Lost Dog & Pet Thermal Drone Search in Western Wisconsin
We know how frightening it is when a dog or other pet goes missing. Drone-Search combines advanced thermal drone technology with more than 35 years of Search & Rescue experience to help families search for missing pets throughout Western Wisconsin.
Owner and pilot Dave Whitehouse is a lifelong dog lover and retired Eau Claire Fire Department Captain. Our goal is simple: use our experience, technology, and proven search techniques to help bring your pet home safely.
Why Trust Drone-Search With Your Missing Pet?
Our lost-pet thermal drone search costs $350, with no extra fee when a pet is located. Dave Whitehouse searches across Western Wisconsin from Eau Claire and New Auburn. Call or text 715-210-3506 with the last confirmed location, time seen, recent photo, and any newer sightings. Dave will discuss the area and current availability. Thermal imaging detects surface-temperature differences; dense vegetation and flight conditions can limit visibility. If a credible new sighting follows the initial search, we will search the new area again at no additional charge. When a live trap is appropriate, we can help obtain one at no additional charge.
How Drone-Search Helps Find Missing Pets
Thermal drone technology can help search large areas more efficiently than ground searching alone. From the air, we can scan fields, wooded areas, brush, trails, and difficult terrain while looking for thermal signatures that may indicate the location of a missing dog or other pet. Thermal imaging detects differences in surface temperature. It cannot see through solid objects such as buildings, tree trunks, branches, or leaves. However, by changing the drone's altitude and viewing angle, we may be able to detect exposed portions of an animal through openings in vegetation or tree cover. Search effectiveness can vary depending on vegetation, weather, terrain, temperature, and time of day. Thermal drone searches can be especially useful for: • Dogs hiding in brush or heavy cover • Large rural search areas • Fields and wooded terrain • Rivers, creeks, and adjoining shorelines that can be difficult to search safely on foot • Low-light and nighttime searches • Areas that are difficult or unsafe to search on foot
How Our Lost-Pet Thermal Drone Search Works
1. Call or Text Drone-Search When your dog is missing and your own search has been unsuccessful, call or text us. We'll gather information that can help us understand your dog's behavior and plan the search. 2. Tell Us About Your Dog and the Last Known Location We'll ask when and where your dog was last seen, whether the dog is male or female, whether it is spayed or neutered, how long you have owned the dog, and whether it has gone missing before. If it has, knowing where it went and how long it was gone can provide useful clues. We'll also ask you to send us a recent photo of your dog and a GPS pin marking the last known location. 3. Meet Near the Last Known Location We'll arrange to meet near where your dog was last seen. From there, we evaluate the area and select a suitable location to launch the drone. Whenever possible, we look for a launch location with good visibility, firm ground, and favorable elevation while avoiding overhead wires, buildings, and other obstacles that could interfere with safe drone operations or radio communications. 4. We Conduct the Thermal Drone Search Using thermal imaging and high-resolution optical cameras, we search the surrounding area from the air. The search area and flight pattern are based on the last known location, terrain, credible sightings, your dog's history, and conditions at the time of the search. 5. If We Locate Your Dog, We Help You Approach Safely When we locate your dog, we can send a GPS pin directly to your phone to help guide you toward its location. We typically recommend approaching quietly and slowly rather than chasing, calling loudly, or frightening the dog. When helpful, Dave can remain in contact by phone and guide you through the approach while continuing to observe the dog and surrounding area from the drone.
Lost-Pet Thermal Drone Search Cost
Our thermal drone lost-pet search is a flat fee of $350, with no additional locate fee.
We understand that a frightened or displaced dog can travel a considerable distance. If a credible new sighting occurs after our initial search, we will return to search the new area at no additional charge.
When appropriate, we can also assist with obtaining a live trap at no additional charge.
Drone Search — Helping You Find What Matters Most.
See How Thermal Drone Search Works
Watch how Drone-Search uses aerial thermal imaging to detect heat signatures and help locate missing dogs in fields, wooded areas, brush, and other difficult terrain.
Real Lost-Pet Search Missions
Duke — Located by Thermal Drone on Yellow River Ice
Duke had been missing for approximately 2½ days near Chippewa Falls when thermal imaging from our drone located him stranded on the ice of the Yellow River. His body heat had melted a large hole completely through the ice beneath him, putting him in immediate danger of falling through. Duke's owner, Cory, entered the icy river and successfully rescued him. The search and rescue were captured in original Drone-Search video footage.
