Eye In The Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue

Eye In The Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue Eye In The Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit using advanced thermal drones and recovery expertise to reunite lost pets with their families.
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With compassion, technology, and experience, our mission is simple: bringing lost pets home.

11/11/2025

🐾 Odin’s Journey Home

We were contacted by Christina who had just endured one of the most devastating experiences imaginable — a house fire that took nearly everything she had. In the aftermath of that trauma, she entrusted her beloved Odin to her daughter’s home for safekeeping while she tried to get back on her feet. But Odin, loyal to his core, didn’t understand. All he knew was that he needed to be with his mom. So he set out on his own to find her.

Odin was now in a strange town, unfamiliar and disoriented. When Christina realized he was missing, panic set in — the kind that only someone who’s loved and lost a pet can truly understand. She reached out to Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue, and we immediately mobilized to help.

As darkness fell, we launched our drone and began scanning the area, searching for any sign of Odin’s heat signature against the cold November night. After some time, we finally spotted him — lying alone in an open field, frightened and exhausted. His posture told us everything: Odin was in full panic mode.

We carefully guided Christina to position herself upwind of Odin, hoping he would catch her scent and find the courage to come closer. Despite the freezing temperatures and her own emotional exhaustion from the fire and the days of heartache, Christine sat quietly in that bean field — waiting, praying, and hoping her boy would find his way back to her.

At a critical moment, our drone’s battery needed a swap. We quickly returned to the vehicle, changed batteries, and hurried to get back in the air. But as we repositioned over the field, we realized Odin had vanished. Christina told us that just after we pulled the drone back, a strong gust of wind slammed nearby barn doors — the noise likely startled Odin and sent him running once again.

We decided that it would be best to pull back for the night, giving Odin space and quiet to settle. We left behind scent items at that location hoping to hold him to that area. Christina’s heartbreak was palpable, but her determination never wavered.

The next morning, as the sun rose, the message every rescuer hopes for came through — Odin was home. At 2:00 a.m. Odin found his way back to Christina’s daughters house, broke in through the fence, found the doggie door and crawled up in bed with his family. Wow!!

Christina’s patience, love, and unbreakable bond with her boy guided him back to safety. Odin’s journey reminds us that even through chaos and fear, the connection between a pet and their family can light the way home.

Welcome home, Odin. We love you buddy ❤️
— Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue
“Bringing Lost Pets Home.”

11/06/2025

It’s always amazing to see recovery specialists who’ve never even met before come together with one shared goal — bringing a lost pet home.

When little Teddy, a 4-pound Yorkie mix, went missing, the community rallied, and help poured in from every direction. As part of the recovery effort, two powerhouse rescuers — Charlene Walsh from WILD Canine Rescue in Springfield and Karry Rich from Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue — teamed up for the first time in what can only be described as an unforgettable rescue mission!

Armed with a four-wheeler, a fishing net, and pure determination, these two zipped out across an open cornfield after our drone Kane picked up a tiny thermal signature. Sure enough — it was Teddy, curled up, scared, and cold. What followed was a perfect display of coordination, quick thinking, and heart.

Charlene drove. Karry positioned. And together, they safely scooped Teddy up — using that trusty fishing net — and ended his long night alone. 💕

This moment was proof that when passionate rescuers unite, amazing things happen. Two people from different organizations, one mission, one happy ending.

Welcome home, Teddy — and hats off to Charlene and Karry, the unstoppable recovery duo!

🌟 Teddy is SAFE! 🌟 Check out the WHOLE RESCUE VIDEO in our next post!!A recommendation led Teddy’s family to contact Eye...
11/06/2025

🌟 Teddy is SAFE! 🌟 Check out the WHOLE RESCUE VIDEO in our next post!!

A recommendation led Teddy’s family to contact Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue in hopes we could help locate their dearly loved little pup. Teddy, a 4-pound Yorkie mix, is hypoglycemic and depends on a special high-protein diet with regular feedings — so every moment mattered.

Yesterday, we deployed our drone Kane to begin the search. Despite our efforts, the bright sun made the thermals noisy and difficult to read, and we weren’t able to spot him. But we knew time was critical — so we returned at first light, racing the sunrise to take advantage of the cooler temps and clearer thermal conditions.

