Tucson Lost & Found Data Insights: Why We Care Way More About Our Pets Than Our Keys
We analyzed a total of 267,090 records worldwide, out of which 1,005 records were local to Tucson. Here is what we found about what we lose, where we lose it, and how likely we are to get it back.
General Lost Data (Tucson)
When things go missing in Tucson, here are the general statistics of what happens on the ground:
📍 Tucson Key Statistics
Top 3 Lost Categories:
- Dog (our furry friends are by far the most reported missing)
- Cat (outdoor wanderers making up a close second)
- Keys (the most lost human-made object)
Top 3 Hotspots for Lost Reports in Tucson:
- Drexel Rd and Stewart Blvd
- Pima/Columbus, Grant/Swan area
- 12th Ave near Drexel Mission Manor Park
Pet Analysis (Tucson)
Focusing in on our cats and dogs, here is how the data breaks down. Tucsonans care deeply about their pets, but the circumstances of how they disappear vary dramatically between species:
🐶 Dog Profiles
🐱 Cat Profiles
Urgent Medical/Health Needs: 1.21% of all lost pets are noted as having urgent medical needs (requiring daily meds, diabetic, blind, or deaf), making fast recovery absolutely critical.
Stolen Pets: 0.97% of lost pet reports explicitly note that the owner believes their pet was stolen rather than just wandered off.
Item Analysis (Tucson)
Looking strictly at human-made, non-animal objects (excluding pets, lizards, tortoises, etc.):
- Keys: Most likely to go missing during the Afternoon (12:00 PM – 5:59 PM). Car keys and keyless entry fobs make up a massive 40.00% of all lost key reports.
- Wallets: Also peak in losses during the Afternoon. Importantly, 100.00% of lost wallets in our reports were explicitly noted to contain crucial IDs, driver's licenses, or credit cards, making them a high-stress loss category.
Recovery Analysis
How likely are you to get your lost loved ones or items back in Tucson? The data shows a promising landscape:
🏆 Tucson Recovery Performance
Top 3 Categories with Highest Recovery Rates:
- Bird (often reported and successfully matched)
- Dog (high community involvement and microchip matching)
- Phone (frequently tracked or returned via lock-screen info)
🐕 Dog Recovery Details
Highest Recovery Breeds: Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Husky.
Highest Recovery Colors: Blue/Blue-grey, Brindle, Black.
🐈 Cat Recovery Details
Highest Recovery Breeds: Bengal, Tabby.
Highest Recovery Colors: Brown, White, Orange.
Does offering a reward boost recovery? According to the data, No. The recovery rates for items or pets with rewards were statistically similar to those without. Tucsonans help each other out of community care, not financial incentives!
Key Takeaways
"Tucson is a City of Pet Lovers. Compared to other places, Tucson has a high proportion of pet-related reports. Either we lose our pets more often, or our community is incredibly active and caring when a furry friend goes missing!"
Do these numbers match your expectations, or did anything here surprise you? Keep an eye out for each other (and our pets), Tucson!
*Data source: Foundit ORG Lost and Found Dataset*