Pet recovery archive
A dedicated collection of pet searches, family reunions, recovery photographs and thermal footage. No hunting content appears in this section.
Pet recovery in the field
Explore the search details, photographs and thermal footage from VDS field work below.
Pet Recovery · Murfreesboro, TN
Barkley, a 3-year-old, 10-pound Shih Tzu, disappeared into a tall hayfield. Hidden beside a lone tree, he was nearly impossible to spot from the ground. Using advanced thermal drone technology, we were able to locate Barkley and safely reunite him with his family.
Pet Recovery · Madisonville, TN
Sissy, a tiny Pomeranian, had been missing for 3 days when we got the call. After searching a heavily wooded area and some extremely thick terrain, we finally got the break we needed. There she was laid up taking a nap in a head high, thick field in the middle of the night! Thermal technology made all the difference on this one. In terrain like this, a little dog like Sassy could have been nearly impossible to spot from the ground.
Pet Recovery · Smyrna, TN
For three long days, Kabob, a 3-year-old male cat, was missing without a trace. Several strong storms moved through the area during that time, and with zero sightings, his family had no idea where he could be. To make matters even more confusing, nobody even knew how he had managed to get outside in the first place. As each day passed, the worry continued to grow. With busy roads nearby and bad weather rolling through, his family feared the worst but never gave up hope. When Volunteer Drone Services arrived, the search got underway immediately. What looked like it could become a long and difficult search turned into an incredible success story. In less than 10 minutes, Kabob was located safe and alive. After three days missing, multiple storms, and no sightings whatsoever, seeing Kabob safe again was nothing short of amazing. Moments like this remind us why we do what we do.
Pet Recovery · Wilson County, TN
Enzo, a 20 lb Frenchie, had been missing for 6 long days in Wilson County. There had been a few possible sightings that gave us an area to work with, but nothing was certain. We got the thermal drone in the air and quick search we find him.
Pet Recovery · Sumner County, TN
This 5+ year old German Shepherd was accidentally let out and ended up going on one wild adventure. After searching several other areas, we finally received a random AirTag ping. The second that notification came through, we headed straight to it. Coming down a dead end road, there she was. The moment she saw us she turned and ran, but she couldn’t outrun the drone! After being missing for 4 days and traveling over 3 miles from home, bringing her home truly felt like an absolute miracle.
Pet Recovery · Lincoln County, TN
After being missing for multiple days, 6-year-old Brutus had everyone worried. Multiple sightings were reported throughout the area, helping narrow down the search zone. Once airborne, we were able to locate Brutus in less than 15 minutes, approximately 1½ miles from home. It’s always rewarding to see a search come together so quickly, especially after a family has spent days wondering where their dog might be. This recovery is a great reminder that every sighting matters. The information provided by the community played a huge role in putting Brutus back on the map and helping bring him home safely.
Pet Recovery · Sumner County, TN
Clarissa is a rescue who survived months living in the wild before finally being trapped and finding her forever home. Just two weeks later, a routine walk turned into another fight for survival. When her leash startled her, she panicked, slipped free after it became hung up, and disappeared. The next morning, her AirTag gave one final ping on the same side of the river where she had gone missing. But when we launched the thermal drone, the search took an unexpected turn. Clarissa had already crossed the river and made her way into a heavily wooded area where no one expected her to be. Just under two hours into the search, we located her using advanced thermal drone technology. Finding her was only half the battle. It took nearly 20 minutes of patience before she built enough confidence to stay put and let her owner safely approach. Clarissa suffered severe pad damage to her front paws, but today she's back where she belongs—her paws wrapped, surrounded by love, and sleeping like the queen she is.
Pet Recovery · Selmer, TN
Meet Jagger, a long-haired Dachshund who was scared, alone, and hiding in a heavily wooded area. About an hour into the search, we located Jagger using the thermal drone. I unfortunately didn’t have my screen recording on at the beginning, but thankfully Nikki was LIVE! We were able to pull the footage and capture the amazing reaction when we realized WE FOUND JAGGER! Finding him was only half the battle. Jagger was terrified, and it took another 30–40 minutes of patience while we kept eyes on him from above. During the retrieval, he ended up on a log at a small pond completely surrounded by woods, where his family was finally able to get their hands on him. A small dog in a massive wooded area. This is exactly where thermal technology and experience make the difference.
Pet Recovery · Gallatin, TN
Lola, a 6-year-old Boxer, went missing after a tussle with her Boxer sister. In an instant, she was gone. From day one, two sightings helped narrow down the search area. During our first search, the goal was simple cover as much ground as possible. Looking back, I'm convinced Lola was taking shelter inside a barn while heavy thunderstorms rolled through the area. Even though we didn't locate her that night, I couldn't shake the feeling she was still there. I knew if we came back, we'd find her. About an hour into the second search, the thermal drone picked up a heat signature in the backyard of a large property. There she was, laid out in the grass, completely exhausted after being missing for three long days. Finding her was only half the battle. For nearly an hour, we watched from above as her family slowly worked to gain her trust. Every step was nerve-racking. One wrong move and she could have taken off again. Everyone was holding their breath, hoping this would finally be the moment she'd come home. Then it happened. She finally stayed put. The second her family got their hands on her, the tears started flowing. Three days of fear, sleepless nights, and uncertainty were over in an instant. Watching that reunion unfold from above is something I'll never forget. This is exactly why I believe so much in this technology. Having the drone overhead during the retrieval allowed us to keep eyes on Lola the entire time and guide her family every step of the way. I truly believe that if we hadn't been able to relocate her, her story could have ended very differently. To Lola's family thank you for trusting Volunteer Drone Services. It was an honor to help bring your girl home.
Pet Recovery · Franklin County, TN
Some recoveries are a powerful reminder of why thermal drones make all the difference. Jessie, a 14-year-old, 25-pound Boykin Spaniel, took off chasing a rabbit and disappeared into a green milo field just a couple hundred yards from home. Being very hard of hearing, calling for her wasn’t enough. From the ground, there was little chance of spotting her hidden in the field. Using thermal drone technology, we were able to locate Jessie and safely bring her home in less than 24 hours. This is exactly why we do what we do. Every recovery means another family gets their best friend back where they belong.
Pet Recovery · Warren County, TN
This 5–10 lb dachshund went missing after getting spooked during a scuffle with a neighbor’s dog. About 1.5 hours into the search, I found her making her way back home didn’t catch it on footage, but we got the reunion!
Pet Recovery · Franklin, TN
Copper, a GSP who went missing yesterday morning, is safe and resting at home. He took off with his dad, who thankfully made it back but Copper became hung up in the woods with his leash still attached, about ¾ of a mile from home.
