Her Puppy Had Been Missing for 27 Hours. Then a Man With a Thermal Drone Found Him in 41 Minutes

Gina Manfredi had just lost Chance, her dog of 14 years. “Chance was truly my soulmate in a dog form,” she said.

A few months later, a puppy named Shade came into her life. “Shade just brought the biggest light to our family.”

Then one day in February 2025, Gina was walking Shade in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, when she dropped something on the ground. The loud noise scared the five-month-old puppy. He pulled, broke free and ran.

“It was just complete devastation and shock,” Gina said.

Family, friends and neighbors started searching. A neighbor put her in touch with Kathleen Tortu-Bowles, who runs a volunteer group that helps people find lost dogs for free. She was worried. There were woods all around, and a major highway behind the house.

On the second night, she called in Michael Parziale.

Michael runs the U.S.A.R. Drone Team, a nonprofit that uses drones with thermal cameras to find missing pets. He started it to honor his father and grandfathers, who served in the U.S. military, and the money it raises goes to help veterans.

“I jumped in the truck and ran right down to Cherry Hill,” he said.

By the time his drone went up, Shade had been missing for about 27 hours. On the thermal camera, every warm body glows in the dark.

It took Michael about 41 minutes to spot Shade, right there in the neighborhood.

“I screamed!” Gina said. “I screamed at the top of my lungs!”

Michael caught the moment on camera: Shade running back to his family, and Gina on the floor holding him tight. The puppy was hungry, but he wasn’t hurt.

“It’s insanely rewarding to have that joy just explode on-screen,” Michael said.

The volunteers are now helping Gina get the right harness and leash, so it never happens again.

“My heart is so full,” Gina said, “and I cannot express the gratitude I feel.”

Have you ever lost a pet and got them back? Tell us in the comments.