Eye in the sky: How drones are used to help find missing pets

Charlie, a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog made headlines after he went missing for a week last month. His story is unique, and not just because it’s a heartwarming story about how he was found only a mile away from his home in Illinois. So, why did his story make the news?  

One word: Drones.  

After putting out flyers and searching for Charlie themselves, his family decided to turn to technology. They hired a company that used thermal imaging technology and high-resolution video to locate him.  

Finding lost pets with drones 

While drones being used to find pets isn’t new, putting a snout like Charlie’s to the story definitely makes it novel. There are many drone search and rescue companies in existence. Some of them have fleets of drones ready to perform search and rescue operations on both pets and people.  

“There are hundreds of companies,” said unmanned aircraft systems expert, Bart Massey. “We’ve talked to hundreds of people across the U.S., and trained them, and trained with them.” 

Massey is the former executive director for the USA Drone Port and teaches at the school of aviation at Eastern Kentucky University. Massey says with the technology of drones continuing to advance, this likely won’t be the last time you hear a story like Charlie’s. Technology is only going to advance in the drone space.  

“I think there’s going to be other devices [that pets can wear] that drones can pick up,” he said.  

So, what does this all mean for your practice? First, Massey adds that identifying organizations local to your practice that do this sort of search and rescue might be beneficial. Furthermore, it might not necessarily even be an organization that performs these searches and rescues. Independent contractors, or even local hobbyists who are licensed can do this sort of work. 

There are also steps pet owners can take to help someone using a drone if a pet gets lost.  

“If [pets are] wearing orange collars, that is something useful for the person using it [the drone],” Massey added.  

The importance of microchipping  

It’s no secret that drone technology is impressive. But it’s also important to note that having a drone handy to go search for your pet is not a replacement for getting them microchipped.  

But on the same note, it’s key to remember a microchip is not a GPS device. If your pet gets lost and someone else finds it (whether a drone is used or not), a microchip serves as a tool to get that pet back home. Resources like AAHA’s microchip lookup tool can help with that. 

As a reminder, AAHA’s microchip lookup tool does not disclose pet owner information. It also doesn’t allow pet owners to update their pets’ microchips. Rather, it is a lookup tool to help identify the registry where a pet’s microchip is on file. Once identified, then you can go about contacting the company listed and start to process of getting that pet home.  

Although use cases for new tech need fine-tuned to your practices needs, there are an abundance of benefits to innovation for pet owners. Whether it’s microchips or drones, technology plays a big role in keeping pets safe in the modern world.   

Photo credit: georgealmanza via iStock / Getty Images Plus  

 Disclaimer: Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.