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.
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 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.
Have more questions that are not answered here?
A huge thank you goes out to this organization, the people behind it, and the compassionate service they provide. I am beyond grateful. When my little dog Ruby was scared off running by a hang glider that appeared over some trees in an off leash park, I was completely distraught when I couldn’t catch her and then eventually lost sight of her. I am new to Victoria and didn’t know anyone to help me so after calling animal control I continued to search. Then I remembered hearing about this organization Roam and gave them a call. I was crying and not sure if they could understand me, but they took the time to get the information and post immediately on the website with Ruby’s picture. Within another hour I had Ruby safely back in my arms. It was through this organization that we found each other again so quickly. We don’t tend to think about these things happening and I’m quite sure I never want to experience that terrifying feeling again. But it is nice to know this service is available for pet owners and I can testify that it works! The compassion and calm of Barb on the other end of the phone and the follow up happy texts went above and beyond any of my expectations. Once again, beyond grateful.
Carla B
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)
Wow! What a team! THANK YOU SO MUCH to ALL who went out of their way to make this happen! It’s a great lesson on why community is SO important in this day and age. THIS experience is what makes ‘paying it forward’ happen! See how easy it is!! Everyone take note of this… The ingredients of compassion, common sense, perseverance, faith in your work, camaraderie, empathy, mutual support, came together here in a way rarely seen in public view. We can ALL learn a LOT from how these folks work together and how well they convey confidence, empathy, reassurance and… common sense to those that need their help! The selflessness is underappreciated and undervalued too much in our society. THIS is TRUE Leadership in action! ROAM doesn’t just talk about it – you ALL practice it – daily! I’m eternally grateful, I’m going to pay it forward by volunteering for any similar programs over here where we live. I hope this success story brings hope and faith to all the future pet parents and owners who experience a lost or missing pet and the fears, guilt and anxieties that come along with it. I can assure you – you are in the best hands possible!! PLEASE DONATE where you can!! If the principles of commitment and teamwork that ROAM has clearly mastered (yet still keeping everything uncomplicated) were to be used more throughout our communities… the outcomes would be something amazing, there’s a lot more to learn from this than meets the eye! Because of that… ROAM has got something MUCH bigger happening than what we actually see! There are PHD’s out there that study these sorts of phenomena!! I encourage all who read this (and the many other stories and posts on the ROAM sites) to DONATE and share these stories. YOU ARE BUILDING COMMUNITY BY GIVING TO THIS GROUP and the benefits are immediate! If you are someone who currently has a missing pet, have faith, it means you are confident in the universe (other people). Don’t underestimate the value of pets and their compassionate and dedicated owners.
Florian (Milos' owner)
Words cannot express how grateful I am, you guys are absolutely amazing! Thank you thank you thank you! Saban is safe and sound and I couldn’t be more relieved.
Ella B
On behalf of Queenie, all the local volunteers and the Puerto Vallarta SPCA (PVCA) we want to express our sincere gratitude for Terry of ROAM for his assistance. As you know Queenie arrived in Canada and was lost very shortly afterward, in the North Vancouver winter. She didn’t know where she was, and wasn’t used to the winter. As a rescue from Mexico, we relied on a group of random volunteers that came together, as well as a PVCA rescuer that flew up from Mexico. Within a very short time, you dropped everything to come to Vancouver despite the distance, with your equipment, your guidance, and your dedication. And even after leaving you were with us supporting remotely. Your contribution and your dedication to this dog and this group of strangers gives me great faith in humanity. We are grateful beyond words.
Deanna P
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)
Words can’t even describe how grateful I am to have had the help from ROAM in finding our beloved family dog. Terry and Barb gave us the tools and emotional support that was much needed in the non stop search. They checked in with us constantly, had the patience to answer and re-answer our many questions and inspired us to make the right choices ( all the time respecting my decisions) which in the end led us to a happy and very relieving reunion! Thank you so much guys!! 🙂
Char B
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
All we can say is wow! How this all played out tonight was not how we imagined it would go down. But I’m glad it did…. Jeny and I were talking with another neighbor outside for about 15 minutes after Terry and Barb left. Chewy must have been the first to hear the jingling of Rusty’s collar, then Jeny, then me. Chewy walked around Joel’s house and brought our Rusty to us…. It was so surreal. But the the real people who helped bring our family back together again was all the wonderful people from ROAM, and all the wonderful community from WP. ROAM is a great family as well! Thank you to Lesli, Rachel, Dixie, Carrie, Deb, Cyndi and Michelle for all your countless hours of spotting, putting posters up, placing signs all over the place! Cory and Bailey…. Thank you! I know this was just as hard on you two as it was on us. You stayed with us and also stayed positive always helping with our search. Communicating with us in the early days was crucial to helping find Rusty! Donna and Andy…. what can we say? You two have been there right from the beginning, you offered to help when you didn’t have to… you opened your home to us and made us feel welcome… you opened your hearts. For that, we are for ever grateful for the both of you. Joel And Katyanna…. you had strangers creeping around your house and you welcomed us because you also experienced losing Petme. You paid it forward and we thank you for that! George and Nette, George was always there to support our family. From bringing us dinner in the woods, to giving up his favourite chocolate almonds,or hiking through the woods searching. And of course my tiny little older sister who has the largest heart that I’ve ever seen. She hiked hours on end and was the first who suspected the howling dog was Rusty, which she was right! She never gave up…. As she said, family never gives up on each other. Terry and Barb…. there’s no word that we can say that can fully describe how thankful we are for your help. Your experience and advice helped us stay calm and gave us hope to never give up! You kept us involved with every decision, every strategy and assured us we will find him. With out you, I don’t know if would have ever found Rusty. You didn’t just help us find a dog, you helped us find a lost family member who to me is one of my kids! I would be lost without him! Thank you all so much! Moises and Jeny
Moises
Our heartfelt thanks to your amazing team! We just can not express the true feelings of support and positivity you provided while being so organized, and amazingly effective! And thanks to Joe at Fort Victoria for keeping him safe overnight. We are forever greatful you were there for us and Cooper.
Christina Lloyd-jones