Drone business helps find pets scared by July 4th fireworks | FOX 10 Phoenix

TRACC – Thermal Recovery Assistance for Canines and Cats

As fireworks frighten pets across Arizona, 17-year-old Maxence Pastore and his drone recovery business become their guardian angels

Drone to Reunite Lost Pets on July 4th

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration—but for many pets, it’s a night of confusion, fear, and often, disappearance. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control has long warned that the holiday results in a dramatic spike in runaway pets, but this year, one teenager is taking to the skies to bring them home.

“I’ve been driving all across the Valley to help people out,” said Maxence Pastore, the determined East Valley teen behind TRACC Pet Recovery. His drone-assisted search service uses heat signatures and aerial views to find scared and hidden animals who’ve bolted due to loud fireworks or stormy weather.

TRACC Pet Rescue—short for Thermal Recovery Assistance for Canines and Cats—reunites lost pets with their families using advanced thermal technology. The heart of the operation is the Matrice 30T drone, a cutting-edge device equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging capabilities that allow it to detect heat signatures through trees, bushes, and other natural obstacles. With up to 200X zoom, unmatched stability, and long flight endurance, this drone turns aerial surveillance into a life-saving tool—making it ideal for locating pets in distress.

Since last summer, Maxence has answered the call for countless urgent pet searches, including a daring rescue by the Salt River. “It was just about to be eaten by a coyote, so I was very happy that we got to him beforehand,” Pastore recalled. “You get a bird’s-eye view,” he explained. “So you’re up there looking for the heat signature, and it can also help look through light shrub.”

What makes Maxence’s mission so compelling isn’t just the tech—it’s the heart behind it. As a licensed drone operator under Part 107 and holder of a Remote Pilot’s License issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Maxence is more than just a teen entrepreneur. He’s a Mesa Fire Cadet and a servant leader in his community, driven by a deep sense of responsibility and compassion. With three cats of his own, he’s no stranger to the emotional connection between humans and their pets—and that empathy fuels every flight.

While Maxence flies drones, officials urge pet owners to take grounded steps to avoid heartbreak: keep pets indoors, give them a quiet, safe area during celebrations, and don’t assume past behavior predicts the future—a pet’s sensitivity to loud noises can develop with age. Also, microchipping your furry friend can be the key to a speedy reunion.

“Last night we had more than 60 dogs come in,” said Kim Powell of Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. “We don’t know if that is because of the fireworks. It could be from the storms as well.”

In a season often marked by noise and chaos, Maxence Pastore offers something rare: calm, clarity, and compassion from above. His blend of cutting-edge technology and servant-hearted leadership shows what’s possible when passion meets purpose. In every successful pet reunion, Maxence isn’t just using a drone—he’s delivering hope.

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