Twitter feed aims to reunite lost pets and owners

TAMPA - Rowdy. Caya. Cammie. They are names of dogs lost in the Tampa Bay area; Man’s best friends who went missing. I know their names because their owners have posted pleas for help in locating their pets on my ABC Action News Facebook “fan” page.

I’d do anything to help an animal in need, largely due to the influence of my Mom, notorious for bringing home strays. I’ve seen pictures of her as a young woman, cradling a baby skunk.

As I child I remember – in addition to the menagerie of dogs, cats, gerbils, parakeets and turtles – there was an injured woodpecker that Mom kept in a picnic basket until she could get him some help. Later, after my family moved to some farmland, there were rescued race horses and even a goat.

My current pet “children” include a pair of kitty cats (Kiya and Dexter) and a Labradoodle (Mattie)… plus a neighborhood stray bunny rabbit for which I keep food on hand to give him whenever he hops my way.

And so, because of my love for animals, I’m not surprised that my Facebook friends come to me for help. The problem is a lot of times I feel just as helpless as they do. So I decided to try to do something about it.

Drawing on my success using social media to disseminate traffic reports through my Twitter account, @tampabaytraffic, I’ve started a new Twitter feed: @lostdogtampabay. Unlike the Twitter traffic feed, @lostdogtampabay is strictly my effort, and not one associated with ABC Action News.

However I appreciate the station supporting my effort.

My goal with @lostdogtampabay is to create a network of followers who will share information about lost and missing pets. @lostdogtampabay is akin to the photocopied flyers of missing pets, taped to utility poles in neighborhoods. Hopefully, though, this Twitter feed will reach more people over time.

According to the American Humane Association, more than 10 million pets are reported missing each year, and roughly 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their owners. Lost pets become labeled as “strays” and nearly 20 million of them are euthanized yearly because their owners can’t be located.

Mircro-chips and collars with detailed information including current license, rabies and ID information are great ways to help your pet return home safely.

If you do lose a pet, contact the local shelters in your area and notify them. And then please notify me @lostdogtampabay. I’ll do my best to reconnect you and your beloved furry friend.