Missing pooch found in old Welsh mine five days after vanishing thanks to heat-seeking drone
Locals scoured the South Wales mountain in vain for days before flying thermal camera was roped in and pinpointed Chihuahua Cherry in just 20 minutes
A DOG was rescued from an old mine five days after she vanished — thanks to a heat-seeking drone.
Chihuahua Cherry was pinpointed by a thermal camera when her owner begged for help finding her.
Frantic Katinka Slingsby, 27, had even launched a crowdfunding appeal on Facebook to raise cash to search the mountain where the five-year-old was last seen.
But the £1,200 donated by touched supporters was not needed when a drone firm stepped in to reunite her with her beloved pet.
Yesterday Katinka said: “It’s amazing.”
Her dad was walking Cherry on the South Wales peak of Mynydd James when he threw a stick and Cherry vanished.
Locals scoured the mountain near Abertillery in vain. RSPCA worker Katinka, of Pontypool, Gwent, thought the only hope of finding the chihuahua was to hire a helicopter.
Then drone firm Resource Group Unmanned Aviation Services volunteered to send in its spybot — and Cherry was found in 20 minutes.
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Katinka, who is to refund donations to the search, said: “It was overwhelming. I just want to say thank you.
"I’m so touched by everybody’s help. She’s healthy but a bit bruised and tired. We’re now keeping her on a strict lead.”
The drone firm’s John Larkin said: “We are delighted.”
