AI Technology Reunites Thousands of Lost Pets with Their Owners
A groundbreaking artificial intelligence-based system is helping numerous pet owners reconnect with their lost animals, addressing a widespread issue affecting millions of American families annually. The Love Lost database, operated by the nonprofit organization Petco Love, has successfully reunited over 100,000 pet owners with their missing pets since its inception in 2021.
“In the animal sheltering system, only about 20 percent of lost pets are reunited with their owners, which is simply not enough,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. The organization’s initiative aims to bridge this gap using advanced technology.
Michael Bown experienced the effectiveness of this system firsthand when his pitbull-mix, Millie, escaped during a walk in lower Manhattan after slipping out of her collar. “Because she’s a rescue dog, she’s very anxious,” Bown explained. “The only thing I was thinking is that she’s trying to find me, and she doesn’t know where I am.”
While Bown rushed home to search for Millie, his mother uploaded her photo to the Love Lost database. Within 14 hours, they received a life-changing call. Millie had traveled 10 miles north to Harlem, where she was hit by a car before being taken an additional 15 miles to a veterinary hospital in Paramus, New Jersey. The hospital had also uploaded Millie’s picture to the same free platform, which is funded entirely by donations.
How the Pet Tracker Technology Works
The AI-powered system identifies unique features of each animal, including eye shape, whisker length, unusual markings, and tail curvature. It collects up to 512 data points per pet, utilizing machine learning to search for matching animals. This technology can recognize pets even when their appearance changes dramatically after getting lost. The database also aggregates lost pet reports from social media posts to increase the chances of a successful match.
“People used to put flyers on telephone poles. Now we have one virtual telephone pole in the system,” Kogut said. “Everyone puts the flyers there, and we’re going to send these pets home!”
Over 3,000 animal shelters nationwide participate in the program. Petco Love advises pet owners to be cautious of potential scams when using the service, recommending that they be wary of anyone requesting money to return a lost pet and suggesting that communications be limited to the site’s secure platform.
Two months after her ordeal, Millie is back with Bown and adjusting well to life at home, despite recovering from a broken leg. “She likes to say ‘hi’ to every single dog we see on the walk, regardless of whether they want to say ‘hi’ to her,” Bown said. “But she’s doing really well.”
