Tracking dogs, drones, robotic devices and good old-fashioned shoe leather: how today’s pet detectives are reuniting owners with their furry companions.
The way I see it, having a companion animal – I’m not fond of the word “pet” – is one of the most deeply human experiences you can have, which is why, when an animal dies or goes missing, it’s akin to losing a family member.Credit:The pandemic lockdowns ushered in the best – and worst – of times for our companion animals.
“Some buyers didn’t do their research or didn’t care about where their new pet was coming from, as long as they got one,” observes Anne-Marie, founder of, one of a growing number of services for missing animals across the country. Anne-Marie, who never uses her surname publicly , uses social media, tracking dogs, drones, a robotic device she calls Mars Rover Jnr for searching small spaces such as pipes and, lastly, old-fashioned shoe-leather to find animals. Her business, which she set up in 2017, is named after her beady-eyed dachshund Arthur, whom she trained to be a tracking dog.
Business is still brisk. Among recent success stories is that of Lucy, a Pomeranian cross, snatched from her front garden in Sydney’s western suburbs by two couriers. With the help of the neighbour’s CCTV footage, some door-knocking and the police, Lucy was returned to her owners.
Use Facebook and Instagram furball-finding groups wisely, says Anne-Marie, pointing to cases where thieves have claimed animals from vets and well-intentioned finders after seeing social-media posts. “You have to know what information to release and what not to release,” she warns.