NEW JERSEY — An escaped pooch is back in safe hands thanks in part to a local search and rescue team that used drone technology to track down the lost dog that ran over 25 miles along the New Jersey Turnpike over the weekend.
Final Victory Animal Rescue said Abbie was one of several dogs being taken up north from a shelter in South Carolina to New England to be adopted by their forever families.
They stopped at the Joyce Kilmer rest stop off the New Jersey Turnpike to let the dogs take a bathroom break, and that’s when Abbie ran away.
Fortunately, the Golden Retriever mix had an AirTag on it.
Final Victory Animal Rescue says their team worked nonstop Saturday to find help for Abbie and support the search, despite being more than 10 hours away.
Ultimately, Abbie was located and secured by the USAR Drone Team using thermal imaging from an unmanned drone.
Abbie was caught with the help of Woodbridge Animal Control and the Woodbridge Police Department after a careful game plan was put in place to prevent her from fleeing back toward the New Jersey Turnpike, according to Final Victory Animal Rescue.
The USAR Drone Team said Abbie was their 123rd dog rescue.
Abbie is currently at Tri-State Veterinary Hospital in Woodbridge. She has an injury to her hip and some road rash, and she is being evaluated by additional veterinarians.
If you would like to help us with Abbie’s medical care, donations can be made online.
You can also support the USAR Drone Team and their life-saving work. Donations can be made here
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