Eye In The Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue

05/08/2025

🚨 SLOW WEEK UPDATE 🚨

This week will be a little quieter on the recovery front! One of our team members is off enjoying a much deserved vacation! Another had to get some work done on their mode of transportation (gotta keep the wheels rolling!) And one of us has been dabbling back into merch design because, let’s be real, sometimes corporate orders take forever.

But here’s the good and fun news - MERCH IS COMING!! And all funds go directly back into our mission! We’ll be offering some Eye in the Sky gear sooner rather than later, so keep your eyes open and your paws ready!

As always, thank you for believing in our mission, supporting our crew, and sharing our passion for bringing lost pets back home! This is a community effort, and we’re so dang grateful for YOU. 💛🐶🐱🛟

Let us know in the comments what type of merch you would be happy to use! 👇🏼

01/08/2025

We saw a post the other day of someone looking for this dog around Eureka Lake but are unable to find the post, now. If this is your dog or recognize it then please contact Woodford County AC, they'd be happy to reunite!

🚨 FOUND DOG – DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PUP? 🚨

This sweet dog was found on August 1st near the 900 block of Lake Rd in Eureka, IL.
🐾 Wearing a red collar with a black leash still attached.

He’s safe with us now at Woodford County Animal Control, but we’re hoping to reunite him with his family as soon as possible!

📍 If you recognize this dog or have any information, please call us at 309-467-2375.
Proof of ownership will be required.

Please share to help spread the word—let's get this pup home! 💛

01/08/2025

The Fourth of July is weeks behind us, but one loud bang on Saturday, July 25th at 5:30 p.m. was all it took. Startled by the noise, Dahlia bolted with pure instinct, pure panic and disappeared. The days that followed were filled with hope, dread, and relentless searching. On day three, a tip came in of a possible sighting. We scrambled to the location and launched the drone, but she was already gone. The next morning, another tip. We were in the air within 20 minutes, scanning every inch. Still nothing.

Then came a sighting that changed everything! Dahlia had crossed a flowing creek and entered an entirely new area. It was the confirmation we needed that she was still on the move, still surviving. Chad, one of Dahlia’s people, didn’t hesitate. The next day, he hiked deep into the woods near the new sighting spot. And there she was lying atop a small mound, exhausted, but alive. He called us immediately. We rushed in. But Dahlia, still in survival mode, was spooked again by a nearby trailer park and disappeared into the woods once more. We didn’t stop. We hiked in a trap and placed it close to where she had been seen. That night, we waited, watching the camera. At 3:30 a.m., she appeared. Cautious, hungry, curious. She ate a little. At 6:30 a.m., she came back and finished the rest. We knew the window was now or never.

At 7:30 a.m., we reset and armed the trap. Two hours later, Dahlia returned. And this time… click. We had her. Sarah and their son met Joe at the trap site. The moment was raw! It was relief, joy, emotion pouring out as Dahlia saw the faces she knew and loved. We slipped on the lead. Her tail began to wag. She kissed Sarah’s face. And just like that, the fear was gone.

Sarah walked her girl out of the woods and into the safety of the truck. Dahlia is now home, resting, decompressing, and surrounded by love!

31/07/2025

🎉🐾 Happy National Mutt Day 🐾🎉

Today we celebrate the tail-waggin’, tongue-floppin’, personality-packed pups that come in all shapes, sizes, and surprise DNA combos! These one-of-a-kind masterpieces are part mystery, part magic, and 100% heart.

At Eye In The Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue, we’ve tracked, trapped, and reunited mutts from mud pits to bean fields, and let us tell you, mutts are mighty. Resilient. Sweet. Loyal. And totally unforgettable.

So today, drop a pic of YOUR favorite mutt in the comments! Bonus points if we helped them find their way home. 🏡

Here’s to the mutts who make our mission worth it who are the perfect blend of “who knows what” and “who cares, we LOVE it!”

30/07/2025

With heavy hearts, we share the news that Rusty, a beloved chocolate lab of the Smith family out of East Moline has been found and brought home, though not in the way any of us had hoped.

Rusty has been gently laid to rest in the place he loved most. His story ends with the love of a family who never gave up, and a community that came together in the most beautiful way to help bring him home.

