Ring offers its own “Search Party” feature to find lost dogs for non-Ring camera owners

Ring’s AI-powered “Search Party” feature, which leverages the company’s network of cameras to find missing dogs, is now available to all Ring customers in the US. For the first time, the feature will be made available to those who don’t have a Ring camera as well.

Launched last fall, Search Party uses artificial intelligence to find potential matches for missing dogs via neighbors’ camera footage.

When a neighbor reports a missing dog in the Ring app, nearby outdoor cameras use artificial intelligence to search for potential matches. If a match is found, the camera owner receives an alert and can optionally choose to share any relevant videos with their neighbor who reported the pet missing. They will also have the option to call or message the owner, without sharing their phone number.

Ring says the feature has been collecting more than one dog per day since its launch.

Previously, Search Party was only available to customers with a Ring camera installed. The company is now making Search Party accessible to anyone through the Ring app.

“Now, pet owners can mobilize the entire community — and communities are empowered to help — to find lost pets more effectively than ever before,” noted Ring founder Jimmy Siminoff, in an announcement. “That’s why we think it’s so important to make this feature available to anyone who shares a post about a missing dog in the neighborhood,” he added, referring to the company’s Neighbors app for Ring customers.

In addition to the launch and expansion, Amazon-owned Ring said it has allocated $1 million to equip animal shelters with Ring camera systems, and aims to help 4,000 American shelters. By adding shelters to the Ring network, the company hopes to return more lost dogs to their owners.

The company already works with other nonprofits, including Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society, and is open to other partnerships.