Facebook a pet-tracker

A NEW Facebook page - Missing Family Pets - is designed to help people put out the call that their pets are on the run.

Michelle Hetherington with her dog Hog. Hog was found in Raceview and has returned home. . Picture: Claudia Baxter

AFTER her five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier went missing Leichhardt resident Michelle Hetherington decided there needed to be a better way to search for her dog than nailing posters to telephone poles.

She started a Facebook page "Missing Family Pets" to help people put out the call that their pets had disappeared.

While the page started as simply a way to search for her dog Hog, it has quickly become a way for people to hear about missing pets and spread the word.

Since its launch, Missing Family Pets has seen people from across Ipswich posting photos and information about their lost pets.

"My dogs are more kids for me, they're part of my family," Ms Hetherington said.

Missing Family Pets attracted nearly 50 fans in a matter of days with the report of missing Hog joined by other lost and found animals.

The page has seen many people commenting on a rise in pets going missing in Raceview and near Springfield Lakes.

While Ms Hetherington was initially concerned Hog had been stolen she said she finally found him at the Ipswich pound.

He had been hit by a car, had a tyre track across his body and the pound staff initially told her they only had female dogs matching Hog's description.

Ms Hetherington said while she encouraged people to post their missing pets to the Facebook page, they should also keep checking local pounds.

Despite Hog's discovery Ms Hetherington's Facebook page has continued to grow with updates on missing pets continuing to be posted on the site.

The page can be found by searching for "Missing Family Pets" on Facebook.

Originally published as Facebook a pet-tracker