Drones Search for Otto the Missing 3-Legged Dog

Mike Moody, from Drone Force, reached out to the local drone club on Facebook to ask for volunteer drone pilots to help continue search for a missing 3-legged dog that had run off from a veterinary clinic in the Stone Oak area on the north side of San Antonio. We answered the call for help and coordinated with Mike to be a part of the search on Day 4, Sunday March 7th. Mike had already been searching for some very long days, but thought that our wireless drone speaker system might perhaps make a difference.

Each pilot filed flight plans with the LAANC System before launching their drones. Fortunately, this area allowed drone flights of up to 100ft AGL (Above Ground Level), or higher, depending upon which direction we flew. This wasn't a situation where flying higher would give us a better view.

We let the owner wear a pair of DJI Goggles linked to our DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone. We strapped the wireless speaker on top of the drone and then handed the radio transmitter to Otto's owner while we flew around various areas at around 50-60ft above ground level, just above the trees.

With the recent snowstorm 3 weeks ago, many of the trees had lost their leaves, making it slightly easier to see the ground level.

Drone Force did a very professional job of coordinating flight areas and altitudes to prevent potential collisions in the air between the various unmanned aircraft.

Unfortunately, as of late Sunday afternoon when the searchers took a well deserved break, Otto the dog had not yet been found. The search was to continue before sunset and will likely continue for several more days until Otto has been located. Locals had seen the dog after reading the flyer.

Obviously there probably aren't many 3-legged dogs with surgical bandages roaming the area. Fresh reports had been arriving every day, leaving the searchers with hope that Otto was still in the area.

The search continues...

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We flew the DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone, recording in 4K / 30fps. Video Editing software was Wondershare Filmora X. Music was from Epidemic Sound.