The Smith family shared these words:

“Our search has ended unfortunately… Rusty has been brought back to his happy place and laid to rest 😢 We can’t express how thankful our family is for EVERYONE involved/helped. It’s truly amazing. Thank you ALL again, we are amazed how many people took the time to call, to search, to care… all of it.”

We send our deepest sympathy to the Smith family. May you find peace in knowing Rusty is home, surrounded by love, and that his memory will always run free. 💔🐾🌈

29/07/2025

🔊 SOUND ON 🔉
✨🐾 Every mission starts with a purpose…🐾 ✨
and a direction.

Introducing the preliminary logo for Eye in the Sky Thermal Drone Pet Rescue!

A reflection of who we are and how we serve …

🧭 At the core is the compass, reminding us that every lost pet has a path back home.

🐾 At the center? A paw print, symbolizing the heartbeats we’re fighting for.

🛰️ Above it all, the drone that helps us search from the skies when hope feels just out of reach.

This logo isn’t just for us, it’s also for you, the community that stands with us in every recovery. We’d love your thoughts, your ideas, your voice. What speaks to you here? What would make it stronger if anything?

Share your thoughts and as always, thank you for walking this journey with us. We’re only just getting started!

28/07/2025

💖 THE MOMENT WE ALL NEED TO SEE 💖

On 7/22/25, just four hours after arriving at her new forever home, Coral, formerly Swag, spooked and slipped away into a cornfield. She had just been spayed the day before. Her new family was devastated.

While Mia and her mom had other obligations that couldn’t be rescheduled, Mia’s grandma didn’t hesitate for a second. She jumped into action making posts, knocking on doors, and pleading with the community to help bring back her granddaughter’s beloved dog.

And that’s when we got the call.

THIS is why we do what we do.
THIS is why we exist.
THIS is why your support matters.

On 7/27/25, after days of very few sightings, surveillance, feeding stations, traps, sweat, tears, and tireless hope we were able to reunite 11-year-old Mia with Coral.

The video says it all:
💔 The worry.
❤️The relief.
🏡 The reunion that reminds us exactly why we keep going.

Because a pet is never just a pet. They are FAMILY.

Our work is donation-based and compassion-driven. There is no price tag that could ever be placed on the emotion we witness in these reunions. But there IS power in community, and we can only do this work because of YOU.

🪧 Your donations funded the signs we immediately deployed.

🚘 Your support made it possible for our team to drive to the site multiple times, meet with the family, build a recovery plan, and deploy the equipment we’ve spent years acquiring.

🙏🏼 Your belief in us helped bring Coral home. So when you watch this moment unfold, know that YOU were a part of it. And if you believe in this work, this purpose, please consider supporting us:

💵 Venmo:
💵 PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/EyeInTheSkyPetRescue?locale.x=en_US

✅ Share our posts
✅ Leave us a review
✅ Follow our page
✅ Help us keep doing what we do best: Bringing families back together.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us show up fully prepared for moments just like this. We’ll never take your trust for granted. And Mia will never forget this day and neither will we! 💝

27/07/2025

🎉🐾🏡 SWAG IS HOME! 🏡🐾 🎉
- Mulkeytown, IL (Southern Illinois)

On Tuesday, July 22nd, Swag, now named Coral was adopted into her forever family, ready to begin the next chapter of her life full of love and the adventure she always deserved, after being discarded by a backyard breeder. And oh boy… adventure found her fast!

Just four hours into being at her new home, and only a day post-spay, she got spooked, slipped her harness, and bolted into the dense bean fields near railroad tracks and woods. Her family jumped into action getting flyers out, posting on social media, driving the roads but no sign of her. That’s when they called in our Southern Illinois recovery specialist Jess, and on Friday, boots hit the ground.

Jess immediately assessed the area and set up a surveillance feeding station where she went missing. After learning about a nearby sighting across the field, she added a second station with a camera on the neighboring property. Though the camera failed most of the night, it caught what looked like the back end of a small dog. It gave us hope. By Sunday morning, there were no new sightings. The food was gone, but no Coral. Jess coached the grandmother through a refill at 12:45 p.m. While the grandmother was still on the property refilling the food, Coral appeared. She looked directly at her, then disappeared into the woods again.

Adrenaline surged. Jess raced to the location, guiding the family and property owner in real-time on setting the trap. Once there, she adjusted the camera and saturated the area with liquid smoke to carry the scent. This was at 2:07 p.m. At 2:42 p.m., Coral was safely secured in the trap!

