Carly Quellman, aka Carly Que, is a multimedia strategist and storyteller at the intersection of technology and the humanities, investigating how perspective can enhance, rather than overstimulate, the world. She can be found online and near the closest south-facing window in Los Angeles.
A friend recently shared how overwhelming it was to lose (and thankfully find) their pet, with no idea how to reach the nearly 4 million people living in Los Angeles.
This -- and the slew of national pet-related days in July -- prompted my research into how to maximize communication output for missing pets. Around 10 million are lost annually in the US alone.
It's also what led me to wonder how artificial intelligence can help solve this problem for both pets and pet owners. Thankfully, Love Lost -- an AI pet recovery platform -- also had the same idea.
Love Lost is a free pet recovery platform developed by Petco Love, the nonprofit organization owned by household name Petco that works to support animal adoption, recovery and health care initiatives.
Its free photo-matching service helps reunite lost dogs and cats with their families, using facial recognition technology that analyzes over 512 pet features -- like muzzle, shape, tail and markings -- to compare your uploaded photo against a national database of shelters, written posts and community submissions.
This is thanks to partnerships with companies like Nextdoor, which leverages its posts, and integration with over 3,000 shelter systems and community platforms for a wider reach. At time of writing, its database includes over 300,000 lost and found pets, with an average of 1,000 pet reunions/month.
Navigating and using the Love Lost site is pretty simple -- but make sure you have clear photos of the animal you're submitting ready.
If you haven't lost a pet, but would like to prepare in case you do, you can register your pet's photo and details beforehand on Love Lost's website to expedite the process during an emergency. Love Lost also features Lost & Found Pet Tips on its site for more information.
Love Lost acts as a bridge for pet parents and their communities to report and locate missing dogs and cats. This provides more eyes (and opportunities) to identify stray animals and reunite them with their owners. I also see it as a complementary tool for shelters, community organizers and even your neighbor who needs a way to identify stray animals quickly.
Petco Love also holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating for transparency and financial accountability and was awarded for its disaster relief grants and innovation in animal welfare in response to the 2025 LA wildfires.
But while Petco Love states it doesn't sell your data, language regarding AI data storage and model training is minimal and vague. I reached out for a request for more information, but didn't hear back by the time of publication.
It's also unclear whether data is shared beyond shelters. So, yes, there is a risk with any public listing -- even of your pet -- for scraping or misuse. Animals we consider pets or family are an emotionally charged topic, but it's important to keep in mind where your data goes after the rescue process.
Ultimately, Love Lost is Petco's national online database for hosting lost animals -- but it also brings animal-focused professionals together to reach more people and speed up reunions.
