Thermal drone locates missing dog that was hit by a car

In the UK, a one-year-old bulldog was located by a thermal drone after it was hit by a car, swam across the River Don, and survived in the wild for 48 hours despite having a leg that was broken in two places.

Stella, the one-year-old bulldog was reunited with her owners after an incredible rescue mission. The dog had suffered a broken leg after being hit by a car in Sprotbrough. After the accident, the dog panicked and jumped into the River Don. She swam across to the other side and disappeared.

A team of volunteer pet hunters in Doncaster helped in the search for Stella but they were unable to find her. In the end, it took 48 hours and the help of a thermal drone to find the young dog more than a mile from where she went missing, hiding in the bushes.

Darcey Edwards, of Lost and Found Pets Doncaster Team Houdini, explained to the Doncaster Free Press how the tale had had a happy ending after the frightened dog had spent two days sheltering in the wild. She said:

“We went out with the owner who was on the ground while the drone was above. At one stage, the owner was just a few feet away from the dog and the drone could see her but she couldn’t be seen from the ground because she was cowering in the brambles. We managed to get her out, but she couldn’t walk and was exhausted and dehydrated.”

Stella had broken her leg in two places but after successful surgery, she is now recovering at home.

Edwards added: “It is absolutely brilliant we managed to find her after what had happened to her.

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Thermal drone locates missing dog that was hit by a car, swam across a river, and survived for 48 hours despite a broken leg