PORTLAND, Ore. – After 11 long days of searching, a Portland-area woman is back home with her cat thanks to a free national lost-and-found pet database powered by artificial intelligence.
A Missing Cat Named Louie
When Sharon Furze’s cat, Louie, disappeared, she feared the worst. For nearly two weeks she searched her neighborhood, posted on community boards, and worried about his safety. Like many pet owners, she considered Louie part of her family—and the thought of him lost or injured was devastating.
Her breakthrough came when she turned to Petco Love Lost, a nonprofit-run, free nationwide platform designed to reunite missing pets with their families.
How the Database Works
Petco Love Lost uses AI photo-matching technology to scan images of missing and found animals. Pet owners upload a photo of their missing pet to the platform, which then compares it to photos of animals reported found in the area—whether by shelters, rescue organizations, or community members.
The tool works across the country, but it can be especially powerful at the neighborhood level, where lost pets often wander only a few blocks from home…