Kate from Drone SAR For Lost Dogs IoW, shares this latest news. Ed
Drone SAR For Lost Dogs IW have been nominated and are now finalists in this year’s Animal Star Awards.
Drone SAR [Search And Rescue] for Lost Dogs was created in July 2017 by founder Graham Burton. Graham became aware there was a need for drone technology to aid in the search for missing animals. Graham, a retired press photographer had also been an admin on a number of missing dog groups prior to the creation of DSAR.
The first organisation of its kind
DSAR was the first organisation of its type, using drone technology to help missing animals and is now the biggest such organisation of its type in the whole of the country. Since its creation over 6,000 missing dogs and other animals have been helped to be reunited with their owners.
In recognition of this great organisation it has received the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award in 2021 and then in 2022 received the International Fund for Animal Welfare Award at a presentation at the House of Lords, also recognised as Highly Commended in the Animal Star Awards. Since this time both individuals within the organisation and DSAR continue to be recognised with various nominations and winning further awards.
Pilots from DSAR have been working on the Isle of Wight since the beginning of the organisation, assisting other volunteer organisations, but it became evident there was a much needed division to be created on the Island. In June 2024 Graham created Drone SAR for Lost Dogs IW along with admin/coordinator Suzzy Lee. The group is a great success reuniting missing animals back home with their families.
Being nominated means the absolute world to all of our volunteers. As we’ve only been going on the island since June last year, we feel this us such an achievement. To us, we feel we’re already winners.
The Southern Region Awards ceremony is on Sunday, 25th May 2025 at the Village Hotel Club in Portsmouth. Volunteers from Done SAR IW will be in attendance at the awards ceremony being held representing Team IW.
50 dedicated volunteers
The Island Branch has in excess of 50 dedicated volunteers consisting of Drone Pilots, Ground Searchers, Search dogs and handlers.
Many of our volunteers currently use their own equipment to assist in finding lost pets. We are the proud owners also of two group thermal drones that the qualified and suitably skilled pilots can use, humane traps, including a Missy trap that Graham designed and builds himself which are highly successful along with live feed trail cameras, ring doorbell cameras, all used as required to help the lost animals get safely home.
Free service
No one earns a penny from volunteering and no one is required to pay for our services, they are totally free.
If anyone asks you for money to pay for thermal drones, please do not respond, they will not be genuine Drone SAR volunteers.
All donations we receive are used to purchase further equipment to help get missing pets home.
How to contact us for help
Please join our facebook group.
Post your missing pet ( unfortunately we cannot assist with fully mobile lost cats at this time) and we will contact you for further information.
Please DO NOT include the name of your pet or your phone number on your posts. The reasons why will be discussed when we contact you. Please do attach an up to date photograph of your pet if you can.
If preferred please text or call 07876011574 for advice and assistance and we will return your call as soon as able. ( calls cannot currently be answered after 21.00hrs but will be returned early morning the following day).
