Pet owners reunited with their dog , following a successful Drone To Home search and rescue mission . © 2024 Drone To Home .
“ I once received a call from a veterinary practice with a client whose dog had run off from the practice . By the time we arrived 25 minutes later , all members of staff were out calling for the dog , thinking it was the right thing to do . We advised them to keep calm , stop shouting and bring in the owner as soon as possible , so we could work with them . In situations where that isn ' t feasible , we ' d ask to work with the person – often a veterinary nurse – who has spent the most time with the dog since it was admitted to the practice , even if it that is only a matter of minutes . This increases the chances of the dog coming back on its own when it sees a face or hears a voice it recognises .”
Happily , the dog in this case was located and returned to the practice , but it could have been a very different story – and this , Phil says , is why educating veterinary professionals and the general public is so important .
“ Staff from various veterinary practices have since approached us to find out how they can spread the word to colleagues and clients , which is great ,” Phil says . “ Many practices have downloaded our checklist from our website and shared it with their clients , which lets people know we are here and helps spread the right advice . It means a lot to me that veterinary practices want to work with us , and we try to engage with as many professional bodies as we can . I ' ve delivered 99 talks over 2 years to over 6,000 people , but it would be nice to reach even more veterinary professionals . My plan for 2024 is to deliver information events to practices : short , informative talks for staff who want to learn more about what to do if a dog goes missing .”
Height of dedication
One of Phil ' s most memorable missions was a search for a dachshund that had been missing for 2 days while storms raged across Norfolk . Hope was beginning to fade , but Phil located the dog within 60 seconds of getting his drone airborne . “ The poor dog had fallen halfway down a 120-foot cliff . It was a bit overweight [ not to be recommended ], so may have bounced on the way down , which probably saved its life ,” Phil recalls .
There are many examples of joyous reunions , but unfortunately not all stories have a happy ending . “ We once found a dog deceased on a railway track ,” Phil says , sadly . “ But even in those harrowing situations , we are there to support the owners . We send sympathy cards and make sure we provide care and dignity throughout .”
Drone To Home , whose motto is ‘ We don ’ t judge , we just reunite ’, is there for animals and their owners , rain or shine , 365 days a year . In fact , when it comes to this amazing team ' s dedication , the sky is the only limit .
Further information
To find out more about Drone To Home and to access the charity ' s help , advice , training or talks , scan the QR code or visit https :// dronetohome . org . uk .
26 Veterinary Nursing Journal