A local Facebook page is quietly making a big difference in the lives of pet owners across the Town of Brookhaven.
Founded in 2015, Brookhaven Strays is a volunteer-run social media effort aimed at reuniting lost pets with their families. What began as a simple digital bulletin board has grown into a high-impact resource with more than 20,000 followers.
“I’m not the original creator, but I’ve been in animal rescue and lost-and-found work for close to 20 years,” said Milena, one of the group’s longtime administrators. “The original founder asked me to help as an admin, and eventually stepped down to enjoy life. I’ve continued the work ever since.”
The page is not officially affiliated with the Brookhaven Animal Shelter but works closely with the shelter’s staff, as well as local veterinarians, animal hospitals and neighboring rescue groups. Every day, the page receives reports from residents who’ve lost a pet or found one wandering.
“Our goal is to get the word out fast,” Milena said. “Photos, locations, contact info—time is critical when a pet goes missing.”
Thanks to its highly engaged community, many reunions happen within hours or days. However, not every case ends happily.
“We’ve had pets that didn’t make it home, and it’s heartbreaking,” Milena said. “But even when the outcome is sad, providing closure to a family matters.”
Beyond emergency alerts, the page also promotes education. Regular posts inform pet owners on steps to take when a pet is lost or found, including microchip scanning, reporting to shelters and ensuring a safe space for a rescued animal. The page also reminds the public to secure pets during fireworks, storms or other potentially distressing events.
Brookhaven Strays focuses primarily on animals in the township or those brought into the Brookhaven Animal Shelter. In doing so, the group helps fill a gap between municipal resources and grassroots outreach.
While the mission is rooted in compassion, Milena credits the community for the page’s success.
“It’s not just us,” she said. “It’s the people who share the posts, check their Ring cameras or stop to help a stray dog on the side of the road. That’s what makes the difference.”
The Messenger Papers will continue to highlight the efforts of Brookhaven Strays in future issues, including a monthly “Lost & Found” feature. Upcoming coverage will also revisit some of the group’s “cold cases”—lost pet reports that remain unsolved but may still lead to answers with renewed community attention.
“Every post, every share, every sighting—it all matters,” Milena said. “Brookhaven Strays is proof that a little effort from a lot of people can save lives.”
For more information or to get involved, visit the Brookhaven Strays Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16yjaBGqU1/?mibextid=wwXIfr
