I am looking to raise money for Renata Debolt to purchase a Thermal Drone.

Renata is always the first one tagged on social media when an animal goes missing or is hurt, she spends countless hours out looking for animals and setting traps. She has caught several dogs to date that were on the run. Dogs especially go into a fight or flight response and after a couple days and do not even recognize their owner’s voice.

Many dogs have been found and trapped but so many more have not sadly. There are currently at least 3 dogs in the Highway 29 area still not found. Many man hours have been spent searching, and a trap sometimes is the only way but can not be set until spotting is consistent in an area.

Each time Renata goes out it takes time away from her family, gas in the vehicle etc. She does have a drone that is just a recreational one but can only be used during the day, but with the thickness of bush in the areas around FSJ a thermal one will hopefully get these animal home quicker resulting in less time on the road.

Renata also volunteers for a wildlife rescue finding bears, deer or wildlife in general for the rescue. She has worked hand in hand with officials in helping animals. As a community of animal lovers lets help her get the tools to make her more successful.

A good quality drone costs about $10,000 not including a carrying case and extra batteries etc.

FROM Renata Debolt....Hi ! A little bit about me . My lifelong passion and background are rooted in animal behavior, advocacy, and the specialized work of tracking, locating, and securing animals that are elusive, trap-shy, or in high-stress situations. As an active volunteer for local wildlife organizations, I am frequently called upon to track injured or distressed animals and safely secure them for transport to rehabilitation facilities. I am also frequently tagged in regional pet community forums when traditional re-securment is not an option. I do all of this at my own cost , often pulling myself away from paid work to facilitate.

In our region ​every year, countless pets go missing and local wildlife suffer from injuries, vehicle collisions, or entrapment. When precious hours tick away, traditional search methods...relying solely on flashlights, foot patrols, and sheer luck...often fall heartbreakingly short, especially when dealing with animals whose survival instincts make them flee from human rescuers.

​We are raising $10,000 to purchase a professional-grade thermal imaging drone to drastically change the odds for animals in crisis. This tool will be used along side our dedicated volunteer monitoring, tracking and live trap methods.

​Why a Thermal Drone Changes Everything

​Standard searches in dense brush, tall grass, or under the cover of night are like looking for a needle in a haystack. A thermal drone equipped with a high-resolution infrared camera detects heat signatures invisible to the human eye, allowing us to:

​Locate Lost Pets Fast: Skittish, terrified dogs and cats hiding in dark, wooded, or swampy areas can be pinpointed in minutes rather than days without inadvertently pushing them further into danger.

​Secure Injured / orphaned Wildlife Safely: local wildlife in distress, allowing rescue teams to approach strategically without causing them further stress or putting human rescuers in treacherous terrain.

​Operate 24/7: Darkness is no longer a barrier to saving a life. Night operations are often when nocturnal wildlife move and when lost pets feel secure enough to emerge.

​Cover Vast Terrain: Scan acres of rough country in a fraction of the time it takes ground teams, preserving vital energy when every minute counts.

​How the Funds Will Be Used

​We want to be completely transparent about where every dollar goes. Reaching our goal of $10,000 will cover:

​Thermal Drone Hardware: A reliable, weather-resistant drone with dual thermal and optical zoom capabilities varies.

​Essential Accessories: Extra high-capacity batteries, a robust multi-battery charging hub, and rugged transport cases cost vary.

​Licensing & Safety Gear: Commercial drone registration, liability insurance, and specialized training materials all cost money.

​How You Can Help

​Every single contribution—whether it is $5, $50, or simply sharing this link.. brings us one step closer to equipping this critical lifeline for our community. No animal should have to face the dark alone, and no family should have to endure the agonizing uncertainty of a lost pet without every tool available.

​Thank you for your incredible compassion, generosity, and support for our furry and feathered neighbors.

Here is a look at one rescue...................48days on the run!! Could have possibly been seen sooner with a thermal drone!

https://youtu.be/YbBWMiTQW_s?si=jORL3L6JFez1Je2_