One Photo Match Changed Everything for Sweetie

A Love That Never Gave Up

For 13 years, Sweetie had been more than a pet—she was family. Since adopting her as a tiny 2-month-old puppy, Ivelis and her daughter Mariana built a life around Sweetie, filled with routines, comfort, and unconditional love.

So, when Sweetie suddenly slipped out of their home one day, everything changed.

What followed was a heartbreaking stretch of uncertainty, but also a powerful reminder of what’s possible when love refuses to give up.

When Sweetie Went Missing

Sweetie disappeared when a maintenance worker was going in and out of the house, creating an unexpected opportunity for her to slip outside unnoticed.

When Ivelis realized Sweetie was missing, she immediately sprang into action. She searched the neighborhood, calling out Sweetie’s name, and putting up posters anywhere she could. But as the hours turned into days, there were no signs of her beloved Sweetie.

Still, she refused to sit still. The very next day, Ivelis turned to Petco Love Lost, uploading Sweetie’s photo and officially listing her as missing.

“I looked on the site five times a day. We never gave up. I had dreams about her.”

Her search became part of her daily routine, fueled by hope, persistence, and the belief that Sweetie was still out there.

Holding Onto Hope

Days turned into weeks. Weeks stretched into nearly two months.

For many pet families, this is the point where hope can begin to fade, but not for Ivelis and Mariana.

Ivelis continued checking Petco Love Lost multiple times a day, holding onto the possibility that one day something would change.

And then it did.

The Moment It All Changed

One day, Ivelis opened her email and saw something that stopped her in her tracks. It was a new photo-match alert from Petco Love Lost.

“And then I go into my email and boom, it's her picture, so I'm like MARIANA!”

Her daughter looked and instantly confirmed what Ivelis had already felt in her heart.

“Mom, this is her!”

“That’s my dog. I knew it was her because she has a distinct nose. I was shaking.”

After nearly two months of searching, Sweetie had been found.

33 Miles Away

When Sweetie was brought into East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys after being found, she hadn't just been nearby—she'd traveled 33 miles from home!

“Sweetie was brought into the shelter by someone who found her wandering around on the street,” shared Annette, General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services.

With thousands of lost pets entering shelters each year, reunions like this depend on more than luck. They depend on connection.

“We receive thousands of lost pets every year. Petco Love Lost uses the photographs that we automatically upload and the photographs that owners who are searching for their pets have uploaded to make those matches,” explained Annette.

That connection made all the difference.

The Reunion

When Ivelis finally saw Sweetie again, all her fear and worry melted away.

“I saw her and she immediately came to my arms.”

After weeks of searching, hoping, and waiting, Sweetie was finally home, right where she belonged.

Moments like these are why shelter teams do what they do.

“When we get to reunite a pet like Sweetie with their family, it's really heartwarming because you know how much people love their pets,” said Annette.

A Story of Hope, and the Power of Never Giving Up

Sweetie’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. A senior dog missing for nearly two months was found miles away and reunited thanks to one photo.

But it is also a story about persistence. About checking one more time. About refusing to give up.

“It’s a miracle. My joy is back. Petco Love Lost was the reason we got her home.”

For every lost pet, there is still hope. And sometimes, all it takes is one match to bring them home.