Axel — Located by Thermal Drone During a Blizzard
Axel had been missing for three days near Colfax, Wisconsin, when Drone-Search was called to help during an active blizzard. Despite extremely challenging conditions and wind gusts reaching approximately 52 mph, thermal imaging from our drone located Axel. After three days outdoors, large mats of ice had formed on his legs and slowed him considerably. A neighboring volunteer was eventually able to capture Axel, bringing the difficult search to a successful conclusion.
Turtle Lake Rescue — Missing Dog Found Tangled 1½ Miles Into the Forest
This dog had pulled his wire lead and ground anchor free and had been missing since the previous evening near Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Using thermal imaging from the air, Drone-Search located him approximately 1½ miles into the forest, where his lead had become badly tangled and he was unable to free himself. Because he could not move to find water, food, or shelter from the cold, locating him was critical to getting rescuers to him safely.
Lost Dog Search & Recovery FAQs
How soon should I call after my dog goes missing?
As soon as possible. We recommend getting the drone in the air as quickly as conditions safely allow. A frightened dog can cover a surprising amount of ground, and how quickly it travels can depend on its breed, age, physical condition, and surroundings. As the search area expands, locating the dog can become more difficult. Lost dogs may also cross or travel near roads, increasing the risk of being struck by a vehicle. A dog that escapes in an unfamiliar area, such as while traveling or staying with a friend or family member, may become disoriented very quickly. The sooner we know the dog's last confirmed location, the better starting point we have for planning the aerial search.
Can a dog smell its way home?
A dog's sense of smell is an important tool for recognizing familiar places, people, and animals, but scent alone does not guarantee that a lost dog will find its way home. Wind direction, changing weather, terrain, distance, and the dog's movement can all affect where familiar scents are carried. This can be especially challenging when a dog becomes lost in an unfamiliar area. Providing familiar scent sources near home or another appropriate location may give the dog additional cues if it returns to the area. A familiar dog bed, crate, or unwashed clothing worn by the owner can be useful.
What should I put outside to help my dog find its way home?
Familiar scent items can help give a lost dog additional clues that it is near home or another familiar location. One of the best options is the dog's own bed, especially one it has regularly slept on. A familiar dog crate can also provide both a recognizable scent and a place the dog associates with safety. Unwashed clothing worn by the dog's owner can also be useful. In one Drone-Search case, we hung the owner's unwashed nightshirt in a tree near the search area. The missing dog was found the following day sleeping underneath it and was safely brought home. If there are other dogs in the household—particularly dogs the missing dog is closely bonded with—walking them around the area can also help distribute familiar scent. Avoid washing scent items before putting them out. The goal is to preserve the familiar smells the missing dog already knows.
We generally recommend waiting to put food out until there is evidence that the missing dog is staying in or repeatedly returning to a specific area. Food left unattended can attract wildlife and other animals, potentially complicating the search. This is an especially important consideration when searching for a small dog. Once we know the dog is regularly returning to a particular location, food can become useful as part of a controlled recovery or live-trapping strategy. If the dog will not safely approach its owner, Drone-Search can assist with obtaining a live trap when trapping is the appropriate next step.
What should I do if I spot my dog but they won't come to me?
Some lost dogs become extremely frightened and focused on finding safety—a behavior commonly described as “survival mode.” In our experience, some dogs can begin showing this behavior within 12–24 hours of becoming lost, although every dog and situation is different. A frightened dog may seek out quiet areas and run from loud noises, sudden movement, unfamiliar activity, or even its own family. Owners are sometimes surprised when their dog runs after seeing or hearing them. Yelling the dog's name, running toward it, or chasing it can cause the dog to flee again. When Drone-Search locates a missing dog from the air, Dave often uses an approach he calls “Rescue by Owner.” Rather than having people chase the dog, we guide the owner toward a safe location where the dog has an opportunity to recognize them and approach voluntarily. When conditions allow, we prefer to position the owner upwind so their familiar scent can travel toward the dog. We recommend sitting down, remaining calm, speaking in a quiet conversational voice, and avoiding sudden movements. Don't chase the dog. Let the dog decide to come to you. A familiar treat can help encourage the final approach. Dave can continue observing from the drone while communicating with the owner by phone and helping guide the reunion.
