When the Unthinkable Happens, New “Petco Love Lost” Database Uses Breakthrough Facial Recognition Technology to Find Missing Cats and Dogs In the Mid-Valley region.

Weslaco Animal Care Services is proudly joining forces with Petco Love – formerly known as the Petco Foundation, a national non-profit working to lead and inspire change for animals – and animal welfare groups nationwide, on a shared mission to help reunite lost pets with their families should they ever go missing. Sadly, industry statistics state that one in every three pets will go missing in their lifetime.

Petco Love Lost is a new, searchable national database that uses patented facial recognition technology to find lost pets quicker and easier. This simple-to-use tool will be easily accessible to participating animal organizations nationwide, as well as any pet parent or person who finds a lost pet.

Uploaded photos of a missing dog or cat are immediately scanned to determine whether the lost pet is at a participating shelter or with a neighbor in the community. Shelters currently using this technology include City of Mission and PVAS.

“We see firsthand how quickly a pet can go missing, whether they were curious, following a scent, wandered through an open gate or became scared during a storm,” said Milvia Orellana, Adoption/Rescue Coordinator. “We work tirelessly to care for pets, whether they’re awaiting their forever home or lost and need help getting back to their families. There’s nothing more rewarding than reuniting families with their beloved pets and with Petco Love Lost, we’re confident it can lead to many more happy reunions, right here in Weslaco ad surrounding cities.”

“We know that one in three pets goes missing in their lifetime, an estimated 10 million pets each year, and we’re not ok with that,” said Petco Love president Susanne Kogut. “That gives us 10 million reasons why we created Petco Love Lost, because we believe nothing is more important than keeping people and pets together for a lifetime of love. Together with Weslaco Animal Care Services, our goal is to keep pets where they belong -- at home, with you.”

To learn more about Weslaco Animal Care Services, follow Weslaco Animal Care Services on Facebook and Instagram. If you’ve lost or found a pet, Petco Love Lost is here to help get them home. Visit petcolovelost.org or join the conversation @PetcoLoveLost on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Weslaco Animal Care Services

The City of Weslaco Animal Care Services Mission is to promote responsible pet ownership, prevent the spread of animal-borne diseases, and protect the public by seizing public nuisance animals roaming throughout the City. To provide a temporary shelter for stray, unwanted, or homeless animals, to maintain a dedicated relocation program with other non-profit organizations. All activities shall be in compliance with state, federal, and local laws and regulations and performed by a humane and professional staff.

About Petco Love:

Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we’ve empowered animal welfare organizations by investing $330 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide.

Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Join us. Visit petcolove.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to be part of the lifesaving work we lead every day.

Contact:
Weslaco Animal Care Services
Milvia Orellana (Adoption/Rescue Coordinator)
Animalcare@weslacotx.gov

Petco Love media@petcolove.org