BAKERSFIELD, CA. — Kern County Animal Services is implementing a new program intended to help reunite animal owners with their lost pets. The service is available right now to animal owners who’ve lost their pet by texting the word “Lost” to 555888. Pet owners will begin receiving text messages immediately that will recommend step-by-step actions that can greatly increase the chances of finding lost pets.

“When people lose an animal it’s like losing a family member and it’s hard to determine what the next steps are," Nick Cullen, Kern County Animal Services.

Kilo, a red nose Pitbull, has been missing from Southwest Bakersfield since Sunday. His owners have used the texting service to register their lost pet and receive a list of shelters where they can look for him.

Approximately 750 pets were returned to their owners in 2019. Compare that to over 5,000 pets adopted into new homes, over 2,800 rescued by non-profits, and almost 1,500 trapped, neutered and returned, and you begin to see a great need to help those who have lost their pets, to find them.

This service will help pet owners by walking them through steps that have been proven to be successful in reuniting owners with lost animals.Once an animal owner opts in to the service, they will immediately begin receiving periodic text messages that include links to:

· KCAS’ shelter pets

· Other local animal shelter pets

· Facebook and Craigslist lost and found pet pages

· YouTube videos that illustrate best steps to take to find a lost dog or cat

· Microchip registries

To find your pet or help find your neighbor's pet, like Kilo, visit the Kern County Animal Services 'lost and found' page.