East Brunswick, New Jersey – A dog that escaped from a rest stop along the New Jersey Turnpike wandered for nearly 25 miles before being found safe the next day, thanks to a drone-assisted search involving volunteers and local police.
Dog Escaped During Early Morning Stop
The dog, Abbie, a 9-year-old golden retriever mix, was traveling in a transport van from a South Carolina shelter to a new home in Maine. The van stopped at a service area in East Brunswick around 6 a.m. Saturday so the dogs could take a bathroom break, according to Final Victory Animal Rescue.
During the stop, Abbie broke free and ran from the area. Despite immediate efforts to locate her, the frightened dog disappeared into nearby surroundings.
Drone Team Used Thermal Imaging to Locate Her
Abbie was wearing a tracking tag that provided her general location, which helped narrow the search area. Volunteers from the Unmanned Search and Rescue team joined the effort, using drones equipped with thermal imaging technology to scan wooded areas from above.
The drone footage eventually led rescuers to a wooded area miles from where Abbie initially escaped. She was located roughly 15 miles away, after wandering for hours through unfamiliar terrain.
Police Rescued Dog After Overnight Search
Officers from the Woodbridge Township Police reached Abbie around 2 a.m. Sunday and safely recovered her. Police said the dog was cold and extremely fearful when they found her.
Rescuers later determined that Abbie had suffered a hip injury during her time on the run. She will require surgery, but officials confirmed that her condition is stable.
The drone team said this marked their 123rd successful dog rescue, highlighting how aerial technology is increasingly used in pet recovery efforts.
Adoption Plans Changed After Ordeal
In a social media update shared late Monday, Final Victory Animal Rescue confirmed that Abbie would no longer continue on to Maine. Instead, she has returned to South Carolina and will be adopted by the Columbia-area family that had already been fostering her.
“With boots on the ground and eyes in the sky, Abbie was located and recovered safely,” the shelter wrote. “A huge thank you to every agency involved for showing up when it mattered most.”
Rescuers said the incident underscores both the risks involved in animal transport and the growing role of drone technology in search-and-rescue operations involving lost pets.
