Aerial Rescue: The Drone-Assisted Search for a Beloved Family Pug

Newark Community Rallies to Find Missing Senior Pug

Newark, New York witnessed an extraordinary community effort when Pam and Paul Baran’s 15-year-old pug, Princess, went missing, sparking a 14-hour search that culminated in a high-tech drone rescue.

The Disappearance and Community Mobilization

The Barans faced every pet owner’s nightmare when Princess disappeared on a Wednesday evening. This prompted an urgent search operation involving friends, Newark Police officers, and the wider community. Pam Baran turned to social media the next morning, a move that proved pivotal in the search for Princess, reports 13WHAM.

High-Tech Assistance: A Drone’s Role in the Rescue

Enter Don Dennie, a retired Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy, and his wife Mindy. Having seen Pam’s Facebook post, the couple arrived at the Barans’ residence, equipped with Dennie’s drone photography business asset, Drone’s Eye View. The drone, featuring thermal imaging technology, launched into the skies above Newark, scanning the area for any sign of Princess.

The Moment of Discovery

Dennie recounts the search process, “When we got up there, we were just kind of led to go the opposite way.” This intuition paid off when they located Princess in a swampy area, visibly distressed but alive. The discovery came less than 30 minutes into the drone search, a stark contrast to the fruitless 14-hour ground search.

Pam Baran vividly recalls the moment of relief: “I remember Mindy, Don’s wife, coming to the door and she said: I think we found her. I had myself, and I asked: is she alive or is she gone? Mindy said: she’s alive I can see her circling in the field.”

Technology and Community Spirit Unite

The story of Princess’s rescue is more than just a lost-and-found tale. It highlights the power of community support and the role of technology in modern rescue efforts. The successful search for Princess demonstrates how combining traditional search methods with innovative technology can lead to happy endings, even in the most challenging situations. For the Barans, and indeed for Newark, it was a day of joy, relief, and technological triumph.