AWOL-PETS

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

Animal Web Online Locator of Pets (AWOL-Pets) is a new dual module software system written in-house by Gaston County Information Technology. They system displays data concerning animals in the Animal Shelter’s kennel with photos, real time up-to-date 24 hours a day, seven days a week via Internet. The public can now search online for adoptable, missing, or lost pets in the comfort of their homes. When an animal is ‘Available for Adoption’, photos and other descriptive information immediately appear on the website for potential pet owners to see. After an animal adoption occurs, staff changes the animal status to ‘Adopted’ in the core, and it automatically disappears from the website. The public can also use the website to search for lost or missing pets. Any animal entered into the system with the “non-adopt” status automatically appears on the website. The instantly updated information available on the web reduces the call volume and face-to-face encounters for the Animal Control department staff and at the same time gives the public valuable information about the kennel population.