Fort Pierce Animal Adoption Center Selected for National Pilot Project

Each year, nearly 10 million pets go missing in the United States - many of whom never make it home. But Fort Pierce is stepping up to change that. The City of Fort Pierce is proud to announce that the Fort Pierce Animal Adoption Center (FPAAC) has been selected as one of just 25 animal shelters nationwide to participate in Network Neighbors, a new pilot initiative spearheaded by Best Friends Animal Society, a national leader in animal welfare.

Launched last week, Network Neighbors is a collaborative pilot project supported by Petco Love Lost, designed to get lost pets home faster by getting critical information into the hands of the people most likely to find them - their neighbors. FPAAC will work hand-in-hand with local volunteers to distribute bilingual yard signs featuring a QR code linked to Petco Love Lost, a free online platform that uses cutting-edge AI to match found pets with reports of lost ones.

"FPAAC is thrilled to be selected for this innovative pilot program," said Summer Rulapaugh, Manager of the Fort Pierce Animal Adoption Center. "It's truly heartbreaking when a pet enters our shelter, and we know there's a family out there missing them just as much as they're missing their home. This program helps ensure more pets are reunited quickly, keeping our kennels open for those who truly need shelter and care."

The program focuses on community-driven solutions. Studies show that approximately 70% of lost dogs are found within just one mile of their home, and with FPAAC's shelter data from the past year, signs will be strategically placed in neighborhoods where lost dog cases are most frequent.

Over the coming months, FPAAC will work alongside Best Friends and Petco Love to assess the impact of this grassroots initiative, focusing first on dogs due to more consistent location data - with plans to expand insights and efforts to cats as well. If successful, Network Neighbors could be scaled to additional communities across the country, potentially helping thousands of pets find their way home.

"Network Neighbors is all about working together to get lost pets back to their families, and save lives while doing it," said Whitney Bollinger, Director of Strategy & Network Operations, Best Friends Animal Society. "We are grateful to FPAAC and local volunteers for being part of this important project, the lifesaving impact of which will be felt in Fort Pierce and across the country."

Pet owners are encouraged to create a free pet profile on PetcoLove.org to improve the chances of a reunion if their pet ever goes missing. The Petco Love Lost platform uses visual recognition technology to match photos of found pets with photos of lost pets in the community.

In 2024, the number of dogs reunited with their families increased by 2.5% nationwide, but there's still work to be done to return to pre-pandemic reunification rates. Best Friends and its partners aim to close that gap - and Fort Pierce is proud to help lead the way.

For more information on the 2024 National Data Report and statistics on pet reunification, visit bestfriends.org.

About Fort Pierce Animal Adoption Center (FPAAC)
The Fort Pierce Animal Adoption Center is committed to providing compassionate care and second chances for animals in need. Through community partnerships, dedicated staff, and volunteers, FPAAC promotes responsible pet ownership and works to ensure every animal has the opportunity to thrive in a loving home.

About Best Friends Animal Society
Founded in 1984, Best Friends Animal Society is a national leader in the no-kill movement, aiming to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters by 2025. The organization partners with more than 5,100 animal welfare groups and operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals. Learn more at bestfriends.org.