Drone Quickly Locates Missing Cocker Spaniels in Inkberrow

In a remarkable display of technology’s potential in aiding Search and Rescue efforts, a volunteer drone operator from Redditch, Worcestershire in the United Kingdom, successfully located two missing cocker spaniels within 15 minutes of deploying his drone near Inkberrow on Sunday afternoon, reports The BBC.

The Search

John Watton, a member of Drone SAR (Search and Rescue) For Lost Dogs UK, was contacted by the owner of the missing dogs after they had been gone for approximately six hours. Watton, who conducts searches independently as a hobby, utilized his £5,000 Thermal Drone to locate the dogs.

The drone quickly picked up two heat signatures, making it “one of the easiest searches I’ve ever done,” according to Watton. He showed the owner and her friend the exact location of their pets on the map and screen.

The Thermal Drone Technology

Watton’s thermal drone plays a crucial role in his search efforts. “A thermal drone really helps a lot,” he stated. “When I’m searching an area on my screen, I’m just looking for like little white patches on my screen.”

Even when a drone search does not locate a missing dog, it still proves valuable by eliminating that area, allowing ground searches to focus on different locations.

The Variability of Each Case

Watton emphasized that every missing dog case is unique, with factors such as location, temperament, and the circumstances of their disappearance influencing the search strategy.

“Every single dog is a bit different, so its location, the temperament, how did he go missing? All these different scenarios… go through my head – amazing,” he explained.

The successful location of the two missing cocker spaniels by John Watton and his thermal drone highlights the invaluable role that advanced drone technology can play in search and rescue operations. As Watton noted, given the reactions of the owner upon being reunited with their beloved pets, the investment in such equipment is “worth every penny.”

Photos courtesy of John Watton and The BBC.