ASC Frequently Asked Questions

The application service provider model has actually been in existence for quite some time, however, it was primarily used over the private networks of large organizations such as financial institutions and manufacturers who needed to support many 'thin clients' in diverse environments across the entire organization. The emergence of the internet as a useful 'public network' has allowed this model of serving up a software application to become far more pervasive in our communities. Each of us use an ASP application many times in our weekly or monthly experience whether it is to purchase something using a POS system, obtain cash using an ATM or pay a bill over the internet or phone. To some degree, the fact that the pet industry was not an early adopter of the first wave of technical offerings will be an advantage. In fact the industry can now leap-frog over other less satisfying technologies and adopt the ASP model which is truly an elegant solution for this time and place in history. Here below we have provided some key information:

How it works:
Software applications that use your 'in house' computer system are generally delivered to the system using a CD or other media which is installed, configured and maintained by your IT expert. Each time you choose the application from your desktop it loads and accesses the data you have 'in-house'. The PetLynx™ ASP model works dynamically across the internet and provides the application within your browser with no need for software on your system other than the current version of Microsoft Explorer or an equivalent browser. Each time you access the PetLynx™ Utility your computer is actually connecting to a 'server farm' in a hardened PetLynx™ site that supports your enterprise activities and allows you to use shared resources that are amortized over a much larger group of users. The PetLynx™ Utility also delivers much greater functionality than most applications designed to be used by 'in house' systems while maintaining all the security and data ownership you would have with your 'in house' system. Finally, because the PetLynx™ Utility works across the internet, you will be able to access your system from any internet connection at home or on the road as long as you have your user name and password.

Why it may be better for you: There are many reasons why the PetLynx™ ASP model works better for clients ranging in size from individual users to very large multi-branch installations. Among those most important are these:

• PetLynx™ is cheaper to install, implement, operate and maintain.
• PetLynx™ requires less local client computer facilities and electronic resources.
• PetLynx™ data is held in a more secure and robust environment than local systems.
• PetLynx™ works like a browser. This ease of use reduces staff training time and lowers the threshold of computer literacy required by staff to access system functionality and allows public users to serve themselves with ease.
• PetLynx™ makes the local system functionality available to offsite users such as volunteers and managers who need to be able to access the system remotely.
• PetLynx™ automatically provides selected information to the "Public User" which usually off-loads administrative and staff loading within the local enterprise.
• PetLynx™ provides technical support and help capabilities which allows local IT resources to be redeployed or eliminated.
• PetLynx™ updates occur frequently, automatically and without additional costs to implement or configure.
• PetLynx™ connects all users within a group or sub-group to the same data store without undermining the security of these independent operations.

Here are just a few reasons you should automate with the PetLynx system:

• Only PetLynx can AutoMatch™ a pet using a simple physical description when there's no identification and works even if the pet was not registered online prior to becoming lost
• PetLynx is a proven tool to increase missing pet recovery rates
• It decreases the administrative workload of lost /found departments of communities, shelters and rescue groups
• PetLynx creates more responsible pet families by giving them online tools to help in recovering their pet.
• The system allows for instant online communication between all community members regardless of where or when the pet was found

In an automated community PetLynx can increase success by:

• Increasing pet recoveries
• Decreasing unidentified stray animals
• Decreasing euthanasia rates
• Quickly returning stray pets home
• Providing immediate online sharing among all community stakeholders

1. Complete a Pet Owner Search to make sure the owner doesn't already have a PetLynx profile.  Type in the pet family's name using an asterisk * as a wildcard operator if the correct spelling is unknown as this will broaden your search.
2. If the desired owner isn't in the system create a PetLynx profile for them.  You will be prompted to print sign on instructions for the pet family which includes their system username and password. Stress to the family the importance of logging in to become familiar with the site prior to an emergency and that it is their sole responsibility to keep their contact and pet information current.
   

   Time Saving Tip If you know a pet owner is coming in to adopt have them pre-register and set up their own profile at www.petlynx.net prior to arriving and then when they adopt you can simply search for the pet owner and add the pet to their profile.  You could also consider providing a computer kiosk at your facility to allow pet families to register themselves right on site.  Encouraging pet families to enter their own information in this manner will reduce your staff/volunteer data entry workloads and will encourage the pet family to become responsible for their own pet information.

1. Check with your internal policies and see if you are mandated to take lost reports.  We recommend you politely encouraging the pet family to login at www.petlynx.net and place their own PetLynx lost report.  It is the responsibility of the pet owner, not your organization, to recover the pet. 
2. If the client cannot complete the report themselves complete a Pet Owner Search.  If you locate the owner open their profile or else create one for them if one does not exist.
3. Click I've Lost a Pet and follow the instructions to file the report in the system.
   

   Important If you do create a lost report for a client it is VERY important to stress the responsibility of the pet family to follow up on AutoMatch™ notifications, using the signin you created for them, to determine if a match is their pet or not. However since they must follow up on their own notifications, it makes the most sense for them to enter the lost report in the first place.

• The '*' wildcard operator represents any sequence of characters and can be used to search for a partial match on identifiers. For instance, to see all the tattoos that start with NA type NA* into the Tattoo box.
• The '?' wildcard operator represents a single character and can be used to search for a partial match on identifiers.  For instance, entering a tattoo value of 'T?P366' will match any tattoo that has 'T' as the first character, any character as the second character and 'P366' as the third through sixth characters.  So 'T?P366' would match with 'T3P366', 'TTT366' and 'TRT366' but not with 'TREP366' (since there are two characters between the 'T' and 'P' and the search string specifies one) or 'TPP3668' (since there is a seventh character at the end of the string).
• You can use the '?' and ''* wildcards in combination to partially match on identifiers.  So entering 'M?P3*' in the Tattoo box will match any tattoo where the first character is 'M', the second character is any character, the third and fourth characters are 'P3', and there are zero or more other characters following it.
• Searches are not case-sensitive, so entering either 'AAA123' or 'aaa123' in the Tattoo box will match to an animal entered into the system with 'AAA123'.
• Search for only one identifier at a time. This reduces the chances of missing a match.
• When searching microchips some may have leading zeros which may or may not be recorded in the database. This occurs most often in Allflex microchips, their numbers begin 0982 but often are inputted as only 982. Ensure that all searches are completed twice with both options.
• Always search All Species in order to avoid misses such as in the case where the wrong tag has been placed on an animal.

1. Click on Report a Found Pet
2. Select the found report that you wish to delete
3. Click Delete Found Report and follow the instructions for finalizing the deletion
   

   Important Check your internal policies to confirm the appropriate timing for deletion - it is important to keep your information and reports current.

Refer to your internal policies.  By posting all pets admitted on PetLynx you are able to help the pet family look for the pet without entering your kennel - increasing biosecurity, animal comfort and reducing the demands on staff time.

It is in the pet family's best interest to first post a lost report on PetLynx at www.petlynx.net in case it is at another ASC, such as a vet clinic, or at a neighbour's house.  By posting a PetLynx lost report the pet family is notified of any potential matches from anywhere in the community or across the country.

It is helpful to include the following:

1. A link to www.petlynx.net to allow your clients easy access to the utility.
2. Information to reinforce that it is the responsibility of the pet family to post lost reports, keep information current, and to check AutoMatch™ and  verify any potential matches.