animal tales
a special advertising section of the bermuda sun
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May 31, 2013
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page 29
n image courtesy of Libby cook-toppan
sharing: Libby Cook-Toppan’s ‘Bermuda Lost & Found Pets’ Facebook page, above, has attracted more than 500 followers in less than two months, to help find lost animals.
How social media is reuniting pets with their families By Amanda Dale adale@bermudasun.bm
A Facebook page set up to reunite lost pets with their owners in Bermuda has attracted more than 500 followers in less than two months. Already the social media site is helping to find missing animals and return them to their families. Libby Cook-Toppan, a pet owner who set up the Facebook page, said she believes it has a 50 per cent success rate.
Overwhelmed
And she said the more people who join, the more successful it will become. Mrs Cook-Toppan, a beverage marketing manager at Dunkley’s Diary and a graphic designer and photographer, specializes in social media. She manages Facebook pages for various organizations including BFAB (Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau). Mrs Cook-Toppan said: “Someone approached us
at BFAB about a lost cat The Facebook page but the charity is no longer ‘Bermuda Lost & Found involved in finding lost Pets’ was set up on April 2. pets, so it was a case of, “It provides a central ‘Well, why don’t I do it?’. connection for residents of A friend then encouraged Bermuda who have lost or me and so I set up the Facefound pets,” said Mrs Cookbook page. Toppan. “It is purely dedicated “Though the picture on to lost and found pets, and the header depicts a cat and it’s been quite amazing a dog, the page is for any just how many people have pets. For example, there joined in such a are currently two short space of time. lovebirds on the “We’ve had more page, one lost and than 500 people ‘like’ one found. the page in less than “Users are two months. I’ve encouraged to feel been overwhelmed free to post and at the response.” share informaAs of yesterday, cook-toppan tion about lost and the page had 542 found pets. You ‘likes’, or Facebook never know who followers. might see the post and Mrs Cook-Toppan said: recognize the pet.” “The more people who Mrs Cook-Toppan also like the page, the more creates mini-posters with reach people’s posts will a photo and the details of a have, and the greater the missing animal, to share on chance that someone may the social media site. know something that could “The mini-posters seem reunite a pet with their to be more easily shared family. and therefore get more “The ultimate goal is attention. I did one for a to have as many ‘likes’ as dog which was shared 102 possible.” times and seen by 6,341
‘I have lost pets in the past and it has been traumatic. The worst part was not knowing what had happened to them... ’ libby cook-toppan Bermuda Lost & Found Pets
people, which is incredible,” she said. Unfortunately D’zoro, whose poster accompanies this article, has not yet been found. Although ‘Bermuda Lost & Found Pets’ is non-profit, Mrs Cook-Toppan said she hopes to attract sponsors. “There is Facebook advertising available for the mini-posters about a lost animal. It’s not expensive — for $50, a pet’s poster can be seen by more than 8,000 people. “Facebook can inform the sponsor of the number
of people who have viewed the ad.” She said there are up to 30,000 registered Facebook users aged over-13 in Bermuda. “The Facebook page is such a simple way to help people,” she said. “All you have to do is share a post on your own Facebook page. It will then feed into your news feed and be seen by your friends. “If I was to share a post appealing for information about a missing pet, I have 800 friends who have a
chance of seeing it.” So far, the Facebook page has helped to reunite six dogs and cats with their owners that Mrs CookToppan has been told about. She said: “There is probably more who have been found through the page, which I haven’t been told about. “Whenever I hear about a pet being found I move any mini-posters into the ‘Found — Good News album’. This then shows up automatically wherever the post has been shared, so users can see that the pet has been found. “I will also hide posts on the Facebook page so people are no longer looking for the animal.” Mrs Cook-Toppan said: “The feedback from the site has been fantastic. People think it’s a great idea and are really grateful there is a dedicated place to go for lost and found pets. “I think a lot of people in the commnity care when it See missing pets, page 30