Using facial recognition to find lost and stolen pets

Animal lover’s pet finding app concept brought to life through facial recognition tech which identifies and matches lost and found pets.

The requirement

The ambition for the app was to set-up an international database of owners and pets that would allow for local alerts and searches that narrowed to specific geographical areas and used facial recognition to match found pets to the register — improving the chances of a safe return — all for free.

The project at-a-glance

AI-powered app uses GPS to locate lost pets
Facial recognition tech identifies and matches registered animals
Designed to alert owners to sightings within set perimeters
Tech stack: AI (Python), AWS, Flutter, Core 3.0, mysql
Initial roll-out completed in Eastern Europe
Global capabilities

Our solution

When IDS operations director Kseniya Papova had an idea to develop an app to help track down lost and stolen pets, she turned the skills gained working within the industry into helping to realise her goal.

Although there are no official published numbers, the ASPCA (American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals) estimates between 11-16% of dogs and 12-18% of cats are likely to go missing at least once in any five-year period. An analysis published by pet insurers Direct Line also showed that, on average, six dogs are stolen each day across England and Wales — with only 22% returned to their owners.

Working with the backing of European charity Petsi and with the support of the wider IDS leadership team, Kseniya used the latest AI and facial recognition technology to take the innovative app from concept to market launch.

Petsi simplifies the process of finding lost pets by allowing users to:

Register pets: Create a free profile for your pet, including location preferences.
Set alerts: Receive notifications when lost pets are reported in your area.
Search for lost pets: Use the app’s database to search for matching lost or found pet reports.
Report lost or found pets: Quickly and easily post a report with just a few clicks.

Further development and integration are planned, with the goal being the ability to integrate with local animal shelters to assist with the adoption process and a link-up with approved breeders.

Key Features:

Facial recognition

Accurately matches lost and found pets with a 99% success rate.

Register pets

Create a free profile for your pet, including location preferences.

GPS tracking

Pinpoint the location where a pet was last seen.

Easy reporting

Post lost or found pet reports in seconds.

Integration plans

Future integrations with animal shelters and breeders will enhance adoption and purchase processes.

“

What began as a long-term dream of mine to help owners to track down and reunite them with their lost pets, has become a reality across Europe, thanks to the expertise and support of IDS. The realisation of the project has helped to bring AI and facial recognition technology into a new arena. After a successful initial launch in Belarus the app was rolled out worldwide in July 2020. We plan to further develop the technology to improve its accuracy and for Petsi to become the global safe space for pets