Dog On 20 Mile Journey Along NJ Turnpike Is Rescued By Thermal Drone Crew

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A lost dog is now safe after a thermal drone helped find and rescue her following her 20+ mile journey by the NJ Turnpike on Sunday.

Abbie, a nine-year-old Golden Retriever mix who was being transported from South Carolina to her forever home, was found in Woodbridge after she got loose around the Joyce Kilmer rest area in East Brunswick, Michael Parziale, the team leader and founder of the Unmanned Search and Rescue (USAR) Drone Team, told Patch.

Once Abbie escaped from her transport vehicle, Parziale said he was called in on Sunday evening to coordinate search and rescue efforts with Woodbridge Animal Control Officer Sarah Merideth.

An AirTag on Abbie showed that her last known location was the middle of the NJ Turnpike, Parziale said, about 500 feet from where she was eventually found.

Using thermal imaging on a USAR drone, Parziale was able to find and secure Abbie's location in minutes.

“The AirTag was showing up in the middle of the turnpike, which is a pretty dangerous area,” Parizale said. “So I immediately started going through all the thermal hits that I found, and after finding a couple of cats, a raccoon, animals like that – I found Abbie.”

Once Parizale secured Abbie’s location, he and Merideth called Woodbridge Police to block off the turnpike ramp to prevent the dog from running onto the road and possibly getting hit by a car.

As authorities were executing their rescue plan, Parizale said they discovered a fence in the middle of the wooded area by the ramp, and that Abbie had an injury to her back left hind leg, which caused them to adjust their rescue plan.

Following this adjustment, authorities were able to move in and safely secure Abbie. Drone footage of Abbie’s rescue can be seen here.

“They were able to go in and secure Abbie, which was wonderful. It was perfect,” Parizale told Patch. “They did a great job, the Woodbridge Police Department. In execution, it was exactly how it should’ve been done.”

Once Abbie was rescued, she was brought to the Tri-State Veterinary Hospital in Woodbridge for treatment of an injury to her hip and some road rash, Final Victory Animal Rescue (the South Carolina organization transporting Abbie) said in an online post.

In an update posted on Monday, the rescue organization said Abbie has since returned to South Carolina and is back with a foster parent, awaiting surgery.

The rescue extended its thanks to Woodbridge Animal Control & Animal Shelter, Parziale, the Woodbridge Police Department, and those who offered their support and donations for their assistance in helping to find Abbie.

“This was true teamwork, determination, and compassion in action. All for a dog they didn't know from states away,” Final Victory Animal Rescue said. “Our team is filled with gratitude for the drone team that made this rescue possible. Michael Parziale showed such dedication and professionalism throughout this process.”

With this rescue, Abbie marks the 123rd pet safely found by the USAR Drone Team.

The USAR Drone Team is a veteran-based nonprofit that assists with search and rescue operations for pets, often at no cost to families in crisis.

Donations to the team go directly to helping veterans find new careers in the use of drones, along with free training offered by the USAR to veterans and their immediate family, Parziale said. Donations can be made here.