New "PawdCast" Heralds Work of Animal Services Agencies & Shelters

In late March, 2010, Found Animals Foundation launched The PawdCast  -- a groundbreaking media initiative streamed live on the world-wide-web.

Since its inception in 2008, Found Animals has had great success in the Los Angeles/Southern California area by leveraging online media opportunities to help increase public awareness of the wonderful pets available at shelters, increase animal adoptions and lower euthanasia rates.

Now, hoping to bring their outreach model to a national and international audience, Found Animals in collaboration with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA), produce The PawdCast, an entertaining 30-minute live webcast from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PDT), Monday through Friday.  The webcast offers online viewers an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse of an animal care center to highlight the wide variety of great pets available for adoption, dispel myths about shelter animals, and provide a broad range of animal- and pet-centric entertainment.

The PawdCast features various segments including: 

• Hot Topics (Global animal news and related stories)
• Things Your Pets Want You To Know, and 
• Ask The Expert.

The PawdCast offers unbiased and well-researched information on useful products, retail promotions, and interesting must-haves. Finally and most importantly, The PawdCast highlight adoptable animals throughout each episode. 

“The PawdCast is a giant step forward for shelter pet awareness,” noted Aimee Gilbreath, Executive Director of Found Animals. “We not only inform and entertain listeners and viewers, but we’re giving deserving pets great exposure to prospective adopters, enabling their chances of finding a new, loving home.  When you combine this potential with the global reach of our webcasts, The PawdCast is poised to have an extensive and important impact.” she added.

To learn more about The PawdCast or about Found Animals, please contact Michael Gilman at (310) 574-5792 or e-mail michael@foundanimals.org.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Blogs About Dogs and Cats to Encourage Industry Collaboration

Did you know that in addition to this blog, PetLynx hosts three other blogs? Each one focuses on a specific target audience but all provide the latest news and information on developments that affect you in the day-to-day administration of your pet-related business or association.

We encourage you to check out any (or all!) of our blogs, subscribe to those of most interest to you and submit comments. Feel free to link to our blogs on your own site to deliver relevant content to your readers.

We believe that information sharing and industry collaboration are the missing pieces of the puzzle that will ultimately result in healthier communities for pets and people.

By continuously striving to increase pet registrations and add more community service providers, PetLynx™ is fulfilling its mandate to lessen the burden on animal shelters, rescue agencies and municipal agencies across Canada, while helping pets get back home… where they can be healthy, happy and safe.

Here's what PetLynx Blogs have to offer you:

HomeSafe™

Good news from people who help lost pets get HomeSafe™!

The HomeSafe™ blog provides pet families and community partners with lost and found pet-related stories of gratitude and inspiration, as well as general information related to lost and found pets, pet safety and how to better utilize the PetLynx utility. 

http://petlynxhomesafe.blogspot.com/

EZBits™

Tips and tools for creating a healthy community for pets and people

The EZBits™ blog is targeted to PetLynx™ Authorized Service Centers (ASCs), brand associates and community partners. In addition to providing tips and tools on how to better utilize the ShelterLynx™ and AnimalTRACS™ utilities, we also post information of general interest to the animal industry. We know you are all busy people, so we post stories with educational value for you to use in planning and program development or to share with your colleagues. http://petlynxezbits.blogspot.com/

Summit for Urban Animal Strategies™

Building healthy communities for pets and people and recognizing those who achieve success

The Summit™ blog is a forum for executive thought leaders to advance the state of the art in Urban Animal Strategies. In addition to providing news and information about upcoming National and Regional Summits, this blog provides insight into the North American Urban Animal Survey and other management-level information.

http://animalsummits.blogspot.com/

InfoStream™

Providing the companion animal industry with proven business services.

The InfoStream™ blog is targeted to our investors, industry partners and executive thought leaders. It provides updates on developments within PetLynx™ Corporation, including performance statistics, new partnerships, and other community collaboration milestones. http://petlynxinfostream.blogspot.com/

Humane News & Views from CFHS

Whether you are a member of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), are operating an animal-related service or facility... or you just like to keep on top of industry innovations and developments, here's a newsletter that will interest you!

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies publishes a monthly e-zine that will keep you well-informed about what is happening in the area of animal welfare in Canada. The January issue, for example, has information and updates on:

• Pet-friendly travel
• Regulations on owning exotic pets
• Haiti Disaster relief efforts
• IAMS Home for The Holidays helps 1.2 million pets

Check out the January newsletter at CFHS Hum@ne News.

Subscribe to the CFHS Humane News Newsletter

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

PetLynx™ = Increased IT Capabilities at Less Cost

When an animal shelter, municipality or other Authorized Service Provider (ASC) joins PetLynx™, they get an instant boost in IT power! 

The ShelterLynx™ and AnimalTRACS™ networks combine to help save you time – and money – on regular software upgrades, extra hardware and IT support. All that's needed is a computer, with the latest version of Microsoft Explorer (or an equivalent browser), plus access to the Internet, and you have a wealth of information at your fingertips. 

What’s the difference between PetLynx™ and an “in-house” software program? 
PetLynx™ is an ‘Application Service Provider’ (ASP). This means that you do not need to pay for or install updates using a CD or any other media. All upgrades to PetLynx™ programs are installed, configured and maintained by our IT experts on our 'server farm' that is located in a hardened and secure PetLynx™ server site. 

The PetLynx™ ASP model works dynamically across the Internet and provides the application within your browser, with no need for additional software on your system. The PetLynx™ Utility also delivers much greater functionality that most 'in-house' applications, while maintaining all of the security and data ownership you would expect to have with an in-house system. 

Want to know how your organization can become part of our nation-wide network?  
Contact us  

Community Automation for the Animal Services Industry

The benefits of Web-based applications versus in-house systems Private networks within large organizations, such as banks and manufacturers, have been using Web-based 'Application Service Providers' (ASPs) for many years. The pet industry, however, has been slower to adopt this this more advanced technology. Instead, many organizations rely on in-house systems, largely because they assume that adopting more advanced technologies is beyond their financial reach and technological capabilities. PetLynx™ bridges the gap! Our two shelter and animal management programs are ShelterLynx™ and Animal TRACS™. Both of these systems are easy to implement and use, reducing the need for extensive staff training and lowering the threshold of computer literacy required by staff and volunteers. PetLynx™ also allows public users to serve themselves with ease, which takes some of the pressure off staff. Advantages of Petlynx™ ASP web-based services:

• Easy to implement, operate and maintain
• Requires minimal client computer facilities and resources
• Holds data in a more secure environment
• Provides technical support and help capabilities, allowing local IT resources to be redeployed or eliminated
• Connects all users within a group or sub-group to the same data store without undermining security
• Can be access remotely, with appropriate user ID and passwords.

Want to know more? Check out our Q & A or contact PetLynx today!