Finding Zelda: How a Thermal Drone Brought a Lost Shar-Pei Home After 3 Days

When a storm blew open her family’s gate, Zelda, a 70-pound Chinese Shar-Pei set off on a three-day adventure that left her family desperate and searching for answers. Thanks to the support of neighbors, determination from her family, and the power of thermal drone technology, Zelda’s journey ended with a safe return home.

The Plan: Piecing Together the Clues

It all began on a windy winter night when Bo, Zelda’s owner, let his three dogs outside. Two returned as usual, but Zelda didn’t come back. Only then did Bo notice the storm had blown open the side gate.

The family immediately started searching. They alerted shelters and veterinary offices, and the community spread the word on social media. Over the next few days, sightings came in within a one-mile radius, but Zelda always disappeared before Bo arrived.

That’s when Bo reached out for drone support. Using the reported sightings, we mapped out a search strategy with thermal imaging, starting near her most recent location and expanding outward.

The Search: Battling the Elements

When the team arrived, conditions were both perfect and difficult. The cold, windy weather made things tough for the crew and shortened drone battery life, but it also provided excellent contrast for spotting heat signatures.

As the drone swept across fields and woods, we picked up plenty of wildlife, rabbits, squirrels, and deer but no Zelda. Hoping she had tried to make her way home, we shifted the search closer to Bo’s property.

After more than an hour, a strong heat signature caught our eye. With the drone’s powerful zoom, we confirmed it was Zelda, curled up on the edge of a field about a mile away. Bo and his friend Drew drove to the spot while we kept the drone focused on her position.

The Recovery: A Test of Endurance

Reaching Zelda was only the start. When Bo and Drew approached, Zelda, still in survival mode, bolted. What followed was a three-hour chase across fields, tree lines, and icy terrain, guided by the drone overhead.

As daylight faded, the team prepared humane traps provided by Rico Pet Recovery. But before setting them, Bo’s wife asked for one more chance. Zelda had been cornered near a creek, and she decided to release Zelda’s sister in hopes of breaking through her fear.

It worked. The familiar scent and presence of her sister calmed Zelda, pulling her out of survival mode. Bo’s wife held her gently, while Bo waded through the creek in the dark to secure her with a harness. The drone’s spotlight lit their way as they carefully carried Zelda back across the field and creek.

After three long days, Zelda was finally safe.

Home for Good

Zelda’s recovery was the result of determination, teamwork, and technology working hand-in-hand. It took neighbors sharing sightings, family members refusing to give up, and a thermal drone keeping eyes on her when she was otherwise invisible.

Her story is a reminder that even in the toughest conditions, hope can win out.

You can watch Zelda’s full journey here: Finding Zelda: A Shar-Pei’s Journey Home.

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