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(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
Graham Burton, who is 66 and based in Pontypridd, Wales, set up Drone SAR for Lost Dogs UK in 2017, and the search and rescue group, which is active onFacebook,TwitterandInstagram, has since found nearly 3,000 lost dogs, many of whom may have perished if it wasn’t for the actions of the team.
As soon as it becomes aware of a missing dog, the group leaps into action with an administrator contacting the owner to find out as much information as possible. Once that’s done, local drone pilots start the search, along with on-ground volunteers - some with their own dogs.
Some of the pilots use highly sophisticated drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to help locate the missing dogs, but just getting an aerial perspective of a search zone, with abudget droneor a drone designed forbeginners, or evendrones for kids, can potentially help with a rescue.
(Image credit: Drone SAR for Lost Dogs UK)
(Image credit: Drone SAR for Lost Dogs UK)
Mr Burton started the group five years ago after hearing about a case in Devon where a drone pilot was asking for £800 a day to assist a woman looking for her lost dog.
Speaking to BBC Wales about itlast yearhe said: “I thought, there’s no way I’m going to allow that so I contacted a few friends of mine in the Devon area and they went and found the dog and didn’t charge a penny.”
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(Image credit: BBC)
The group now has over 64,000 members, who all help to spread the word, and 3,000 drone pilots are active, along with around 2,500 ground searchers. Their collective efforts have successfully reunited more than 2,750 dogs with their worried owners.
In recognition of his efforts, Mr Burton recently received the International Fund for Animal Welfare Award at the House of Lords.
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