That phone call to her family? Unforgettable. Screams of relief, joy, and pure gratitude echoed through the phone. Even the property owner, first on scene, was shocked and moved to see she was okay!

We say it often because it’s true: Survival mode is powerful. These dogs can survive. They are more capable than we often give them credit for.

Welcome home, Coral. You gave us a scare, but your story reminds us why we never give up.Happy tails, sweet girl. You’re home now. 🐶🎀🏡

26/07/2025

LOLLY IS HOME! 🐾❤️ - Lick Creek, IL
(Southern Illinois)

Within less than 24 hours of a terrifying car accident, Jessie had Lolly the boxer SAFE and back in her momma’s arms!

This incredible recovery was made possible through quick action, clear communication, and community cooperation. As soon as Jess was contacted about the accident, she was able to connect directly with one of the arriving officers on scene and relay a critical message: do not chase or call out to Lolly. A scared dog needs space to settle and feel safe.

Nearby homeowners immediately offered access to their property so a feeding station could be set and to deploy surveillance. Road signs went up quickly to alert the area. Jess shared that sightings are key and that gently driving the area is often the best way to get those eyes on the ground without causing panic.

This morning at 7AM, Amy (Lolly’s mom) was doing just that and she spotted her girl on the roadway! She followed the calming approach we often share, but Lolly still wasn’t quite ready to come in and darted away.

But then, magic in motion! Another property owner gave us access to the area where Lolly had run, and we decided to work with the wind, sending Amy’s scent in the direction Lolly had gone. While Jess had to step away briefly, Amy followed her instructions to sit quietly with a leash, downwind of where Lolly had last been seen. Within 30 minutes, Lolly picked up her momma’s scent… and emerged from the woods straight into her arms. 🥹🐶❤️

We are beyond grateful for the outcome.
To Jon and Amy, thank you for trusting the process. Your calm, patient response made all the difference. To the incredible neighbors who stepped up and said “use our property, do what you need” you are heroes too.

Another reminder of what’s possible when we all come together! Boots on the ground, hearts in the mission!

26/07/2025

Darla's Great Escape:
A Tail of Home Alone Proportions

In the chaos of a wedding and a house full of guests, Darla, the family dog, was accidentally left outside. For three weeks, despite frantic searching, there was no sign of her.

Then, an IDOT worker mowing a highway shoulder spotted her! Rescuer Tami LD set up feeding stations, but Darla didn't appear for a full day. The next day, Joe successfully found her with a drone, and she finally got some food at a feeding station.

They set a trap, but Darla decided to sleep right there. Joe returned at 5:30 AM with rescuer Karry. Joe watched Darla while Karry set another trap at the feeding station Darla had visited. After an hour, Darla finally walked into the trap.

She was safe!

Darla is now back home, recovering from her adventures!

25/07/2025

🐶🛟 RECOVERY UPDATE 🛟🐶

CODY IS HOME SAFE! - Gilson, IL

Cody had been staying at a home he was very familiar with! One he’d visited many times before when something spooked him and he bolted. Despite being in a place he knew well, fear can override familiarity, and just like that, he was gone.

His incredible family, along with close friends and neighbors, jumped into action immediately, searching the area tirelessly. When they still came up empty, they reached out to us. We flew over several acres of thick, wooded terrain, despite recent heavy rains hoping for a thermal hit, but had no luck from the air. We quickly recommended the next best steps which are setting up feeding stations, trail cam surveillance, and getting high-visibility signs out in the area to generate public sightings.

Still, days passed. Leads fizzled. Hopes began to dim. And then … on Day 8 (7/24), just as the family and friends were beginning to fear the worst, a call came in. A nearby neighbor had a surprise visitor show up in their garage…

IT WAS CODY! 💛

The family rushed home from work! It was an agonizing hour drive away, and sure enough, their boy had been within a mile of where he went missing. Tired, hungry, but safe!

This is what we mean when we talk about the power of community and boots on the ground. Social media is a great tool, but nothing beats being present in the area, talking to neighbors, and getting signs out fast. Cody’s recovery is a perfect example of how all of these efforts work together!

To the Carter family, thank you for trusting us, for staying strong, and for never giving up hope. And to sweet Cody, welcome home, buddy. 🐶🛟