{"id":7726,"date":"2026-04-17T14:23:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7726"},"modified":"2026-04-17T14:23:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:23:32","slug":"panicked-pet-parent-finds-missing-senior-dog-far-from-home-thanks-to-photo-match-technology-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7726","title":{"rendered":"Panicked Pet Parent Finds Missing Senior Dog Far from Home Thanks to Photo Match Technology (Exclusive)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sweetie, a 13-year-old dog, went missing after a pool maintenance worker accidentally left a door open<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sweetie was found 33 miles from home with help from Petco Love Lost<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The senior dog celebrated her return home with a roasted chicken<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sweetie is back to enjoying life&#8217;s comforts after weeks on the streets, away from home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The 13-year-old dog recently disappeared from her California home after a pool maintenance worker accidentally left a door open, allowing Sweetie to wander outside and away from her house.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sweetie&#8217;s owner, Ivelis Alday, immediately started searching for her beloved pet when she realized the dog was missing. Despite looking for Sweetie everywhere, the days ticked by with no sign of the pup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The pup&#8217;s disappearance was especially hard on Alday, who adopted the now-senior Sweetie when the dog was just 2 months old.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We spoke to all our neighbors, created flyers, called animal hospitals and vets,&#8221; Alday tells PEOPLE about her search for Sweetie.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Sweetie the dogCredit: Petco Love\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/i6CrqMLjSg6FOXOBgRZBTA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/0b4c64e8753841f71bc846c59db5a330\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Sweetie the dog<br \/>Credit: Petco Love<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The pet parent also posted a photo of the small, black dog on <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/petcolove.org\/lost\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Petco Love Lost;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Petco Love Lost&quot;}\">Petco Love Lost<\/a> \u2014 the largest national lost-and-found pet database.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When a pet goes missing, the owner can file a report with a photo on Petco Love Lost. The database then uses AI-powered photo-matching technology to scan Petco Love Lost&#8217;s numerous shelter and rescue partners, and found-pet reports from the public and social media. Petco Love Lost then pulls potential matches for the missing pet out of its database of recently found animals. So far, Petco Love Lost has helped reunite over 250,000 missing pets with their loved ones.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Sweetie&amp;#39;s Petco Love Lost photo matchCredit: Petco Love\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/6EF5.IP_8MkSNUGCt5MWug--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/2ce30a585a4df77993c4d2d658d104b2\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Sweetie&#8217;s Petco Love Lost photo match<br \/>Credit: Petco Love<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After close to two months of regularly checking Petco Love Lost for Sweetie, Alday got a potential match for her dog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I received an email and saw it was her.\u00a0I was overwhelmed with excitement and was shaking.\u00a0I called for my daughter to look at the picture, and I&#8217;m sure the neighbors heard my excitement,&#8221; Alday recalls of the moment she learned Sweetie was safe after weeks of worrying.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The match came from the East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys, which is operated by Los Angeles Animal Services, more than 30 miles from Alday&#8217;s home. According to Alday, someone found the dog alone on the street and brought her to the East Valley Animal Shelter. The shelter later posted a photo of the dog, listing her as a found pet, which led to the Petco Love Lost match.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Sweetie the dogCredit: Petco Love\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"673\" height=\"960\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/_p.Bmqtvv7YFyhuVpilDsg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEzNjk7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/56af4ad7351217a149160491c3bd0868\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Sweetie the dog<br \/>Credit: Petco Love<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Alday is unsure how her senior dog managed to make it 33 miles away from home, but she is grateful to have her canine companion back home unscathed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;She looked dirty, but healthy,&#8221; Alday said of reuniting with Sweetie. &#8220;She did not lose any weight and was not injured.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;PEOPLE'&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong>PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/strong><\/a><strong> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The pet parent added that seeing Sweetie again brought &#8220;joy&#8221; back into her life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I bought her a roasted chicken that she devoured when we got home, and she rested all day.\u00a0You can tell she was exhausted,&#8221; Alday says of how she spent her first day back with Sweetie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Since her return home, Sweetie has caught up on sleep and is back to enjoying long walks and treats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/pet-parent-finds-missing-senior-dog-thanks-to-photo-match-technology-11951978\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;People&quot;}\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Sweetie, a 13-year-old dog, went missing after a pool maintenance worker accidentally left a door open Sweetie was found 33 miles from home with help from Petco Love Lost The senior dog celebrated her return home with a roasted chicken Sweetie is back to enjoying life&#8217;s comforts after weeks on the streets, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1283,10260,321,10261,69,10254,111,2695,1385,1554,10252,116,10255,883,502,2049,85,1007,1456,10257,3716,2756,10253,862,44,10249,10250,125,10251,67,320,992,1524,2410,66,1241,10256,4138,124,1094,224,2158,526,70,10259,4196,10258,459,1380,456],"class_list":["post-7726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news","tag-accidentally","tag-alday","tag-animal","tag-database","tag-dog","tag-dog-home","tag-door","tag-enjoying","tag-exclusive","tag-finds","tag-finds-missing","tag-home","tag-home-photo","tag-left","tag-life","tag-lost","tag-love","tag-maintenance","tag-match","tag-match-technology","tag-miles","tag-missing","tag-missing-senior","tag-months","tag-owner","tag-panicked","tag-panicked-pet","tag-parent","tag-parent-finds","tag-pe-ts-fun","tag-people","tag-pet","tag-pet-parent","tag-petco","tag-pets-news","tag-photo","tag-photo-match","tag-pool","tag-return","tag-roasted","tag-senior","tag-senior-dog","tag-shelter","tag-sign","tag-sweetie","tag-technology","tag-technology-exclusive","tag-weeks","tag-worker","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7726\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}