Pawsome idea! New ‘animal helper’ app to revolutionize animal healthcare and protection
A new app called Animal Helper is set to revolutionize animal healthcare and protection.
Dubbed “112 for animals”, the app aims to shorten response times for animals in dire need of emergency care whilst simultaneously helping to build a pro-animal society and furthering public awareness and sensitivity to quadrupeds in need.
Set to launch as a free app available on web browsers, IOS and Android platforms, the team behind the project have promised “a simple interface and intuitive menu” that will allow users to send a report, together with a photo or video, of the animal in need.
Set to launch as a free app available on web browsers, IOS and Android platforms, the team behind the project have promised “a simple interface and intuitive menu” that will allow users to send a report, together with a photo or video, of the animal in need.
Users will also be able to add descriptions and geo-tag themselves. The app’s simplicity, meanwhile, has been designed so as to make it understandable to all users, whether they be young or old.
The app will ultimately simplify the process of reporting an animal in need by centralising alerts.
The app will ultimately simplify the process of reporting an animal in need by centralising such alerts.
“In Poland, something like a 112 emergency number for animals is absent,” say the creators.
A crowdfunding campaign raised PLN 112,000 which enabled the team to acquire a property in Gdańsk that will serve as HQ. Currently being renovated, the office will be the nerve centre of Pomeranian operations where the app will debut.
“People don’t know where to call when they see an injured, sick, lost or starved animal – is it the municipality, the police, a vet or some foundation? We don’t want people to waste their time looking for the answer, as that time can be vital.”
Operating on similar principles to Provincial Emergency Notification Centres, the app will act as a single messaging system that will then notify the relevant services or charities.
According to Animal Helper, too many animals are failing to be rescued due to the Byzantine systems currently in place.
“What’s more, operators will oversee and monitor cases from start to finish,” say the team. “That way, those making the first report will be able to track what is happening.”
According to Animal Helper, too many animals are failing to be rescued due to the Byzantine systems currently in place. “Inhumane treatment is most often being reported by email, telephone or, even, social media. Many reports aren’t even being made because people don’t know who to turn to,” they say.
Beyond basic reporting and case tracking capabilities, the app will also boast a contacts database as well as an advisory section relating to legal and veterinary questions as well as first aid tips.
Beyond basic reporting and case tracking capabilities, the app will also boast a contacts database as well as an advisory section relating to legal and veterinary questions as well as first aid tips.
A long time in the pipeline, the project was the brainchild of the popular standup comic Adam Bendler, animal welfare crusader Pawel Gebert, and producer Maciej Wilk.
Thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign that saw PLN 112,000 raised from a target total of PLN 105,000, the team were able to acquire a property in Gdańsk that will serve as HQ.
Operating on similar principles to Provincial Emergency Notification Centres, the app will act as a single messaging system that will then notify the relevant services or charities.
Currently being renovated, the office will be the nerve centre of Pomeranian operations where the app will debut. After, the Animal Helper team hope to roll-out the app to cover the rest of the country.
“As we are a charity, due to our limited resources, all this is not happening as quickly as we would like, but we are proud and happy to say that we are getting closer,” says Magdalena Matelska.
“When each of the elements is ready, then we will start first in Pomerania before expanding our activities to other voivodeships until the covers the entire country.”
Although progress has at times proceeded slowly, the team now say the final strait is in sight.
“In recent months our programmers have implemented corrections that came from the first bout of testing,” says Matlaska.
“The app is nearly finished and now the same testers are checking if everything works while developers work on implementing additional modules that will improve the operation of the app.”
