Here on the mainland United States, domestic animals are usually kept indoors, fenced in, or on a leash while being walked. should one of our quadruped friends get out, panic fills us and we go into our own "hunt" mode. It becomes the humans who feel 'lost' and out go the posters of LOST CAT or DOG or HAVE YOU SEEN SNUGGLES, LULU OR PUDDIN?? Such was the episode just last Christmas with Coki the cat. A sturdy 16 pound feline who is named after the beach he was found on as a kitten. Coki Beach is on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands where my brothers and I were born and raised. Most of the animals there live an indoor/outdoor lifestyle and never stray far from the property. Here in the states, being kept in by regulations, we fear they will lose their way if left alone outdoors.

I had my own notions about that however. While in transition of moving from the V.I. to the Washington D.C. area , my oldest brother Chris and Coki stayed at our house in Bradenton, Florida, during the holidays. After day number two, I thought the tough guy was getting stir crazy. While his daddy was off visiting friends for a few days in California, I decided to let the cat outside at night. Of course he didn't come back right away, there would be no story if he did. I will admit to being more afraid of what my brother was going to do to me than what would happen to the cat, while my other brother, Kevin, had visions of Coki instinctively heading South, trying get back to the home he grew up in.  When my brother got back, he admitted he was not really afraid of what would happen to the cat but more afraid someone would nab him. Coki is a Russian Blue, a distinct breed feline with green eyes and deep gray coat that appears to have a blue hue to it. They are often bred and sold starting at $300. Luckily, Kevin had the digital camera in operation for holiday photos and Coki had a few portraits of his own. Crisp clean shots of the cat, doing what cats do best, laying around, full body side shots and straight on shots.

We printed the best shots and created posters and index cards with the details, along with contact information. We rode on bikes for hours putting them up in the whole area. I mean HOURS. Two and a half mornings later, the dumbhead showed up. Yeah, up on the roof, but never the less, showed up, it had been cold and raining, so I guess he decided he was no longer having fun and it was time to come home.

The entire ordeal made my brother Kevin realize that, with all the technology available today (he had recently graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a degree in Computer Science), there must be a way to take advantage of it and use it to help in a situation like this. What has resulted, is the Lost and Found Pet Network. After calming down, retrospect of worry and urgency led to a solution. A  network of member volunteers, stretching out in a ten mile radius, from where the pet was last seen, standing by to be additional eyes and ears who can watch out for your lost pet. Not only will the animal’s photo and written description be shown, but indicated as found if and when the time comes. All too often the posters are not really noticed, whether near mailboxes, in a grocery store or on a telephone pole, these handmade 8 1/2 by 11 posters generally go in one eye and out the other. They tend to make us feel better, but how effective are they really?

In our times of instant communication via the computer, the internet is not only faster, but will reach more "eyes" with a digitally clear picture instead of a photocopy distortion of size and color, that you must commit to memory. In my mind, reaching younger children, who tend to want to 'help look' can also speed the process.

The Lost and Found Pet Network, created by the mind of a former Navy man, is designed to keep pets safe. With the click of a button, an email, containing a link to the Lost Pet Announcement, is sent to member volunteers within a 10 mile radius of where the pet was last seen. The web site acts as a middle man as helpers and viewers report and post on it. This keeps personal information private, addresses, phone number and names away from potential danger. For more information or to sign up to become a Lost and Found Pet Network volunteer, go to www.sellit-again.com .