A new initiative is employing technology to link Italian volunteers to animals in need. A program running from 23rd of July to 4th of September is asking motorists to report abandoned animals that they spot on the side of the road using a simple SMS text message.
Headed by the Italian Association for the Protection of Animals and the Environment (Italian acronym- AIDA), the effort sends reports of abandoned pets out to a network of over 1000 volunteers.
Drivers who spot a needy pooch are asked to pullover at the nearest safe parking area and send a SMS to 334.1051030 (specifying the location, time, breed of dog and direction of travel).
The message is then relayed to volunteers in the area who will intervene to rescue the dog.
In 2010, the project rescued 613 dogs thanks to 2,100 reported sightings. 167 of the lost pups were returned to their rightful owners thanks to microchips.
