A quick-thinking drone operator helped rescue a stranded dog from frozen Lake Parsippany in New Jersey during a Christmas Eve ordeal that lasted nearly 24 hours.
Brooklyn, a 20-month-old Sheepadoodle who had escaped from her dogsitter while her owner was away for the holidays, found herself stuck on the dangerous thin ice of Lake Parsippany. Multiple rescue attempts failed as the scared pup kept retreating further onto the frozen surface.
Local resident Kishan Patel, who owns both a drone and a dog himself, volunteered to assist police officers with the rescue effort. "I can imagine what the owner must be going through," said Patel, who used his drone to try luring Brooklyn with chicken attached to it.
While the drone managed to get Brooklyn within 20-30 feet of the shore, she would retreat whenever she spotted people nearby. As darkness fell, Patel's drone proved invaluable in tracking the dog's location on the ice.
After testing the ice thickness with weights, police officers were eventually able to venture far enough to encourage Brooklyn back toward land. Though initially spooked, she made it safely off the ice and was later found sheltering on someone's front porch.
"I feel even more happy that the dog is safe and it's back home," said Patel, expressing relief at the successful rescue and grateful his drone could be put to such positive use.
The dog is now reported to be doing well after her frightening adventure on the frozen lake, thanks to the combined efforts of local police and a helpful neighbor with the right technology at the right time.