Drone Pilot Uses Thermal Tech to Find Lost Wisconsin Pets

Losing a pet rarely feels dramatic at first. A gate left open. A collar that slips. Then minutes turn into hours, hours into a quiet panic. In Wisconsin, one drone pilot decided that waiting was not an option, as KIMT3 reports.

In Oconomowoc, Sky Guardian Rescue has turned advanced drone technology into a lifeline for missing pets, mixing aviation, empathy, and a surprising amount of night flying in cornfields.

From personal loss to a rescue mission

Tony Drake knows the pain of a missing dog far too well. His hunting dog Kobe disappeared last summer, and despite flyers, social media posts, and long days of searching, Kobe never came home. That loss left a mark, and it also opened a door.

While searching for Kobe, Drake discovered a network of Wisconsin based lost pet groups like Lost Dogs of Wisconsin, Billy’s Posse, and several volunteer search and rescue communities. When thermal drones joined the search, something clicked. Drake was already a licensed pilot. He realized he could help others avoid the helpless feeling he knew too well.

Sky Guardian Rescue was born shortly after.

One of their most emotional successes came in September, when a 14 year old English springer spaniel named Knives had been missing for 32 hours. Using drone footage, Drake located the dog hidden in thick brush. The reunion was captured from above, with the owner lifting Knives and waving at the hovering drone, a moment that feels cinematic but very real.

Drake says those reunions are the reason he keeps going. The adrenaline fades. The gratitude does not.

The drone doing the heavy lifting

Sky Guardian Rescue relies on the DJI Matrice 4T, a platform built less for hobby flights and more for serious work in difficult conditions. This is not a weekend park drone. It is a flying search tool.

The Matrice 4T is equipped with an infrared thermal camera using an uncooled VOx microbolometer, delivering a resolution of 640 × 512 with an f/1.0 aperture.

The equivalent focal length is 53 mm, which allows operators to spot warm animals hiding in brush, tall grass, or wooded areas, even when the human eye sees nothing but darkness. High resolution thermal mode helps separate an animal from rocks, logs, and other heat soaked terrain.

For night operations, the drone also uses a built in NIR auxiliary light with a narrow 6 degree field of view and an illumination distance of up to 100 meters. This gives the team visual confirmation without spooking animals with harsh visible light. Add powerful zoom and spotlights, and the result is a system that can search efficiently while staying safe and precise.

Drake typically charges between 200 and 300 dollars per search, depending on complexity, though many missions coordinated through volunteer groups end up being free for pet owners.

What lost pet searches get wrong

According to Drake, technology alone does not solve the problem. Human behavior matters just as much.

He stresses fast action. Flyers, road signs, and immediate posts in local lost pet groups are critical. He also warns owners not to chase or call out to lost animals, which often pushes them farther away. Instead, familiar scents, favorite treats, and calm setups work better.

One case that stayed with him involved a dog named Maggie. After slipping her collar less than a day after adoption, Maggie spent nine stressful days on the run. Sky Guardian searched repeatedly. Sightings trickled in. Eventually, Maggie was recovered. The family decided the stress was too much and returned her to the rescue.

Drake did not let her go again. Maggie joined his own pack, turning one rescue mission into a permanent home.

Sky Guardian has since helped recover dogs, cats, turtles, and even tortoises. The work is intense, emotional, and, as Drake admits, a little addictive.

DroneXL’s Take

This story highlights something we see more often as drone technology matures. Platforms like the DJI Matrice 4T are no longer just tools for industry and public safety. In the right hands, they become instruments of compassion.

Thermal imaging does not replace human care, but it amplifies it, giving families a real chance to bring their animals home. As regulations evolve and more pilots step into service roles, this may quietly become one of the most meaningful uses of drone technology today.

Photo credit: Sky Guardian Rescue, Drone Supremacy.