A senior dog that had been missing for days was rescued after becoming stranded deep in a marsh in Illinois. The 12-year-old Husky, Bandit, was finally located with the help of a drone after search efforts were complicated by dense vegetation and difficult terrain. Police officers, firefighters, and a drone rescue specialist worked together to reach the trapped pup and bring him to safety.
The rescue began early Monday morning after authorities were called to a marsh near the 2200 block of Bay Oaks Drive. According to the McHenry Township Fire Protection District, Lakemoor police requested assistance around 6 a.m. after receiving reports that a dog was stranded several hundred feet into the wetland.
Senior dog rescued after being stranded several hundred feet into a marsh using drone
Bandit had been missing since Friday. His owner, Valorie Revere, had spent days reaching out to people living near the marsh, which was roughly 1.5 to 2 miles from her home. As the search continued, Revere contacted Pero Radulovic of Pet Rescue Backwoods Drone Search and Rescue.
Radulovic searched the area for about five hours on Sunday but was unable to locate the dog. Later that day, however, a new clue emerged when Revere received a video recording that appeared to contain the sound of a dog crying somewhere in the marsh. Revere then went to the area and was convinced the sound belonged to her dog. However, she quickly realized there was no safe way to reach him through the marsh. “That was heart-wrenching,” she said, per Shaw Local.
Determined to continue searching, Radulovic returned to the marsh around 3 a.m. Monday. Shortly before sunrise, he picked up a heat signature at one of the farthest points in the marsh. After switching from thermal imaging to the drone’s zoom camera, he finally confirmed what he had been searching for. “There was Bandit,” Radulovic told the outlet.
Once Bandit’s location was known, a full-scale rescue effort began. According to Radulovic, nearly 30 people eventually became involved. Lakemoor Police officers Mat Herrick and Trevor Parlberg entered the marsh wearing water rescue gear. Meanwhile, firefighters followed shortly afterward to assist.
For Radulovic, who has operated his drone rescue service for four years, the mission was unlike any other. “This was definitely the most intense so far,” he said. And while Bandit still faces a recovery journey, his owner remains grateful that the search ended with him back by her side. “All things considered, it was a happy ending,” Revere said.
