In a heartwarming turn of events, A Roberts dog breeder has successfully retrieved her missing dog named Winter, a valuable Golden Retriever. Lyla Morrell, the breeder, expressed deep affection for Winter, emphasizing her unique value both in terms of her business and as a beloved family member. “I love the dogs, they’re very important to me,” Morrell shared. “She’s the only female we have, so I was kind of putting all my eggs in one basket with her.”
The expansive 20-acre breeding ground that Morrell owns became a challenging terrain when Winter disappeared, spurred by fright. Morrell recalled the fear and urgency of the situation: “She got startled and took off,” she said. “Like I said, it’s just a vast area and they could be gone. I was panicking because I could hear coyotes. I felt sick to my stomach.”
Despite extensive efforts, including traversing the property and calling out to Winter, Morrell’s initial attempts to locate the dog were fruitless. The breakthrough came when a friend suggested utilizing a thermal drone, an idea that immediately captured Morrell’s interest. “She was telling me all these things I should try and then she mentioned thermal drone and my ears perked up,” Morrell recounted. “So, I looked him up and called him immediately and he said sure, no problem.”
Alex McElligott, a 26-year-old Idaho resident, responded to Morrell’s call with his thermal drone, which employs thermal cameras to identify heat signatures. McElligott, who aspires to turn his drone operation into a full-time business, understands the urgency of such situations. “There’s going to be situations where there isn’t planning, where someone calls you and says, ‘Here’s the situation. What can you do for me?'” he explained. “If this is something I want to do as a career, and it is, then I have to be ready to help at all times.”
The search ended successfully in less than two hours, with McElligott locating Winter near the property. He recalled the moment of discovery: “On the way back, before bringing the drone down to change batteries, I was like, let me peak over where her other dogs were looking,” he said. “I zoomed in and used the spotlight and sure enough. There was Winter.”
The reunion was an emotional moment for Morrell. “It was overwhelming and awesome because I would never want to lose a dog that way,” she expressed. “It was just a very happy ending. This dog is special to me.”
McElligott sees a bright future for his drone service, aiming to assist others in similar predicaments. “It’s something that I think everyone needs in some aspect,” he said. “I’m that smack in the middle that makes that technology and those resources available to everyone else.”