Just minutes into the search, Kane picked up something tiny in an open cornfield. It was hard to believe — but sure enough, it was Teddy! Alone, curled up, cold, and scared, but alive.

A recovery plan came together quickly, calling in a four-wheeler to reach him safely. Charlene Walsh from W.I.L.D. Canine Rescue (Springfield) and Karry Rich from Pet Central Helps & Eye in the Sky teamed up — two powerhouse women determined to bring Teddy home. 💪🐾

A huge thank-you to Joe Gienow, Karry, and Jon for helping with the food and water stations and to the landowners who supported every step of this mission. This truly was a community effort — from those who shared posts, searched fields, and kept hope alive, to the moment Teddy was safely in loving arms again.

Welcome home, sweet Teddy. 💖
Bringing Lost Pets Home — together.

Also wanted to quick shout out Diane - Thank you for your hospitality Diane!!

11/05/2025

Welcome Home, Ava!

We are overjoyed to announce that 5-month-old Ava is home safe after a long and difficult journey.

Ava got away from her home in Tolono, IL, on October 11th. This case immediately presented a significant challenge, as the town is in heavily restricted airspace, making thermal drone flights impossible.

About a week after she went missing, there was a promising sighting. Her owner, Eric, responded, but when he found her, Ava was deep in survival mode and would only run away from him—a heartbreaking but common behavior for a lost and terrified dog.

That day, a feeding station was set up by Phil in the area where she was originally seen. For two long and frustrating weeks, Eric kept the station stocked, but the cameras showed nothing but possums coming for a meal. There were zero sightings of Ava.

Today, everything changed. A new sighting was reported about a mile and a half from the feeding station. We instructed Eric to move the feeding station to a new location, placing it upwind from this latest sighting to help the scent travel.

Several hours later, as Eric went out to move the equipment, he saw a small head pop up from the bushes near the feeding station. It was Ava!

He immediately called us for direction, and we guided him through the slow, patient calming methods needed to regain her trust. Eric followed the instructions to a T. He got upwind of her, moved slowly to about 8 feet from where she was laying, and then he patiently waited.

For an entire hour, he waited.

Finally, Ava's curiosity and hunger got the best of her. She cautiously got up and began to slowly move toward him, eating bits of Spam he had tossed in her direction earlier. She sniffed his back, carefully came around his side, and the moment she came face-to-face with Eric, her tail started moving a mile a minute.

Ava is now home and safe. She appears to be in good health, though she lost a significant chunk of weight on her adventure.

Welcome home, sweet girl, and amazing work, Eric! Your patience and trust in the process brought Ava home.

11/03/2025

Welcome Home, Little One: A Promise Kept

For Shirley, her dog "Little One" is more than just a pet; he's a cherished, living connection to her late son, Rick Bauman. When Rick passed away on November 8th, 2023, Shirley promised him she would always take care of his beloved dog.

Nearly two years later, on October 30, 2025, the unthinkable happened: Little One got loose from the house. You can only imagine the profound heartbreak and worry that flooded Shirley's mind, thinking of her promise to her son.

On November 1st, our team was alerted to the story through Facebook tags on a recent sighting. Little One was four miles from home on the outskirts of town, and he was scared, not coming to anyone. That evening, Phil and Joe went out to search the area with the drone, but had no luck.

The following afternoon, Joe went back out to drive around and look for him. He found Little One about half a mile from the previous sighting, running along a country road. Joe set a trap in the direction Little One was headed, spotting the dog rummaging through a McDonald's bag littered on the road.

Joe went to get on the other side of the dog, but in the process, Little One ran into the yard of a nearby property. Joe went to the farmer's house and knocked on the door to explain the situation and ask for permission, but there was no answer. Not knowing what else to do, he set the trap up on the property anyway.

As Joe was walking back to his vehicle, the farmer got home, surprised to see a stranger in his yard. Joe quickly explained the situation, and the farmer was wonderful, saying he was happy to help in any way.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. As Joe went back to get eyes on the trap, he saw the trap door shut. Little One was inside.

