The NetPosse Pin Map: Database for Missing Horses

The NetPosse Pin Map: A Digital Database for Missing and Stolen Horses

The purpose of the Stolen Horse International (SHI) pin map is to serve as a publicly searchable database and visualization tool for all reported cases of missing, lost, or stolen horses and other livestock in the USA (and beyond). This tool is a key part of the organization's "NetPosse Alert" system, functioning like an Amber Alert for equines. 

The map achieves the following:

• Rapid Dissemination of Information: It helps quickly spread information about a missing animal to a wide network of volunteers, law enforcement, social media followers, and the general public.
• Increased Public Awareness: By visually pinpointing incidents, the map increases public awareness of active cases and the overall epidemic of horse theft and loss, which encourages people to be on the lookout.
• Facilitating Search and Recovery Efforts: The map allows users to sort and search for cases by location (e.g., zip codes or regional circles), which helps concentrate search efforts in specific geographic areas where a horse might have gone missing or been sighted.
• Enhanced Online Visibility: The data on the map and the associated reports are indexed by search engines, ensuring that information about a missing horse can be found even years after the initial incident.
• Deterrence and Prevention: The visible network of cases helps deter potential thieves, as the public is trained to recognize the "branded" alerts, making stolen horses more difficult to sell.
• Education and Resource Provision: It serves as an educational tool, demonstrating the scope of the problem and the importance of proactive identification methods (like the NetPosse ID registry) and preventative measures to horse owners. 

Key ways the map and associated NetPosse system target theft:

• Disrupting the Sale/Slaughter Market: Pinpointing the location of a theft alerts local horse markets, auction houses, and potential buyers in that region that the specific horse is stolen property. This makes stolen horses "too hot to handle" and difficult for thieves to sell without being caught.
• Aiding Law Enforcement: The reports generated from the map provide critical information (photos, unique IDs like microchips/brands, detailed descriptions, and location data) to law enforcement, who may lack specific equine expertise. This information is crucial for proving ownership, a common challenge in theft cases.
• Generating Focused Community Leads: Thieves often transport stolen horses across county or state lines. The map's ability to sort cases by region and zip code allows volunteers and law enforcement to focus their search efforts and share information in the new areas where the horse might appear, not just where it was taken.
• Enhanced Online Visibility for Investigations: Unlike a general "lost pet" post, the map entries and associated "NetPosse Alerts" are highly indexed by search engines. This means that if a potential buyer, rescuer, or law enforcement officer searches for the horse's details (e.g., markings, microchip ID) years later, the theft report will still be highly visible, increasing the long-term recovery chances.
• Precise Classification: The system clearly distinguishes between "stolen" cases (which require a police report number for an official NetPosse Alert) and "lost" cases (such as those due to natural disasters), enabling distinct search strategies and legal assistance pathways. 

Ultimately, the map leverages community involvement and digital technology to maximize the chances of reuniting missing horses with their owners. You can find more information about their efforts and view the alerts on the NetPosse website.