Pet Map Quest

Austin's new interactive pet map helps community find missing cats and dogs

Most pet owners know the fear and frustration of losing a pet. Coming home to a gate left ajar or watching a pet scramble out an open door can set off a chain of events that leave owners racing around the neighborhood in search of their lost companion. Starting last week, the City of Austin is helping assuage those fears with a new initiative aimed at getting pets home as quickly as possible.

On July 3, the Austin Animal Center launched The Stray Map locater, a tool that lets owners search for their missing cat or dog using an interactive Google map. Dog got loose during the fireworks? Cat chased a bird down the street? Log on to the website and zoom in to find the locations of missing pets in your neighborhood. A pin tells users the general area the animal was found in, along with photos, a physical description and the date. The Stray Map also gives the animal's current shelter location, allowing owners to retrieve the missing pet as quickly as possible.

But the new tool does raise some questions. With photos readily available, how is the City of Austin ensuring that the correct pet gets to the proper home? Like with any stray, the person retrieving the animal must prove he or she is the owner. Veterinary records, immunization paperwork and even family photos are all things folks should bring in to claim their pet.

Though the database is currently set up just for strays that have made their way into city shelters, a spokesperson says that phase two of the project may allow citizens who find the animal to connect directly with the owner, ultimately saving time and resources — while easing fretful minds.

If your pup or kitty isn't showing up on the map, don't fret. Austin Animal Center updates its Twitter feed every half hour with a list of newly admitted strays. For even more safeguards, residents of Travis County can get a free microchip and ID tag for their pets by heading to the Austin Animal Services on weekdays between 11 am - 7 pm.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts