About

The Pet FBI database is one of the first lost and found pet sites on the web.  Pet FBI was founded in 1998 by Maresa Fanelli, a retired French professor looking for a way to consolidate information about lost and found pets in Ohio. After a distressing experience trying to locate a lost cat, Fanelli conceived the idea of an interactive online database for lost and found reports where worried pet owners and good Samaritans could readily connect.

Our expansive network of friends and volunteers have reunited thousands of pets with their owners.

Currently, about 35% of dogs and 25% of cats reported to Pet FBI are reunited with their guardians. But we are certain that the rate of happy reunions is actually much higher because many people do not bother to update their reports and others simply delete it.

Over the years we have had many requests to expand our database to cover other states. Now we have put our fifteen years of experience to work to create the new bigger, better, faster Pet FBI!

Our state-of-the art database now covers the entire U.S., as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, making it  the most comprehensive source of information about lost and found pets available.

Pet FBI is incorporated as a non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio and assigned 501(c)3 tax-exempt status by the IRS. Pet FBI has always operated on an all-volunteer basis. From the beginning, our Board has insisted on a policy of keeping the site strictly non-commercial and free for all users. This is made possible through substantial support from our Board, and through voluntary contributions from the people we help. We keep open books and our financials are available on our site. Because our Board subsidizes all operating and fundraising expenses, we are proud to be able to say that 100% of all donations from the general public goes directly to our programs, primarily the OUTREACH spay/neuter program. The Pet FBI OUTREACH program has also been supported by grants from PetSmart Charities, The Columbus Foundation, Ohio Pet Plate, The Kenneth A Scott Charitable Trust (A Keybank Trust), and the Combined Federal Campaign.