After more than 24 hours missing in freezing New Jersey temperatures, a five month old puppy named Shade was safely reunited with his family thanks to cutting edge drone technology and a volunteer rescue team.
Shade, an American Bully mix, bolted during a walk after being startled by a noise, disappearing into the cold, windy night. His owner, Gina Manfredi, tried everything. She placed clothing outside that smelled like home and enlisted neighbors and a local pet search service, but the hours kept passing with no sign of the puppy.
That is when Bridge to Home recommended the USAR Drone Team, a veteran based nonprofit founded by Michael Parziale in honor of his World War II veteran father.
The team arrived around 7:15 pm and launched a drone equipped with a thermal camera. After scanning nearby woods and spotting several animals, the team finally saw Shade’s heat signature just two blocks from home. Within 41 minutes, Shade came running when a family member called his name.
Michael later called the reunion “cinematic,” and the rescue set a new speed record for the Jersey Shore area drone team. USAR does not turn away rescues and relies on donations to expand its work, which includes lost pet searches and emergency rescues. Gina later shared that the experience was a powerful reminder that even in uncertain times, kindness and goodness are very real.
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