New Mobile App Helps Moorestown Residents Find Lost Pets

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown residents now have another avenue for finding their lost pets.

FurAlert, is an emergency response system that can notify nearby people with information and a photo about a reported missing pet.

The goal of the free app is to give owners hope and increase the chances for them to be reunited with a lost pet.
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions, provided by Moorestown Police:

1.How does FurAlert work?
FurAlert uses the location of your phone (not the address or zip code of your home). That means FurAlert can help no matter where you are – at work, on vacation, visiting a friend – wherever you happen to be when your pet decides to skedaddle. Likewise, you will only receive FurAlerts for pets missing near your current location.

2. Is FurAlert really FREE?
Yes. There are no hidden fees.

3. Do I have to put something on my pet's collar?
No. FurAlert doesn’t use any devices other than your smartphone and the “eyeballs” of other people to help you relocate your pet. Devices are great, but at the time when your pet decides to make a break for it, your pet may not be wearing the device. So, FurAlert is another layer of protection.

4. Does the FurAlert app need to be open and running on my phone in order to work?
No. FurAlert is designed to run in the background as long as your location services and notifications are enabled at all times.

5. Will FurAlert still work if I turn off notifications or location services?
No. In order to send you notifications about missing pets near you, FurAlert needs to know where you are at any given time when a missing pet is reported. The same goes for notifications – it’s hard to notify you if we can’t actually notify you. So, both must be enabled at all times - not just when you’re using the app.

6. Will FurAlert drain my battery like other apps that use my phone’s location services?
No. FurAlert uses an advanced solution for reporting location changes in the background. This is primarily done when significant location changes are made -- e.g. moving between two cell towers when the GPS is briefly activated. As a result it does not typically cause the battery to be drained unless you are, for example, driving all day in the car.

7.I'm concerned about sharing my contact and pet info with strangers.
Well, don't worry. Your personal and pet info are not viewable by anyone until you share it yourself. The only time someone will be able to see this info is when you issue a FurAlert and, in this sense, it's no different than putting up missing pet flyers. Once you retrieve your missing pet, your info is again hidden from view.

8.Can my pet be added to my dog walker’s profile?
Yes, in fact, anyone who has custody of your pet at any time should add your pet to their FurAlert profile. That includes family members, dog walkers, pet/babysitters, neighbors, etc. That way, if your pet gets out of their custody, they’ll be prepared to send a FurAlert about your pet in an emergency.

9.Can I use FurAlert if I don’t have a pet?
Yes. Even if you don’t have a pet, we invite you to join the FurAlert community. If you are a self–described “animal lover”, but don’t have one yourself (because your living situation doesn’t allow it or for some other reason), this if your chance to show your love for animals.

10.What if I’m afraid of dogs?
Would it be helpful to know when there’s a loose dog near you? If so, then download FurAlert. FurAlert was developed with the best interests of humans and animals in mind. Same goes for snakes, tarantulas, or domesticated llamas. We will not judge your phobias.

11.How does the Search Radius work?
FurAlert allows each user to set their own Search Radius. You tell us what you consider to be a reasonable distance based upon your own situation. For example, if you live in the city, it might be 1 mile. In the country, it might be 5 miles. Then we’ll tell you when there’s a pet missing within that proximity near you.

12.Can I report pets that I have found that aren’t reported missing via FurAlert?
No. This is not a feature that FurAlert currently has, but could be something we incorporate in the future.

13.Will FurAlert notify me when a missing pet is found?
Yes. If you receive a FurAlert about a missing pet, you will also receive a FurAlert if and when that pet is reported found or the search is otherwise called off. Everyone likes to hear when a reunion is made and we don't want good Samaritans continuing to search after a pet has been found.

The attached image was previously provided by Moorestown Police