A wave of relief set in. He was safe.

Joe immediately hauled the trap back to Shirley's house. The moment Little One was reunited with her, he was a completely different dog. The skittish dog Joe had encountered was gone, replaced by a happy companion who let Shirley leash him and even let us hold and pet him for a mini photo op.

We’re all so glad you’re home, Little One.

11/01/2025

SAFE! From the River to a Foster's Arms: Yasmine's Recovery

A new adoption day turned into a terrifying ordeal for Yasmine on October 25th. Spooked in the PetSmart parking lot in East Peoria, she got loose from her new adopters. The situation escalated quickly as she was chased, and in a moment of pure panic, she jumped into the Illinois River.

Miraculously, she made it back to shore and disappeared into a clearing. But the danger was far from over. Yasmine went into survival mode.
Sightings were scarce, and when she was seen, it was late at night (around 9:00 PM) and terrifyingly close to Interstate 74.

Our team immediately set up multiple feeding stations in safe, strategic areas near the highway. For the first few days, the cameras showed nothing. One station included a dog trap, which we loaded with her foster's dog blanket and hoodie—a powerful scent lure. A camera was zip-tied to the side, waiting.

Finally, we got the alert. Yasmine was on camera at the trap station. She cautiously ate the spam we'd left, and then, drawn by the familiar scents, she walked right into the unset trap.

Her foster, Christina, and I rushed to the area. We parked a safe distance away and used our thermal monocular. We could see a shape inside the trap, rolling around in the blanket and hoodie. It was her.

Christina began her approach, bringing Maggie, a dog familiar with Yasmine, as a calming measure. As they got closer, we could see Yasmine watching them, not with panic, but with curiosity. Christina quietly reached the entrance of the trap. Yasmine cowered at the back, still unsure.

Christina began speaking, using familiar, positive phrases. Suddenly, there was a moment of recognition. Yasmine knew that voice.

Christina cautiously reached into the trap, securing the slip lead. The moment it was tightened, Yasmine's fear broke, and she exploded in relieved kisses. Her ordeal was over. Christina walked her the 100 yards back to the car, where she was finally safe and secured.

Welcome back, Yasmine. You are so loved.

💛 Welcome Home, Sweet CoraThis morning, Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue received a message that immediately stop...
10/20/2025

💛 Welcome Home, Sweet Cora

This morning, Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue received a message that immediately stopped us in our tracks.

“We lost our 18-year-old doggie in the woods behind our house yesterday around 11:30 a.m… She’s partially blind, has weak back legs, and we fear the worst.”

Cora — 18 years old, fragile, and loved beyond measure — had vanished into the woods behind her home. Her family searched tirelessly, calling her name into the trees, hoping for any sign of movement. But the woods were thick, the terrain unforgiving, and time was against them all.

When we learned about Cora’s condition, we knew this couldn’t wait. With her age, blindness, and weak legs, she had only one possible path in those steep, wooded ravines — and that was down. A drone search wasn’t an option in this dense canopy, so this would be a ground recovery mission.

We began our search on foot, methodically scanning the slopes, listening for the faintest sound. The woods were quiet — heartbreakingly quiet — until we reached a rocky creek bed deep below the ridge. And there, motionless but breathing, was Cora.

Cold. Trembling. Exhausted.

She was unable to move, her tiny body lying among the wet creek stones. We gently lifted her, wrapping her close to our chests to share warmth, whispering softly so she’d know she was safe. The climb out was steep and slow — each step taken with care to keep her steady and warm.

When we finally reached the top, the relief, the gratitude, and the overwhelming love in that moment to know this family has the opportunity of more time spent with her… words will never quite capture it.

Cora is now home, safe in her family’s arms, wrapped in blankets and love — exactly where she belongs.

Welcome home, sweet Cora. 💕
Your will to hold on and your family’s faith brought you back. We love you sweet girl.

10/20/2025

A call for help and an emotional recovery. The story will be posted this evening. Welcome home baby girl. We love you!

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2207 Woodfield Road
Bloomington, IL
61704

Telephone

+13097066647

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