Drone helps finally find missing dog who travelled hundreds of miles sparking 17-day search – as owner rushes home from Ibiza holiday

By JAMES MCNEILL

Published: | Updated:

Drones helped to find a missing dog who travelled hundreds of miles through the Scottish highlands in an absence which prompted a 17-day search.

Carrie Kemp had to rush home from her family holiday in Ibiza after she received a call to say her dog had escaped from the pet’s kennels back on October 6.

The mum-of-three left her family on the Spanish island and joined the frantic search for her dog, a German Shepherd called Rayne.

Carrie, from Ballinluig, near Pitlochry in Scotland, said she spent so much time walking around the rugged landscape that her feet were left bleeding.

Eventually, a rescue team were called in and used live cameras, bait stations, drones and thermal scopes to track down Rayne – who was eventually found last Wednesday after 17 days in the wilderness, The Mirror reports.

Rayne (pictured) scavenged for food as she travelled hundreds of miles through rugged terrain

Carrie Kemp had to rush home from her family holiday in Ibza after she received a call to say her dog had escaped from the pet’s kennels

Traps were placed in the Comrie area after a sighting of Rayne and she was caught on Wednesday

Carrie camped out and slept in her car whenever there was a sighting of Rayne who despite being spotted managed to avoid capture.

It is believed that Rayne scavenged for food as she travelled hundreds of miles through glens and rivers.

Carrie told the Daily Record: ‘When the message came in to say they got her I just couldn’t believe it. I felt totally overwhelmed, I was shaking like mad.

‘I couldn’t believe we’d got her at last. She was jumping all over the kids, it was just amazing. Hundreds of people were involved in the search.

‘The team at Missing Pets, Perth and Kinross, were amazing. They pulled all-nighters out in the van with the thermal scopes, putting food trails down.

‘Locals were out looking every day and out searching with the thermal scopes.’

‘One of the volunteers even had an infrared drone – but we were always two steps behind her.

‘Every time there was a sighting the adrenaline would kick in, but the area was just so vast that every time we arrived she’d moved on.’

Map shows the area Rayne travelled and the hearts show sightings of the dog 

Carrie, from Ballinluig near Pitlochry in Scotland, is pictured with her beloved dog Rayne

This shows the emotional moment Carrier was reunited with her pet dog Rayne

On the night she was caught, traps were placed in the Comrie area after a sighting of Rayne.

Carrie, who works in admin, said that when Rayne was finally found she ‘couldn’t believe it was all over’.

She added: ‘Although she is very thin, wobbly at the back, and covered in ticks, scabs and scars – she is back barking away happily and playing with her toys.

‘I never want to let her out of my sight again.’

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