In 2013, Cathy Eaton of Omaha, Nebraska, saw a lost dog wandering around her neighborhood. She posted about it on Craigslist, where it was seen by a long-haul trucker from California who had stopped at a Walmart in Gretna, Nebraska. While at the stop, his dog, Kuzik, got loose. The man frantically searched for Kuzik but had to abandon his efforts to stick to his tight travel schedule. Cathy volunteered to help find Kuzik while maintaining communication with the owner. Luckily, Cathy was able to locate and eventually reunite Kuzik with its owner.

This experience inspired Cathy to set up a Facebook page to help people who have lost pets or those who have seen wandering pets. Within a year, the page had 1,000 followers, and Cathy knew she was onto something that would help people who were feeling devastated over a missing pet. Soon thereafter, Cathy formally founded Lost Pets of Omaha Area, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization, representing a community of more than 64,000 followers. “We know how heartbreaking it can be to lose a furry family member, and we want to do everything we can to help you find them,” the organization’s website states. “We are a passionate group of volunteers who share a common goal: to reunite lost pets with their owners.”

Lost Pets of Omaha Area’s website and social media pages go on to explain the types of services they provide, which include assisting people with microchipping pets, educating on the best ways to locate a missing pet, and orchestrating teams of volunteers to help spread the word and search for missing pets. Cathy and her husband Richard, a Part 107 licensed drone pilot, knew that drones could greatly enhance the organization’s mission. Through generous donations, Lost Pets of Omaha Area was recently able to purchase a drone, which has been used on multiple successful rescue missions.

The drone they acquired is a DJI Mavic Enterprise 3T, which cost them $9,000. This drone is far more sophisticated than a standard drone with a camera. It is compact, lightweight, and easy to operate, whether you are a beginner or an experienced drone pilot. The drone has a 45-minute flight time with a quick and easy battery swap platform for extended flight times. But what truly makes this drone a powerhouse tool when searching for missing pets is its extraordinary camera system. This drone’s camera system can capture wide-angle and zoom images and has thermal imaging capabilities. It is the drone’s thermal imaging that makes it an excellent choice for locating missing animals.

As explained on DJI’s website, the “Mavic 3T’s thermal camera has 640 × 512 resolution and supports point and area temperature measurement, high-temperature alerts, color palettes, and isotherms to help you find your targets and make quick decisions.” Coupled with the drone is a controller with a monitor wide enough to have a split screen. On the split screen, the pilot can simultaneously view live images being captured by the wide/zoom camera and thermal camera for optimal clarity. So, if Richard is looking for a missing dog with the drone, he can use the thermal camera to pick up the dog’s heat signature while being able to see the landscape in real-view at the same time to easily locate and rescue the animal.

The organization says that there are other companies that are starting to offer drone services for locating missing pets, but it can be costly. They claim that some of these companies will charge upwards of $250 to locate an animal with a drone. “Lost Pets of Omaha Area believes that access to these services should not be limited by a person’s income, a sentiment our kind donors share,” the organization’s website says. The dedication and compassion of Cathy, Richard, and the volunteers at Lost Pets of Omaha Area are making a real difference in the lives of pet owners who find themselves in heartbreaking situations. With the use of cutting-edge technology, like thermal drones, and the support of a generous community, the organization continues to help reunite lost pets with their families. Their work is a testament to the power of community and innovation in creating a safer, more compassionate world for our beloved pets.

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