Mohawk Hudson Humane using facial recognition tech for dogs
The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society announced today that it's now using facial recognition technology as part of its efforts to reunite missing dogs and their owners. Specifically, the org is using a mobile app/service called Finding Rover. Press release blurbage:
Beginning November 11, 2015, all dogs entering Mohawk Hudson Humane Society will be registered on Finding Rover. When a dog is registered on Finding Rover, he or she is protected with revolutionary facial recognition technology. This 98% accurate, photo-matching technology is FREE and available for anyone to use on a smartphone or computer. Every dog that leaves the Humane Society, through a reunion or an adoption, can remain protected on Finding Rover when the pet-parent completes registration with an email. If that dog ever gets lost, his or her record will already be in the system, and identifying that pet will be a snap.
The service works in the other direction, too. You can download the app, scan a picture of your dog, and then if the dog is found by someone using the service -- Mohawk Hudson Humane, for example -- the dog can be identified.
The app is available for both iOS and Android.
We were curious about the background on Finding Rover and this NPR article filled in some of the details -- among them, how the company makes money. "For now, Finding Rover relies on investors for funding, but [founder John] Polimeno expects advertising in the app's social network for pet owners will pick up soon."
screenshots from Finding Rover iTunes store page
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Comments
I would hope the MHHS is going to extend this technology/service to ALL pets adopted or reunited via the Human Society. Seems rather canine-centric at the moment, and a quick scan of Craigslist reveals that a lot more cats go missing than dogs. The service is a great idea, but show a little love for the felines as well.
... said -R. on Nov 11, 2015 at 11:17 AM | link
@-R Sure, but the cat owners could help if they kept Puss 'n Boots inside as strictly an indoor house cat. Allowing a cat to be an indoor/outdoor cat is an invitation to have it go missing.
... said chrisck on Nov 11, 2015 at 2:33 PM | link
Our dog Sadie was lost by our pet sitter 3 months ago and I signed up for the service last night. So far I can't say I am very impressed. My dog is a Havanese (looks like a Lhasa Apso) but it was facial matching her with pit bulls. I don't think it's a bad thing to sign up for but I don't think it is working accurately enough to fully rely on it if your animal is missing. Microchipping is still your best bet for being reunited.
... said Chrissy on Nov 12, 2015 at 9:15 AM | link