Halifax Humane Society Expands Lost Pet Prevention Efforts With Support From UCF's College of Community Innovation and Education

Student-led experiential learning project aims to connect more pet parents with innovative tool that helps reunite lost pets with their families

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Halifax Humane Society has partnered with graduate students from the University of Central Florida's College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE) to create a countywide plan that will support pet parents signing up for Petco Love Lost, the free nationwide database for lost and found pets. The crucial pet reunification resource helps reunite lost pets with their families across the country.

The purpose of the collaboration is to create a county-wide strategy that animal shelters, rescue organizations, city and county governments, disaster first responders, and pet parents can support. Although this tool is free and available nationwide, some organizations, governments, and pet parents in Volusia County have been slow to take advantage of the image recognition technology that helps pet families and people who find lost pets in their communities. Halifax Humane Society wants to increase lost pet prevention and reunification programs to prevent unnecessary pet euthanasia and save local organizations and government millions of dollars each year that are currently spent on housing lost pets.

Through the partnership, UCF students will develop a plan for community outreach, determine KPIs to measure and evaluate the success of the program, and ultimately create a roadmap that national nonprofit organization Petco Love can use to reach other communities with their database, Petco Love Lost.

Using free AI photo-matching technology, the platform helps reunite lost pets with their pet parents when separation occurs, whether during a hurricane, severe weather event, evacuation or an everyday situation such as an open gate or unexpected escape. By increasing community participation in using Petco Love Lost, Halifax Humane Society aims to improve reunification rates, strengthen pet preparedness and help more pets remain where they belong: at home with their families. Pet parents can create a free profile right now while their pets are safe at home by uploading photos and key information to the site that can be used to identify their pet if they become separated.

"One of the most heartbreaking experiences a pet parent can face is losing a beloved companion," said Sean Hawkins, CAWA, CFRE, chief executive officer at Halifax Humane Society. "By helping more families register with Petco Love Lost before an emergency happens, we can improve the chances of a quick reunion and reduce the number of pets entering shelters unnecessarily."

"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 Chelsea Staley. "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 Halifax Humane Society, our goal is to keep pets where they belong - at home, with their loving families."

Halifax Humane Society has identified lost pet prevention and reunification as a key strategy for reducing pet homelessness and helping families keep their pets safe. The UCF partnership will focus on increasing community participation in Petco Love Lost through educational campaigns, local outreach and public engagement activities. Students will gain hands-on experience in community-based problem solving while helping address a challenge that affects pet parents across Central Florida. The project reflects UCF's Go For Launch campaign, which is fueling innovative solutions, experiential learning opportunities and partnerships that create lasting impact in Central Florida and beyond.

"This initiative demonstrates how public service can improve quality of life in our communities," said assistant professor in the UCF School of Public Administration Andrew Sullivan, who serves as the Director for the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. "By working with Halifax Humane Society to strengthen lost pet prevention and reunification efforts, UCF students will have the opportunity to engage directly with residents, develop practical skills in community outreach and program implementation, and make a meaningful difference for pets and families throughout Central Florida."

Pet parents can learn more and create a free profile by visiting PetcoLoveLost.org.

About Halifax Humane Society
Founded in 1937, Halifax Humane Society is committed to preventing cruelty to animals through adoption services, veterinary care, humane education and community programs that strengthen the bond between pets and their families.

About Petco Love
Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since 1999, we've empowered more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us – investing more than $442 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We've helped find loving homes for more than 7.2 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating Petco Love Lost to reunite lost pets with their families. Visit Petco Love and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. 

Media Contact:
Sean Hawkins, CAWA, CFRE
[email protected]
713-269-3574

SOURCE Halifax Humane Society