look on the ACPS section of the City of Jacksonville’s website. But this update is more than just aesthetic; it introduces new features designed to help reunite pets with their owners more efficiently.
The updated website now includes a dedicated section where visitors can view a map pinpointing the locations of dogs and cats that have been reported missing or found within the community. This visual aid is part of an effort to streamline the search process for pet owners.
In a recent social media update, the shelter emphasized, “Lost animals typically remain within a few blocks of their home, so narrowing the search area is vital for quick reunions.”
Additionally, the site now offers a comprehensive list of every stray animal currently in the shelter’s care, along with details of when and where they were found. This feature aims to simplify the process for owners trying to locate their missing pets.
A free tool is being used to consolidate all the information: Petco Love Lost, advertised as the largest free central database of lost and found pets in the country.
ACPS encourages families to register their pets in the database along with updated microchip information, whether they’re missing now or not.Â
The website update comes after a successful push by the shelter to lower its stray hold period. Instead of holding found pets for six days before allowing adoptions, the hold period is now five days.
ACPS initially advocated for a three-day stray hold period, which received pushback from animal advocates who feared it would lower reunification rates.
After several public community meetings, Jacksonville City Council members acknowledged other potential shortcomings with the website and shelter communications that could make it harder to reunite pets and owners.
In one example, Council Member Raul Arias pointed out that ACPS does not have a direct phone number, meaning people must call the generic city number to speak with shelter staff, potentially leading to calls and questions going unanswered. Arias said that in the future, he wants to look into budgeting for dedicated staff to handle ACPS calls.