Pet identification system and method

Abstract

A system and method for identification and retrieval of lost pets such as dogs. The system includes methods to obtain accurate noseprints either by chemical transfer system or with closeup photography for entry into a database. The system assigns locations where noseprints are acquired with an account number which in turn automatically assign an identification number to a dog when registered. Data relating to and including the noseprint, a photograph, description, and information regarding the owner are transferred to a central database optionally from pet shops by E-Mail or by giving all photos and registration forms to a dog owner who then fills out forms and sends all materials to central office via mail. The system includes a program to automatically assign an account number to a pet shop or store and an identification number for the dog. The program includes photograph enhancing software as well as pattern recognition software to identify a lost dog via the noseprint. To recover a lost dog, the system is scanned either by identification number, if known, or by using the pattern recognition software to compare a noseprint of a found dog with those in the noseprint database to identify and locate the owner of the pet. If a match is achieved by an identification number or by pattern recognition of noseprints, the owner is notified and the lost dog can be retrieved.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pet identification method comprising; 
 acquiring a noseprint of said pet;    taking a photograph of said pet;    collecting identifying data about said pet;    entering said noseprint, said photograph and data into a database;    assigning an identification number to said pet;    whereby a lost pet can be identified by retrieving data or said noseprint from said database.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  in which said pet is a dog.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  in which said step of acquiring a noseprint of said pet comprises; taking a closeup photograph of a pet's nose with a closeup camera.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  in which said closeup camera takes photographs at a 3× to 5× magnification.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2  in which said step of acquiring a noseprint comprises; applying a porous pad having a marking composition to said pet's nose; applying a fibrous substrate impregnator with a developer to said pet's nose and a disposable ink applicator whereby the ink is on the opposite side of the inked frame and never comes in contact with dogs nose but is pressed lightly against the disposable ink film and impression of noseprint clearly is applied to paper attachment to the ink side which is registration form for the dog's noseprint.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2  in which said step of acquiring a noseprint comprises; forming a flexible pad having ink on one side and a printable material on a second side; 
 whereby when said flexible pad is pressed against a dog's nose a print is created on said printable material.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  in which said flexible pad comprises; a flexible plastic attached to a window on said one side, an interior surface of said flexible window coated with an indelible ink.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  in which said printable material comprises a registration form having an area for said noseprint and areas for entering data about said dog.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  in which said registration form has fields for applying said noseprint and fields for printing the animalls name, type, license number, breed, color, and sex.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  including printing and identification card for an owner.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  in which said printed identification card is printed with a description of the animal, color, breed, weight, sex, name of owner, photograph of animal, identification number, and noseprint.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  including searching said database; said search through said database comprising; 
 pattern matching a lost pet's noseprint with a noseprint in said database.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  including producing lost pet notices regarding whether a match is found in said database; transmitting said notices to locations where a lost pet may be kept.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  including receiving a form with information regarding a lost pet; entering data regarding said lost pet into said database system; searching said database for data corresponding to information on said form; producing lost pet notices from the data found in the database search; transmitting the lost pet notices to locations where a lost pet may be fond.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  including searching said database for a corresponding dog identification and owner name.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  including searching said database for a corresponding noseprint to identify said lost pet.