Ring expanded its AI-powered Search Party feature on February 2, 2026, making it available to all U.S. Ring customers, including those without Ring cameras. The tool scans neighbors’ outdoor camera footage to locate lost dogs reported via the Ring app.
The feature launched last fall exclusively for customers owning Ring cameras. It leverages Ring’s network of cameras to identify possible matches for lost dogs. A neighbor initiates the process by reporting a lost dog directly in the Ring app. Nearby outdoor cameras then employ artificial intelligence to scan their footage for dogs matching the description provided in the report.
Once a potential match appears, the owner of the detecting camera receives an immediate alert through the app. This owner holds the option to share relevant video clips with the neighbor who filed the lost dog report. Additional communication options include calling the reporting neighbor or sending a message, all executed without disclosing the camera owner’s personal phone number. These privacy protections ensure secure interactions within the community network.
Ring states that Search Party has reunited more than one dog per day with their owners since its initial rollout last fall. The expansion now extends access to the feature through the Ring app for any user, regardless of camera ownership. Previously restricted participants can now fully engage in the search process.
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff commented on the development in the announcement: “Now, pet owners can mobilize the whole community—and communities are empowered to help—to find lost pets more effectively than ever before.” He continued, “That’s why we believe it’s so important to make this feature available to anyone who shares a lost dog post in Neighbors.” The Neighbors app serves Ring customers for community-based sharing and alerts.
In parallel with this rollout, Amazon-owned Ring pledged $1 million to install Ring camera systems in animal shelters. The initiative targets support for 4,000 U.S. shelters. Integrating these shelters into Ring’s camera network positions them to contribute footage scans, thereby facilitating additional reunions of lost dogs with owners.
Ring maintains partnerships with nonprofits such as Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society. The company expresses openness to forming further collaborations to enhance lost pet recovery efforts.
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