Boulder, CO – Animal Help Now, a new free app created by a Boulder-based nonprofit, has rolled out nationally to provide immediate assistance to people who encounter an injured animal, animal in danger, or one posing a danger to humans. Like a 911 system for animals, the app connects people to veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, animal shelters, and other appropriate resources for wildlife-related emergencies.
Animal Help Now is the first reliable service a person can use to find quickly and easily locate appropriate assistance for the full range of animal-related emergencies. The app asks the user simple questions about the emergency, and uses the phone’s time and location data to respond with how to help, whom to call, or where to go. Animal Help Now is available 24/7 to connect users to the proper authority or resource, and can also be used when disaster strikes
“So many veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, animal shelters and volunteers care for animals every day, but in an emergency situation – especially outside of normal business hours – quickly finding the right help can be difficult,” said David Crawford, executive director of Animal Help Now. “Animal Help Now has the best, most reliable list of available shelters, veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators and cruelty investigators for the public to access and assist animals in need.”
Spring and summer are the busy seasons for animal-related emergencies as animals are more active, feeding and protecting their young. Thanks to increasing urbanization, even city dwellers must contend with wildlife issues. App users have saved the lives of thousands of squirrels, turtles, rabbits, pigeons, ducks, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, deer, bats, foxes, and many more.
The app includes a number of features to make helping animals easier and faster. An advance call feature allows the user to contact the veterinarian, shelter, or rehabilitator in advance; GPS-powered maps pinpoint locations, even of stranded marine animals, with incredible accuracy; users can send a photo of the animal in need and send it to the service provider to determine whether the animal needs assistance or can be left alone.
The app is available for iPhone and Android: Free AnimalHelpNow iPhone app (http://bit.ly/11mQ6HI) or Free AnimalHelpNow Android app (http://bit.ly/11jjkIU). A comprehensive website, http://www.animalhelpnow.org, also provides immediate assistance.
To support Animal Help Now’s crowdfunding campaign visit
http://www.loveanimals.org/wildlifeemergencyapp.html
About Animal Watch
Animal Help Now is a project of Animal Watch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping animals. Animal Watch relies heavily on volunteers and is financially supported by individual donations and foundations. For more information visit http://www.animalhelpnow.org.
