Lost Pets Reunited with AI: 250,000 Families Reconnected
After enduring months of worry, Sweetie—a 13-year-old dog—has finally been reunited with her devoted family, who never gave up hope. She was discovered 33 miles from home, becoming one of 250,000 missing pets brought back to their families through Petco Love Lost.
To mark this achievement, national nonprofit Petco Love is spotlighting its free, nationwide lost-and-found pet database. It is the largest of its kind in the United States and the only platform that uses AI-driven photo recognition to reconnect pets with their owners at such scale. With one in three pets going missing at some point—nearly 10 million each year—these reunions are incredibly important.
Sweetie had wandered away from her home in the Los Angeles area during maintenance work. Her owner, Ivelis, searched tirelessly and uploaded Sweetie’s photo to Petco Love Lost. “I checked the website five times a day,” she shared. After two long months, a match finally appeared—submitted by East Valley Animal Shelter, located 33 miles away. “That’s my dog,” Ivelis said emotionally. “It feels like a miracle. I have my happiness back.”
By uploading just one photo, Petco Love Lost uses AI technology to scan a nationwide network of shelter and community listings. It analyzes hundreds of visual details—such as coat color, size, and ear shape—to find matches, helping reunite pets either quickly or even after months apart.
“Every one of the 250,000 reunions tells a story of hope, love, and the deep connection between people and their pets,” said Petco Love President Chelsea Staley. “Bringing pets back to their families isn’t just part of our mission—it’s at the core of who we are. Each successful reunion keeps pets out of shelters and preserves families. This milestone also underscores how technology can address one of the most common and emotional challenges pet owners face.”
In another story, a kitten named Lucy in Ohio was reunited with her family just before the holidays thanks to a Petco Love Lost match. After Lucy disappeared, her owner, Ame, uploaded her photo and soon received a match. Within 24 hours, Lucy was safely home—just in time for Ame’s seven-year-old daughter, Evi, to gift her a toy mouse for Christmas. “I’m so happy Lucy is back,” said Evi.
Petco Love encourages pet owners to upload a photo of their pets while they are safe at home, ensuring they are prepared if the unexpected occurs. A single upload can make a life-changing difference—just as it did for Sweetie and Lucy.
To mark this achievement, national nonprofit Petco Love is spotlighting its free, nationwide lost-and-found pet database. It is the largest of its kind in the United States and the only platform that uses AI-driven photo recognition to reconnect pets with their owners at such scale. With one in three pets going missing at some point—nearly 10 million each year—these reunions are incredibly important.
Sweetie had wandered away from her home in the Los Angeles area during maintenance work. Her owner, Ivelis, searched tirelessly and uploaded Sweetie’s photo to Petco Love Lost. “I checked the website five times a day,” she shared. After two long months, a match finally appeared—submitted by East Valley Animal Shelter, located 33 miles away. “That’s my dog,” Ivelis said emotionally. “It feels like a miracle. I have my happiness back.”
By uploading just one photo, Petco Love Lost uses AI technology to scan a nationwide network of shelter and community listings. It analyzes hundreds of visual details—such as coat color, size, and ear shape—to find matches, helping reunite pets either quickly or even after months apart.
“Every one of the 250,000 reunions tells a story of hope, love, and the deep connection between people and their pets,” said Petco Love President Chelsea Staley. “Bringing pets back to their families isn’t just part of our mission—it’s at the core of who we are. Each successful reunion keeps pets out of shelters and preserves families. This milestone also underscores how technology can address one of the most common and emotional challenges pet owners face.”
In another story, a kitten named Lucy in Ohio was reunited with her family just before the holidays thanks to a Petco Love Lost match. After Lucy disappeared, her owner, Ame, uploaded her photo and soon received a match. Within 24 hours, Lucy was safely home—just in time for Ame’s seven-year-old daughter, Evi, to gift her a toy mouse for Christmas. “I’m so happy Lucy is back,” said Evi.
Petco Love encourages pet owners to upload a photo of their pets while they are safe at home, ensuring they are prepared if the unexpected occurs. A single upload can make a life-changing difference—just as it did for Sweetie and Lucy.
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