Erica Hart, a resident of Yorkshire, United Kingdom, has turned her passion for helping animals into a rescue mission that has touched the hearts of hundreds of people. Through her selfless dedication and use of innovative technology, she has reunited over 300 lost dogs with their worried owners.
Hart, 44, calls himself a “pet detective,” and his tool of choice is a drone equipped with an infrared camera. His story begins in April 2018, when he received his first drone as a gift from his father. What began as a simple practice soon became something much more meaningful when his father suggested that he use it to help find a lost dog in his local area.
Since then, Erica has taken part in over 330 dog rescue missions, using her drone to track and locate missing animals in Yorkshire and beyond. Her method has not only been effective in finding dogs, but has also been key in locating cats, emus and even missing people in mountain rescue operations.
Despite her success and the constant demand for her skills, she refuses to accept any payment for her work. For Erica, the joy of reuniting a lost dog with her family is the only reward she needs. “Not only do I help find dogs, I also found cats, emus, cows and helped mountain rescue locate missing people,” Erica shared. “It’s in my nature to help,” she added.
Erica has experienced the emotional highs and lows of her job, from the elation of reuniting a lost animal with its human family, to the frustration of prolonged searches and moments of uncertainty. However, her determination and compassion never wavered.
Erica currently uses an enterprise-grade DJI drone on her rescue missions, but is eager to upgrade to a model with night vision and thermal camera to improve her search capabilities, especially at night. Her story is a moving reminder of the positive impact that a passionate and committed person can have on the community, and on the lives of furry friends and their human caregivers.
