Paraguay’s National Directorate for Animal Defence, Health, and Welfare has officially launched a significant new digital initiative. The organisation has integrated a ‘Lost and Found Pets’ section into its official website. This new animal welfare directorate feature is specifically designed to facilitate the swift reunion of companion animals with their families across the country. It functions as a public, centralised database where citizens can report animals that are either missing or have been found.
According to a statement from the institution, the platform is intended to be a collaborative tool. It leverages public participation to create a wider network for locating lost pets. The primary goal is to harness modern technology to directly serve the cause of animal welfare and to empower communities to assist in these important efforts. The service is now live and accessible to all members of the public.
A step-by-step guide for users
Individuals who need to use the service are first required to visit the Directorate’s official web portal. Once on the homepage, they can navigate to the newly established section. The user interface has been designed to be intuitive, allowing people to easily select whether they are reporting a pet they have lost or an animal they have found.
Upon selecting the appropriate category, users will be presented with a comprehensive form. Completing this form accurately is essential for a successful outcome. The required information includes key details about the animal, such as its breed, size, colour, and any distinguishing marks. Furthermore, users must specify the location where the animal was last seen or where it was found.
The importance of clear information
A clear photograph of the animal is one of the most critical elements of the report. The Directorate advises that a recent, high-quality image significantly increases the chances of a successful identification. Alongside the visual information, the system requires a contact number that is enabled for the WhatsApp messaging service. This ensures that any person who spots the animal can establish immediate and direct communication with the owner or finder.
To ensure the platform remains an effective and reliable resource, it incorporates a crucial status update feature. When an animal is successfully reunited with its family, the person who created the initial report is able to mark the case as ‘Reunited’. This simple action removes the listing from the active search, keeping the database current and preventing other users from spending time on a case that has already been resolved.
Platform registers its first success story
The new system, according to animal welfare directorate officials, has already proven its effectiveness with its first registered success story. A dog named Sora was reported missing through the portal shortly after its launch. Thanks to the collaborative nature of the platform and the swift response from the community, Sora was safely returned to her home within just a few hours of the report being published.
This initial success serves as a powerful example of the platform’s potential impact. Officials highlighted the case of Sora as a demonstration of how technology, when combined with community engagement, can yield immediate and positive results for animal welfare. It is hoped that this will encourage widespread adoption of the tool by the public, thereby amplifying its reach and effectiveness.
The Directorate stated that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen public participation in the protection of animals. By providing an accessible and user-friendly tool, the organisation aims to foster a stronger sense of shared responsibility for the well-being of companion animals nationwide. It transforms a passive concern for lost pets into an active, collaborative search effort.
Recently Paraguay also launched RAGAN, the first national registry to block animal abusers from adopting pets.
