03/03/2026
A Tiny Dog with a BIG Purpose š¾
Bonnie ā a 4-lb miniature Yorkie ā somehow slipped out of her home on Saturday.
Friends, family, and neighbors searched all day with no luck. As night approached, Bonnieās mom, Tina Richards, gave us a call. She knew the odds of locating a dog that small with a drone were slimā¦ but Bonnie isnāt just any dog. She is her daughterās emotional support dog, that made it worth trying.
Ironically, we had planned to take the night off and stay out of town. But we were already heading back for another search that had just canceled ā and we were about to pass right through their area.
We knew there was a lot riding on this one. A 4-lb dog in the wild faces a list of predators too long to mention ā the pressure was real.
We searched the last sighting location for an hour. Nothing.
We backtracked to the prior sighting. Nothing.
All the way back toward home. Still nothing but small wildlife.
On the fourth battery ā typically our last ā we searched the only remaining direction that made sense, even though she had never been seen heading that way.
About 30 seconds before the low-battery warning flashed, we saw itā¦ the tiniest little heat signature.
We flipped to zoom, hit the spotlight ā 95% sure it was her. But the battery was critically low. We had to pull out, swap fast, and get back in the air.
On the return pass, we got the perfect confirmation shot.
THERE SHE WAS!
Curled up alone in the middle of a field.
After traveling over a mile on those tiny legs, we assumed the recovery would be easy.
We couldnāt have been more wrong.
She started toward Tinaā¦ pausedā¦ turnedā¦ and bolted.
Normally at that point weād call it and set a trap. But this was a rare case where we felt a controlled pursuit was the right call.
Plan B: Kylie Shafer on one side. Tina on the other.
Best case ā a little game of pickle.
Worst case ā push her toward the creek we were sure she wouldnāt cross.
Wrong again.
Without hesitation, Bonnie launched into a 3ā4 foot deep, 15-foot wide flowing creek.
Thankfully she was a pretty good little swimmer and made it across, but the bank was too steep for her to climb out. She was swept downstream and under thick brush.
Kylie was right behind her ā straight into the ice-cold water.
Guiding her was tough. Bonnie was so tiny and so far under the brush that even when Kylie was within a foot of her, she couldnāt see her.
Once she got her headlamp turned on and looked deep into the brush, she reached inā¦
ā¦and grabbed her.
We were beyond relieved.
A tiny dog.
A massive fight.
A whole lot of heart.
Bonnie was safely reunited and back where she belongs ā in Brittās arms.
This is why we do what we do. š§”š¾
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