A couple have been reunited with their missing dog after it spent four days on the run – thanks to pet detectives using a hi-tech drone. June and David Hamilton had picked up the 18-month-old Spanish rescue Jack Russell terrier less than two hours before it escaped from the garden of their home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire.
It evaded an army of volunteers and two specialist pet charities for four days and nights before being spotted by a drone from the air. Retired civil engineer David, 64, said he and ex-teacher June, 61, had feared Rana – who was brought to Scotland by the dog rescue charity Pet Pals Gran Canaria – would succumb to extreme heat as temperatures soared last week.
They were overjoyed to get Rana, now nicknamed Ranaway, back home thanks to the hi-tech equipment used by Stuart Glen, from Drone Search And Rescue For Lost Dogs UK. David said: “We were devastated when Rana managed to escape from the back garden after just bringing her home. But the response from the community was overwhelming.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Stuart, who spent hours looking for Rana from the air. Without his drone scouring the landscape, we might never have found her.”
June and David posted an appeal on social media after Rana bolted last Saturday and mentioned she had a distinctive large heart-shaped marking on her coat.
Among those who offered help were pet detectives Drone SAR and pet search group Lanarkshire Trap and Scan Crew (LTSC). After nearly 100 hours, Rana was spotted by British Gas workers near the car park of Bothwell Castle Golf Club.
But by the time June and David arrived, she had vanished again. However Stuart, who volunteers as a pilot for Drone SAR, picked Rana out from above, hiding under thick bushes.
June spent more than an hour trying to coax her out of hiding before managing to slip a lead over her head. Stuart, who was helped by Fiona Halliday, of LTSC, said: “I’m just delighted we were able to help reunite Rana with her new owners.”
June added: “Our thanks go to everyone who gave up their time to look for Rana – especially Stuart and Fiona. We’re very happy to have her home.”
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