Ring has expanded access to its Search Party for Dogs feature, allowing anyone in the United States to use the tool through the Ring app, even if they do not own a Ring camera. The artificial intelligence–powered feature uses neighborhood camera footage and community participation to help locate missing dogs more quickly.
The feature is available through the Neighbors section of the Ring app and allows pet owners to alert nearby users when a dog is reported missing. Since its initial launch, Ring says the tool has helped reunite more than one lost dog per day with its owner.
Previously limited to Ring camera users, Search Party for Dogs is now available to anyone who uses the Ring app. This change allows pet owners without Ring devices to start a Search Party and receive help from nearby camera owners in their community.
How the Search Party Feature Works
When a missing dog is reported in the Ring app, participating outdoor Ring cameras in the surrounding area begin scanning for potential matches. Using computer vision technology, the system looks for dogs that resemble the reported pet.
If a camera detects a possible match, the camera owner receives an alert that includes a photo of the missing dog alongside relevant footage captured by their device. Camera owners can then choose whether to share the footage with the pet owner or ignore the alert. Ring says this approach allows users to decide when and how their footage is shared while maintaining privacy controls.
The feature is temporary and can be renewed if the dog is not located within a few hours.
According to Ring, lost and found pets are among the most common types of posts in the Neighbors app. The company reports that more than one million pet-related posts were shared on the platform last year. And in addition to expanding public access, Ring announced a $1 million commitment to help equip animal shelters across the United States with Ring camera systems. The goal is to support shelters in using Search Party for Dogs to help reunite lost pets with their owners and reduce the amount of time dogs spend in shelters. They are also already working with nonprofit organizations including Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society, with plans to collaborate with additional animal welfare groups.
Ring highlighted several instances where the feature helped neighbors identify and share footage of missing dogs, leading to quick reunions. In some cases, pet owners reported finding their dogs within minutes after receiving shared video alerts.
Te system is designed to notify users only when a potential match is detected, reducing the need for residents to actively monitor their cameras or neighborhood posts.
Use of AI in Smart Home Applications
Search Party for Dogs is one of several features Ring has introduced that rely on artificial intelligence to analyze video footage and generate alerts. The company says these tools are intended to help users identify relevant activity more efficiently by focusing on specific objects or events detected by cameras.
As AI-driven features continue to be integrated into smart home platforms, tools like Search Party demonstrate how computer vision and community networks can be applied beyond traditional home security use cases.
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