CHENNAI: Thanks to a 21-year-old from Chennai, smartphone users anywhere in India can now geo-tag lost or injured animals. Called AnimApp, the feature for Android users was launched in the city on Thursday. And its maker, a fresh-out-of college Sagar Sheth shares, "We had three rescues within 24 hours of it becoming available."
Here's the advantage for animal lovers in the city. Courtesy a collaboration with The Blue Cross of India - drivers working with the NGO's rescue team will instantly be intimated of the animal's location. "Think of it as an Ola for injured dogs and cats," Sagar explains with a grin. The app which has been registered under his social innovation startup Fuschia Giraffe works like this - once an animal that is lost or hurt is spotted, the person simply has to click a picture using the app that is automatically integrated to Google Maps. Except, the pin point arrow on this map, has a giant paw print!
The engineering grad from SRM University says he got the idea over a year ago when he found a puppy with an open head wound on his college campus and was distraught when a rescue team showed up an hour later, only to find the puppy missing. "I went to class and came back, and never saw that puppy again," Sagar recalls with a hint of regret.
Over a year later with two rescued cats of his own at home, the app also has been streamlined to cater to the severity of each case. "A user can click on a drop down menu that has indicators to determine how badly the animal is injured, and since there is no typing required it all takes less than five seconds," he adds.
Much like an app-based taxi service, the driver who views your request is fed details like distance to the rescue spot, directions and an estimated time of arrival. The best part is saved for last. Instead of the five stars to rate the driver's performance at the end, you get an update on the dog whose life you might have just saved - simply by taking the time to stop and 'AnimApp' for help.