Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
A missing Scots dog has been returned home after he was tracked down by a drone following a frantic eight day search.
Dozens joined the hunt for little Benjie after owner Craig Baggley issued a desperate appeal for help in finding the lost pup, who had been last seen at a fire station in Dumbarton.
The white and tan coloured Brittany dog had been lost since the afternoon of Wednesday, October 6 – and concern was growing for the pooch, who had been described as very nervous around new people.
Benjie had a collar and lead on him with tags and was chipped – but no-one was able to find him for over a week, reports Glasgow Live.
However, a turning point arrived when Eye In The Sky Glasgow got involved by launching a drone in the area to see if he could catch Craig’s dog on the move.
Benjie was spotted from the air, allowing the search party to narrow down their focus and eventually get Benjie back to his owner.
The man behind the operation, John Crawford, said: “What I tend to do when on a search and rescue for a lost pet is a live search using a thermal imaging drone.
“That shows up body heat generated from the dog in heavy growth and I scan the area. I also take loads of pictures and review them back in the office.
“In this case a lone dog showed up, as the pictures revealed. Then the search party was looking in the right place for him which was how he was found.”
(Image: Màde ìn Scotlànd / @EyeintheskyGla)
Benjie’s owner Craig shared his relief and said Benjie is now doing well following the eight-day ordeal.
He said: “It was an upsetting time. John was out with his drones for around four hours. When he got the shot of Benjie, it allowed us to focus on a small area.
“I’d also like to mention the Lost Pets Glasgow Facebook group, including Debra Agnew and Pamela Dodd from Dumbarton. Pamela was a great help. She even camped out in her car by the Clyde shore one night to help find him.”
Earlier this month we told how a Scots couple were left in tears after they also found their beloved missing dog thanks to a hi-tech drone and a clever trap.
Meghan Savage, 29, and Mark Savage, 29, searched for adorable Pomeranian Aurora for ten days as she suddenly vanished from Cumnock after being spooked on walk.
The heartbroken pair even slept in their car and camped in fields near where their pet had been last seen in a desperate bid to find her.
Then charity Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK stepped in by offering to set up a cage and cameras to find the two-year-old pet.
They used a drone to search the area before setting up the trap with fish as bait on Saturday and Aurora was found safe and sound inside the trap on Sunday at 1pm.
The adventurous wee dog has now been nicknamed ‘Aurora The Explorer’ after the popular children’s character, Dora.
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