Lost Pug Rescue: How a Thermal Drone Helped Find Lelo

She’s tiny, timid, and fast. Lelo the pug had been on the run for nearly a full day, darting through pastures, slipping under bridges, and even crossing a freezing creek. We found her once, then lost her again. What followed was a rollercoaster of emotion, teamwork, and thermal drone technology in action.

Watch the full story here: Lelo the Pug: A Wild Search, A Happy Ending with Thermal Drone Rescue.

The Plan

When Nancy first called me, she explained what had happened: all six of her dogs had escaped from the backyard after the gate was left unlatched. Thankfully, her son Isaiah was able to recover all of them, except Lelo.

With Lelo still missing, we made a plan. The forecast showed sunny skies later in the day, so we aimed to begin early in the morning before the sun could interfere with thermal imaging. Isaiah met us near the most recent sighting by a horse pasture, and we found a good spot to launch the drone.

The Search

Within just six minutes of flight, a heat signature popped up along the railroad tracks. Our camera confirmed, it was Lelo!

She was moving quickly, weaving along the tracks and slipping through brush. Isaiah hiked toward her, but as he got close, she bolted, darting under a bridge, across a creek, and into thick cover.

By now, the sun was climbing higher, and that made the search even harder. Warm surfaces can camouflage heat signatures, reducing the effectiveness of thermal drones. Combined with Lelo’s quick, unpredictable movements, we couldn’t reacquire her on the feed. We decided to pause and return in the evening, when cooler conditions would improve our odds.

The Recovery

At sunset, we regrouped. Thermal conditions were much better, and after a short search, we spotted Lelo again in a brushy area. This time, Isaiah and his family followed our guidance: move slowly, stay calm, no loud calls or sudden movements.

Lelo was hungry, interested, but still wary. At first, she approached, then darted away again. The drone tracked her in real time as she moved, until finally she was cornered near a creek. Her family circled carefully, offering food and calling her gently.

Curious, she returned. When Isaiah knelt down and called her softly, Lelo came close enough for him to reach out. In that moment, she was safe; cold, tired, but unharmed.

The look on her family’s faces as they scooped her up is why we do what we do.

The Takeaway

Lelo’s rescue is a reminder that finding a lost pet is only half the battle. Bringing them home requires patience, planning, and an understanding of animal behavior. Thermal drones give us an incredible advantage, but it’s the teamwork on the ground that makes reunions possible.

If you’re facing a lost pet situation or if you’re interested in becoming a certified drone pet recovery pilot, visit DronePetRecovery.com to connect with our national network of vetted pilots.

Watch the full video here: Lelo the Pug: A Wild Search, A Happy Ending with Thermal Drone Rescue.