A team of volunteers that use drones and other pieces of tech to help reunite lost pets and their owners are up for a prestigious award.
The Isle of Wight’s Drone SAR For Lost Dogs has been named as a finalist in this year’s Animal Star Awards.
Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK was created back in July 2017 by Graham Burton, a retired press photographer who became aware there was a need for drone technology to aid in the search for missing animals.
Since their inception, Drone SAR more than 104,000 which includes near 4,000 drone pilots and over 3,500 ground searchers and tracker dogs, covering the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Drone SAR received the Prime Ministers Point of Light award in 2021, before receiving the International Fund For Animal Welfare award in 2022.
In June 2024 Graham – along with group admin/coordinator Suzzy Lee – created division of the main group here on the Isle of Wight – Drone SAR For Lost Dogs IOW.
Drone SAR For Lost Dogs IOW has amassed over 900 members including a team of dedicated drone pilots, ground searchers, and tracking dog handlers.
A spokesperson for Drone SAR For Lost Dogs IOW has said:
“We have an amazing team of volunteer’s who are only to willing to help with any missing animal and since the start have already had great success in reuniting missing animals back home with their family.
“We are always looking for more volunteer pilots, ground searchers and tracker dog handlers, so if you have what it takes to be part of this amazing team then don’t hesitate to get in contact.
“We are the proud owners also of 2 group thermal drones that the qualified and suitably skilled pilots can use, humane traps, including a Missy trap that Graham designed and builds himself which are highly successful along with Live feed Trail cameras, ring doorbell cameras, all used as required to help the lost animals get safely home.
“No one earns a penny from volunteering and no one is required to pay for our services, they are totally free. If anyone asks you for money to pay for thermal drones, please do not respond, they will not be genuine Drone SAR volunteers.”
What a great job they are doing