Thermal drone helps locate missing dog in Millstone
Jack, a 15 pound snow‑white Cavachon, was reported missing around 3:30 p.m. in a rural, heavily wooded area covered in snow.
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A missing dog was safely recovered Tuesday night in Millstone Township after hours in deep snow and freezing temperatures.
Jack, a 15 pound snow‑white Cavachon, was reported missing around 3:30 p.m. in a rural, heavily wooded area covered in snow.
Full rescue video
His owners, Tara and Joe, began searching on their own as conditions worsened. Joe remained at the vehicle due to a medical condition, while Tara continued searching on foot.
A thermal drone was deployed around 8:30 p.m. as temperatures dropped to 24 degrees and a winter storm moved into the area.
The drone team located Jack in just over 10 minutes, despite his white coat blending into the snowy terrain. After being found, Jack ran deeper into the woods for more than an hour.
Despite knee‑deep snow and icy conditions, Tara was able to reach Jack and bring him home safely.
“This was a high‑stress, time‑critical rescue,” said Michael Parziale, founder and operator of the USAR Drone Team. “When a runaway pet is searched for within one to six hours, our success rate exceeds 95%.”
The USAR Drone Team is a nonprofit organization that responds to lost pets, missing persons and disaster situations through community support.
