Animal Help Now
Animal Help Now is a US nonprofit organization that assists people with wildlife emergencies and “nuisance” wildlife issues through a 911–type system on its website and smartphone apps.[1] Users are directed to local wildlife rehabilitators and other wildlife experts.[2] The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization was founded in Colorado in 2011 under the name Animal Watch. The organization’s services cover the entire United States.[3]
| Abbreviation | AHNow |
| Website | ahnow.org |
| Formation | 2009 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Boulder, CO |
Services[edit]
Animal Help Now (AHNow) connects people who are experiencing a wildlife emergency or “nuisance” wildlife issue (or wildlife conflict) with appropriate local assistance,[4] which is determined based on the user's answers to questions about the situation and the user's location.[5] The assistance available includes licensed wildlife rehabilitators, regional wildlife rescues and hotlines, and veterinarians. These services are available across the United States.[6] The iPhone and Android apps can be used without cell service or Internet access.[7] AHNow also provides educational information on mitigating threats to wildlife.
History[edit]
In September 2011, AHNow debuted the first edition of its website (www.ahnow.org), which served Colorado and was optimized for mobile devices. The organization launched its iPhone app in March 2012, followed by the launch of the Android app in May 2012, at which time the organization also launched a desktop/laptop-optimized edition of the website. In March 2013, Animal Help Now expanded its service area to include Texas. The app covered wildlife emergencies, and it also provided users with access to nearby veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and law enforcement agencies (to report abuse and neglect).
AHNow expanded nationwide in June 2014, providing the US public access to wildlife rehabilitators, hotlines, rescues (including coverage of US coasts for marine animal emergencies), and veterinarians who treat wildlife, while maintaining its domestic animal support in Colorado and Texas.
In 2017 Animal Help Now discontinued its domestic animal service. AHNow’s apps and website now feature a library of FAQs and guidance on seeking assistance with domestic animal issues.
In January 2018, Animal Help Now expanded services for people who are experiencing conflicts with wildlife, which are sometimes referred to as “nuisance” wildlife issues. This functionality assists people with such conflicts to find humane wildlife conflict operators and consultants.[8]
Impact and Accomplishments[edit]
Animal Help Now operates the first software app in the United States that refers people who need assistance with a wildlife emergency to people who can provide such assistance. Animal Help Now’s usage has increased each year since its inception. The app is estimated to be resident on 15,000 devices.[9]
Both the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association direct users on their websites to Animal Help Now. Organizations such as the Dallas/Fort Worth Wildlife Coalition Hotline regularly use AHNow’s program to assist callers, as do numerous rehabilitation centers and veterinary clinics. In 2019, AHNow’s wildlife emergency service was accessed approximately 80,000 times.[9]
Social Media[edit]
- Facebook: @AnimalHelpNow
- Instagram: @AnimalHelpNowApp
- Twitter: @AnimalHelpNow
- YouTube
- Flickr
References[edit]
- ↑ "About Animal Help Now". Animal Help Now. Retrieved September 25, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lanier, Karen (2016). Wildlife in Your Garden: Planting and Landscaping to Create a Backyard Sanctuary. Fox Chapel Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 9781620082577. Search this book on
- ↑ Guarino, Ben (January 15, 2015). "12 Smartphone Apps Every Animal Lover Should Have". The Dodo. Retrieved September 25, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ D'Alessandro, Nicole (June 24, 2014). "Want to Help a Hurt or Stranded Animal? There's an App for That". EcoWatch. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Estabrook, Rachel (April 21, 2014). "Coloradans develop app to help lost cats, stray ducklings". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved December 18, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kallenbach, Laurel (November 3, 2017). "911 for Animals" (PDF). Wild Hope. 4: 22–27 – via Animal Help Now.
- ↑ Brady, Jeff (March 29, 2012). "Using An App To Report Injured Wildlife". National Public Radio. Retrieved December 17, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Animal Help Now History". Animal Help Now. Retrieved September 25, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 "2019 Year in Review". Animal Help Now. Unknown parameter
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