Tech Reunites Lost Dog Ziggy With Family Miles Away

The heart-wrenching story of Ziggy, a beloved dog lost for five months, has a happy ending thanks to innovative technology and a dedicated community. This reunion, spanning 365 miles, underscores the importance of pet preparedness, especially as National Lost Pet Prevention Month kicks off.

A Lost Companion and a Glimmer of Hope

Surely from Long Beach, California, experienced every pet parent's nightmare when her dog Ziggy vanished while visiting family in Watsonville. Days turned into months of searching and anguish. Hope finally emerged through a photo-match alert from Love Lost, a free national database using AI photo-matching. This powerful tool has already brought over 100,000 lost pets back to their families. For Ziggy and Surely, it meant a reunion after five long months and 365 miles apart, all stemming from a single photograph.

National Lost Pet Prevention Month: A Call for Proactive Pet Parents

As July marks National Lost Pet Prevention Month, Petco Love, a national nonprofit, is sharing Ziggy's story to emphasize the critical need for pet parents to take preventative measures. Summer is a peak time for pets to go missing due to fireworks, increased travel, and more frequent open doors. Independence Day, in particular, sees a surge in lost pet reports. Petco Love's message is clear: "Register Now, Relax All Summer" by taking proactive steps.

How Love Lost Works: One Photo, Nationwide Search

Preparing is simple: pet parents can upload a photo of their dog or cat to create a digital profile on Love Lost. If a pet goes missing, reporting them as "lost" on the platform triggers its AI technology. This AI compares the pet's photo against a vast database, including images from nearly every major animal shelter in the United States, as well as posts on Nextdoor and Neighbors by Ring.

"No matter how loved, well-trained, or secure they seem, 1 in 3 pets will go missing in their lifetime," warns Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. "When a pet goes missing, time is critical—and so is simplicity. Instead of searching through countless websites, shelters, and social media posts, Love Lost provides one centralized database. With just one photo, pet parents can instantly access a nationwide network using image recognition technology to help bring their pet home faster. It's the power of community and innovation, all in one place."

Ziggy's Journey Home

Ziggy's ordeal began when a door was accidentally left open during a family visit in Watsonville, California. "I felt devastated and heartbroken, the worst feeling a dog parent could ever feel," Surely shared. "Ziggy means the absolute world to me; not having him was the hardest thing I think I've ever dealt with." After Ziggy disappeared, Surely uploaded his photo to Love Lost and diligently checked the platform daily.

Months later, a photo-match notification arrived. "I was so impressed with the photo-matching that Love Lost was sending me because a lot of the dogs that were matched with me really did look like Ziggy," Surely recalled. "It made me more confident that if he appeared in a shelter, I would find him, and sure enough, I did." A dog resembling Ziggy had been taken to Petco Love partner Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. Despite the distance, Surely contacted the shelter, confirmed it was Ziggy, and after five agonizing months, they were reunited. "When I reunited with Ziggy, it was the most unimaginable feeling... It just felt like my home was complete all over again. Love Lost brought Ziggy home."

Spreading Awareness This Summer

Petco Love is committed to helping pet parents enjoy their summer without the fear of losing a pet. To further illustrate how Love Lost technology works, actors Christina Applegate and Mark Consuelos have lent their voices to an animated PSA titled "Fireworks Fiasco". This PSA will be shown in 1,400 movie theaters before summer blockbusters.

Take Action: Protect Your Pet with Love Lost

You can prepare today by uploading a picture of your pet to Love Lost. If your pet goes missing, help is just one click away. Similarly, if you find a lost pet, uploading their picture can help them get home safely. Love Lost is a free, fast, and powerful platform dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their families across the country. As Ziggy's story shows, it can make all the difference. Register now, Relax All Summer.

For media inquiries, contact Crystal Bugary at Petco Love: media@petcolove.org

About Petco Love

Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities and pet families. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested nearly $421 million in adoption and other lifesaving initiatives, helping over 7 million pets find loving homes in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Driven by a love for pets, Petco Love leads with innovation, creating tools like Love Lost, and mobilizes communities and over 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change. Join the movement: Visit PetcoLove.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and LinkedIn.

The original news article can be viewed here.