A Montgomery County-based nonprofit dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their families has received national recognition for its work.
Tailed Treasures of MD was recently named one of the winners of the 2026 Lost Pet Search and Recovery Awards, an honor presented by Pet Search and Rescue & Lost Pet Detection. The award recognizes organizations and individuals across the United States and Canada who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to locating and recovering lost pets.
In a statement announcing the recognition, Tailed Treasures of MD described the award as both humbling and deeply meaningful. “To be recognized among so many dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking rescuers from across the United States and Canada is an honor beyond words,” the organization shared.
Founded by Jill Barsky, Tailed Treasures of MD has become a lifeline for pet owners facing one of their most stressful experiences: a missing pet. The nonprofit’s volunteers spend countless hours monitoring cameras, developing humane trapping strategies, searching neighborhoods, and responding to calls from worried families.
The organization emphasized that the work often takes place under difficult conditions.“This work is far from easy,” the group wrote. “It means answering calls from devastated families at all hours, spending long days and sleepless nights monitoring cellular cameras, developing precision humane trapping strategies, and braving every kind of weather imaginable.”
Beyond recovering lost pets, Tailed Treasures of MD also focuses heavily on public education, helping pet owners understand the importance of prevention, proper identification, and microchipping.
The nonprofit credited the award to its entire team of volunteers and supporters rather than any single individual. “This award does not belong to any single person,” the organization said. “It belongs to every volunteer who has sat in the cold, the rain, and the darkness. It belongs to everyone who has shared a flyer, checked a camera, set a trap, or comforted a worried owner when hope was fading.”
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tailed Treasures of MD operates entirely through donations and community support. The organization noted that it receives no government funding, with expenses such as cameras, humane traps, transportation, and printed materials funded by supporters.
The 2026 Lost Pet Search and Recovery Awards recognized organizations and individuals from across North America who have made significant contributions to helping lost animals safely return home.
For Tailed Treasures of MD, the recognition serves as a reminder of the impact volunteers can have during some of the most difficult moments in a pet owner’s life. “Here’s to bringing more beloved pets home where they belong,” the organization said.
