Izzy went missing on July 4 after escaping from a home in rural Osage County, Kansas. With daylight still available but rain showers moving through the area, her owner, Grace, contacted KC Pet Search & Rescue for help.
When I arrived, the weather was already becoming part of the challenge. The showers were moving in and out, so I had to work between them—putting the thermal drone into the air when conditions allowed, bringing it back down as rain approached, and then launching again once the shower had passed.
Every delay mattered. Daylight was disappearing, the search area was large, and Izzy could have continued moving farther from the home. The rural property and surrounding fields covered far more ground than could be searched effectively on foot in the time we had available.
Flight by flight, I worked across the property and expanded the search into the surrounding area. By the time Izzy was located, I had covered approximately 250 acres and logged one hour and twenty-four minutes of actual flight time.
Finding her was a major breakthrough, but it was not the end of the recovery. A dog that has been loose, frightened, or overwhelmed may not immediately run back to its owner. Even after being located, one wrong move can cause the dog to take off again.
From the air, I was able to continue watching Izzy and guide Grace toward the right area. As Izzy moved through the field, I used the drone’s position carefully to apply gentle pressure from a distance and encourage her back in Grace’s direction.
That part of the recovery required patience. The goal was not to chase Izzy or frighten her. It was to influence her movement just enough to help turn her back across the field while giving Grace the best possible chance to reconnect with her.
Grace did an amazing job when the moment came. She stayed focused, worked to get Izzy’s attention, and gave her the reassurance she needed to come back. Her actions were a huge part of why the recovery succeeded.
★★★★★“The best search and rescue there is! He helped us find our pup before the fireworks got too loud on the 4th of July.”
— Grace, Izzy’s owner
Izzy was safely recovered approximately two and a half hours after I arrived. That time included the repeated rain delays, multiple launches, and the careful work required after she was finally found.
The thermal drone helped cover a large rural area and locate Izzy, but this recovery was ultimately a team effort. The aerial search provided the location and real-time view. Careful coordination helped guide the recovery. Grace brought Izzy the rest of the way home.
On a difficult July 4th afternoon, between passing rain showers and shrinking daylight, Izzy was found, guided back across the field, and safely reunited with her owner.
