FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Click on each question to expand the answer.
What is ROAM?
ROAM is a 100% volunteer run non-profit organization, dedicated to reuniting lost and found pets with their owners.
Who are we?
ROAM was formed when a team of 5 administrators and senior searchers decided to form our own strong, cohesive, community-friendly team. We have collectively put in thousands of hours of volunteer work and have successfully reunited countless pets with their owners. We wish to continue to provide this service, but felt it would be best for us to form our own group based on our own ideals and visions for our organization and our ability and desire to work with all groups.
What do we do?
From the moment we are alerted with a lost or found pet, our admins begin to work behind the scenes to get the details necessary to post a pet to our website. We have two numbers dedicated to ROAM and there is always someone to answer calls from worried pet owners.
We give advice and support to owners of lost pets to get a search started, or in the case of a found pet, to locate the owners.
If an animal seems to be settling in one area, we may set up a feeding station and infrared/motion ‘trail cameras’, followed by a humane, live-trap.
Why do we need another animal search organization?
We feel that the ‘need’ necessitates organizations like ROAM. We are a group of extremely passionate people who work extremely well together and share the same ideals when it comes to finding pets. For the welfare and best interests of the animals, it is our endeavour to work alongside other local animal agencies and groups. Our goal is to always put pets first.
Have more questions that are not answered here?
I would like to thank Terry and the ROAM Team for being there for my family when I lost my dog. Within hours after completing the lost pet application, I had three ROAM team members contact me by phone. The ROAM team was quick to respond to my application. They were efficient and ensured they had the correct information about my dog and the location on where he was lost. And, when talking with them on the phone they were understanding, supportive and encouraging. I cannot say enough good things about the ROAM Team and the service they provide. Thank you again! Yvette S
Yvette - July 2020
You guys are amazing and I’m so happy that we could find Fletcher within 1 day!! Your system seems to work awesome and I am so thankful.
Courtney B
Ricky has been FOUND!! Thank you so much to Barb, Terry, and everyone else who helped us last night and this morning! We can’t thank you enough! We’re so grateful that Ricky is home safe and sound. We will be ROAM volunteers from here on out. Thanks again!
Chris L (Ricky)
ROAM – Reuniting Owners with Animals Missing is an absolute dream! I cannot thank everyone enough for the help provided – from the organizers to the volunteers to the Facebook friends. I didn’t know where to start, and you pointed me in the right direction, with the support and care that I so badly needed. I was overwhelmed with the help I received – I don’t ask for help easily and to have so many willing, caring strangers step up was more than I could’ve imagined. Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing my love home! I’ve been telling everyone about ROAM and am so thankful to have learned about this amazing group of people.
Katie W
I am so thankful for this organization :). I called them after Lacie was missing on our walk for 20 minutes, I called, whistled and retraced my steps but she was no where to be seen. Thank you to the lovely couple who found her and called ROAM.
Corine
Dear ROAM, How can we possibly express our gratitude to the ROAM team?? Our cat Blue went missing 1.5 years ago and you are the reason he is back home with our family today. We rescued blue when he was a kitten through Dee’s Orphan Kitten Fund. He was found in a dumpster downtown with a broken tail. He instantly became a part of our family and a best friend to our daughter (age 2.5 at the time). He was the sweetest, most beautiful cat we had ever seen. We had 3 years with Blue until Boxing Day of 2018 when he went outside and didn’t return. With your help we posted missing posters everywhere and searched for months on end. I remember one member of your team encouraging me not to give up hope, that her cat had gone missing for 10 months and was found safe and healthy. We kept up hope for about a year before we started to realize he wasn’t coming back. That didn’t stop our daughter Hayden. She continued to talk about Blue regularly. Almost every picture she’d draw and every story she’d write in her school journal was about Blue. Two days ago when you texted me that picture of him I literally could not believe my eyes. A year and a half later???! The staff at the Point Ellis House where Blue had been spotted were so accommodating and helpful. The fact that you had him trapped within 24 hours is unbelievable!!! You were all so excited…. it’s extremely obvious how dedicated you all are to your cause. Blue is back home today and it’s like he never left. You warned me he could be frightened for a while which is what I also expected but the second I called his name he came right into my arms. Hayden has her best friend back thanks to you and we look forward to having many more years with him! I don’t think I could ever EVER express how grateful we are for what you have done for us. We will never forget this!!! Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️ Leanne, Nick & Hayden
Leanne (July 4, 2020)
My name is David, I lost my best friend Griffin this morning after searching and losing all hope I phoned the pound, police, fled search and to my amazement ROAM – Reuniting Owners with Animals Missing was at my door within 15 minutes with boots on the ground, after a quick detailed conversation about habits and characteristics of my best buddy griffin they went to work. After approximately 90 mins I started getting very depressed once more and then the phone rang Rachel had found my dog and brought him back immediately. My depression turned into inspiration from the people that had volunteered out of the goodness of their Hearts and I instantly need to repay them some how. When I asked what could I do to feel like I’ve contributed to ROAM she told me that a comment would be nice so here I am with a comment and I’m not sure I could ever put into words how I feel so I am going to volunteer once a month with ROAM to make this world a better place. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to “Rachel Terry Barb Leslie and all the other and volunteers I didn’t meet, u r the light at the end of my tunnel God bless griffin and I will never forget what u did for us and asked for nothing in return but simple😊 comment.
David S. (Griffin)
Our sweet little girl was brought home to us last night thanks in no small part to the folks at ROAM. We were put in touch with Terry by Lesley at Helping Paws Okanagan to help us bring home our missing dog and he was nothing short of exceptional – he was available anytime day or night, answered all our questions, laid out a clear plan that was way to follow, and spoke with a certainty and a confidence that was so reassuring. He kept us calm and focused on what we needed to do to get her back. What you do and the knowledge you have is truly a gift to animal lovers everywhere! Thank you so much Terry and ROAM – we could not have done it without you!
Brette R (August 3, 2020)
There is no way for us at Loved At Last Dog Rescue to adequately thank ROAM and Terry and Barb and their amazingly dedicated volunteers for their tireless efforts and commitment to catching Stella. This fearful girl had been rescued from a life as a stray in the streets of Iran only to escape from her foster home. We despaired that Stella could ever be caught. But then we didn’t know about ROAM’s experience, skill and most importantly their refusal to quit until the dog is caught. Even though FLED had been asked first to search for Stella it was ROAM who kept in constant contact with us with updates about sightings of Stella. We quickly realized that Stella’s best chance of being caught lay with ROAM. I doubt Terry and Barb slept more than a four hours a night since Stella’s escape. It became readily apparent to me that it wasn’t a matter of if ROAM caught Stella but when. And despite our repeated offers to make a donation Terry and Barb preferred that the money be used to help rescue other homeless dogs like Stella. And if all this wasn’t enough, Terry and Barb have also offered to help us find an adoptive home for Stella in the Victoria area. Amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you ROAM. You are the best!
Jan O
We can thank ROAM enough to bringing Shiloh home tonight…..they were so helpful and even figured that someone likely picked her up(and thankful to the people who picked up Shiloh)….which was exactly what happened and kept in contact with me to keep me up to date with exactly what was going on….so wonderful to know there is groups out here to help bring animals home I know without their help we would not have Shiloh home with us tonight…forever grateful HUGE thank you ROAM from us and Shiloh
Jodee C