When a pet goes missing, most owners are left to organize their own search and rescue mission, often relying on the kindness of strangers. That’s why former police officer Phil James of Nottinghamshire, UK, took his hobby of flying drones and turned it into a rescue operation to help reunite lost dogs with their owners. James started Drone to Home in 2020, and now he and his team have successfully rescued over 1,400 dogs. Using thermal drones, James and other drone pilots can cover serious ground in a short amount of time. The thermal camera works to detect warm areas, so a field that would take searchers on foot hours to cover can be searched in a matter of minutes. Drone to Home now has hundreds of volunteers who help share content on social media and assist on-ground searchers.
