At Wireless Economics, we spend a lot of our time thinking about technology, connectivity and the ways in which people and devices can work together more effectively.
But sometimes, the most rewarding projects are the ones that have a much more personal purpose.
That's the thinking behind Sniff & Found, a free, community-powered app created to help reunite lost pets with their families.
And we're delighted to share that Sniff & Found is now officially a registered charity.
For us, this is particularly meaningful because members of the Wireless Economics team are also part of the small volunteer team behind Sniff & Found, helping to run and develop the charity alongside a wider group of volunteers.
“Sniff & Found is a project that demonstrates what can happen when technology, community and a genuine desire to make a difference come together. As a small team, we're incredibly proud to be involved in helping build something that has the potential to make a real difference to people and their pets.” Kevin, Wireless Economics
A simple idea with a big ambition
The idea behind Sniff & Found is remarkably simple.
When a pet goes missing, the chances of finding them can depend on how quickly people nearby know what's happened.
A neighbour might spot them.
A dog walker might recognise them.
Someone driving home might see a sighting alert.
Another person might be able to join the search.
Individually, these people may not be able to do much. Connected together, they can become a powerful search network.
That's what Sniff & Found is designed to facilitate.
The app allows people to share lost and found pets, report sightings, alert people nearby and coordinate searches - bringing information and people together when it matters most.
It's technology designed to make community action easier.
Technology with a human purpose
Sniff & Found isn't intended to replace the community response to a lost pet. Quite the opposite.
It is designed to make that response faster, more organised and more effective.
The concept is similar to the way modern navigation technology relies on people contributing information to create a better experience for everyone.
With Sniff & Found, a sighting can become a lead.
A lead can become a search.
And a search can become a reunion.
The technology simply helps connect the people who can make those things happen.
Why becoming a registered charity matters
Becoming a registered charity is an important step forward.
It gives Sniff & Found a stronger foundation from which to grow the network, build awareness and reach more communities.
It also means the organisation can seek charitable funding and donations to support the development and running of the platform.
While keeping the app free for the people who need it.
As the Sniff & Found team puts it:
“When a pet goes missing, the last thing anyone should worry about is cost.”
There are no subscriptions, no in-app purchases and no requirement for specialist equipment.
The ambition is to keep it that way.
Built by a small team with a big commitment
One of the things that makes Sniff & Found particularly special is that it hasn't been built by a large commercial organisation with a huge marketing budget.
It's being developed and supported by a relatively small team of people who have volunteered their time, expertise and experience because they believe in the idea.
The team brings together experience across technology, engineering, digital, design, marketing, animal welfare, finance and governance.
That combination of expertise has allowed the project to develop from a simple idea into a functioning global platform and, now, a registered charity.
For those of us involved through Wireless Economics, it's a particularly rewarding example of how technology can be used for something genuinely positive.
The challenge now is reaching people
Getting the technology built is only part of the challenge.
For Sniff & Found to work at its best, it needs people.
Lots of people.
The more users there are in an area, the more likely it is that someone will be nearby when a pet goes missing.
That's why growing the community is now such an important priority.
And importantly, you don't need to own a pet to be part of it.
You could be a dog walker, a runner, a cyclist, a commuter, a neighbour - or simply someone who cares enough to stop and help.
Every additional person creates another potential pair of eyes.
Free to use. Powered by people.
Sniff & Found is built around a simple principle:
Pets get lost. Communities find them.
The technology helps bring those communities together.
The charity helps ensure that access to that network isn't restricted by cost.
And the people who use, share and support Sniff & Found are what ultimately make the whole thing work.
That's why becoming a registered charity isn't the end of the story.
It's the start of the next chapter.
How you can help
There are several simple ways to support Sniff & Found:
Download the app and become part of the network.
Tell other people about it - particularly friends, family, dog walkers, pet sitters and local pet communities.
Share Sniff & Found on social media to help build awareness.
And, if you are able to, make a donation to help the charity grow the network and keep the app free.
Every new user strengthens the community.
Every share helps us reach someone new.
And every donation helps us continue building the technology and awareness needed to give more lost pets a better chance of getting home.
A small team. A big community. A simple mission.
We're incredibly proud of what the Sniff & Found team has built so far.
But the real test of the idea will be how many people choose to become part of it.
Because when a pet goes missing, you never know who might be the person who spots them.
And you never know which small action might ultimately lead them home.
Sniff & Found is free to download, free to use and now officially a registered charity.
Registered Charity Number: 1214896