BSFG - The Border - FindMyPet

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Inspiration

Every year, millions of pets go missing, and the recovery process often relies on scattered social media posts, paper flyers, and community boards. Our team wanted to create a more reliable, centralized, and technology-driven solution. We noticed the curreent solutions are outdated and do not include features such as an interactive map or smart filtering by breed, colour, etc. We were inspired by the idea of using community collaboration and cloud technology to make urban environments more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. FindMyPet was born from the belief that technology can strengthen human and community bonds through compassion and shared responsibility.

What it does

FindMyPet is a community-powered platform that helps reunite lost pets with their families. Pet owners can post lost pet listings containing details, photos, and the last-seen location, while anyone in the community can report sightings of stray or lost animals. The platform connects these reports to maximize the chances of reunion. It emphasizes accessibility, privacy, and security, with Google OAuth authentication, secure image uploads, and an intuitive, responsive web interface that works across all devices.

How we built it

FindMyPet was built as a serverless, full-stack web application designed for scalability and resilience. The frontend uses React 18 with TypeScript, Vite, Tailwind CSS, and Radix UI for accessible and performant design. The backend is written in Go and deployed as AWS Lambda functions behind an API Gateway. PostgreSQL, hosted on Supabase, serves as the main database, while AWS S3 handles secure image storage using presigned URLs. Terraform is used for Infrastructure as Code to manage and deploy AWS resources consistently. Authentication is implemented with Google OAuth2 and JWT for secure, passwordless user sessions.

Challenges we ran into

Integrating Supabase with AWS Lambda securely required careful attention to authentication and connection management. Setting up the S3 presigned URL workflow for image uploads and ensuring smooth interaction with the frontend was technically demanding. Managing OAuth tokens and verifying user identities in a stateless, serverless environment presented additional complexity. Infrastructure management through Terraform also required precise configuration to ensure modularity and reusability across environments. Finally, balancing time between backend reliability, frontend polish, and deployment within hackathon constraints was a significant challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We successfully developed a fully serverless platform that connects communities to help reunite pets safely. The dual listing system for lost pets and sightings creates meaningful two-way collaboration between owners and the public. Our secure Google OAuth integration and Supabase-backed architecture ensure data integrity and user trust. We also built a responsive, accessible user interface and established a scalable, low-maintenance cloud infrastructure. Most importantly, we achieved strong alignment with the Hack the Change 2025 theme by addressing inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability through technology.

What we learned

We learned how to design and implement a serverless architecture that is both secure and efficient. Integrating multiple cloud services, including AWS Lambda, API Gateway, Supabase, and S3, taught us the importance of careful API design and environment configuration. We gained experience in Infrastructure as Code through Terraform and learned how to optimize database schemas for fast and reliable queries. Beyond the technical aspects, we learned how community-centered design can have real-world social impact and how technology can empower collective action for meaningful causes.

What's next for FindMyPet

We plan to continue developing FindMyPet beyond the hackathon. Upcoming features include an interactive map view for visualizing lost and sighted pets, AI-powered image matching to identify potential pet matches, and mobile app integration for better accessibility. We also aim to implement secure in-app messaging and automatic social media posting to increase community engagement. In the long term, we hope to partner with shelters, veterinary clinics, and local authorities to integrate their databases and build a city-wide recovery network. Our vision is to make FindMyPet a global platform that connects communities and technology to bring families back together.