Peggy Sue the Bearded Collie: Found After a Week on the Run

She ran for over a week, through ditches, across farms, under cover of night. Peggy Sue, a bearded collie unfamiliar with the area, stayed just out of reach until the day everything came together. This search tested patience, teamwork, and every bit of drone technology we had. Here’s the story of how Peggy Sue finally made it home.

Watch the full rescue here: Peggy Sue’s Rescue: Powered by Thermal Drone & Teamwork.

The Plan

When I got the call, Peggy Sue had already been missing for more than a week. Her case was complicated. She wasn’t at her home near Cincinnati, she was staying as a guest on a family property far from her familiar territory. That meant no sense of home base and no familiar people to come when called.

After escaping, she roamed miles of farmland, crossing roads, creeks, and wooded ravines. We teamed up with Rico Pet Recovery and Peg Leg Drone Services to cover as much ground as possible. The challenge wasn’t finding her, it was figuring out how to actually bring her in.

The Search

We launched the drone from the family’s property near her last known sighting. With clouds breaking and reforming, the thermal conditions were good if the weather held.

Within 40 minutes, we spotted her curled up in a wooded area just north of the property. We marked her location and planned the approach with the family, who were prepared with a vet-issued tranquilizer gun.

But things didn’t go smoothly. The dart slipped before firing, making a noise that spooked Peggy Sue. She bolted. We tracked her with the drone, but thick brush, bursts of sunshine, and wind made holding a lock on her difficult. She circled roads, cut through fields, and always managed to stay just out of reach.

The Recovery

Hours of searching brought us close several times, but never close enough. With the drone’s battery running low and winds picking up, we finally had to pause.

That night, Peggy Sue did what many lost dogs eventually do, she circled back. At dawn, a neighbor spotted her sniffing along the property fence. They quietly set out food, left a kennel door open, and waited.

Hungry, tired, and ready to stop running, Peggy Sue walked herself right inside.

A Team Effort

This rescue was not about one person or one tool, it was about collaboration. Rico Pet Recovery, Peg Leg Drone Services, the family, neighbors, and the thermal drone all played a role.

In the end, it was patience, teamwork, and a well-placed meal that finally brought Peggy Sue home.

You can watch her full rescue here: Peggy Sue’s Rescue: Powered by Thermal Drone & Teamwork.

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