Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
The rescue was in part attributed to a generous donation of a state-of-the-art thermal imaging unmanned aerial system from DAWG. MISSION VIEJO, CA — A Mission Viejo family was reunited with their dog this week, after Mission Viejo Animal Services used donated drone technology to locate and return the pup to her grateful owner. According to MVAS, the center received a call from a resident whose dog — named Josie — had gone missing for more than 24 hours after being startled in a remote area. The department then deployed its FAA-licensed remote pilot to conduct an aerial search using the newly donated drone's advanced thermal and imaging capabilities. While the initial search didn't yield any results, MVAS Manager and Chief of Field Services Kyle Werner told Patch that once the system was redeployed, results happened. Josie was found traveling along a remote trail, and MVAS tracked her for nearly a mile while coordinating with her owner over the phone. "This is exactly the kind of compassionate, community-focused outcome we strive to achieve," Werner said. "Thanks to DAWG's incredible generosity, our team now has another vital tool to help reunite families with their beloved pets."
