Location: Yorkshire, England
When in 2018 Erica Hart received her first drone as a gift from her father, I don’t think either person could have seen where it would lead. Now, five odd years later, the remarkable Ms. Hart is affectionately known as the "pet detective" in her community and for good reason! With unwavering dedication and a heart full of compassion, she regularly embarks on a mission to reunite lost dogs with their worried owners, employing an ingenious pairing – an infrared camera and a trusted drone.
From the first rescue news and attention has spread like wildfire about Erica’s cause and deeds. With boundless love for animals coursing through her veins, Erica's efforts have led to the joyous reunion of 330 pets with their grateful families. And it’s not just dogs! She’s also rescued cats, emus, cows, and even aided mountain rescue teams in locating missing human beings. If it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the guy?
It’s not an easy task, occasionally taking as long as 12 days (for a wayward cockapoo, wouldn’t you know,) she remote pilots the drone over vast terrains and networks of streets and buildings. But such perseverance is fueled by the sheer joy of witnessing the tearful reunions, likened, by Ms. Hart, to the euphoria of winning the lottery.
Looking to the future, there is already new technologies Erica would love to employ. Night vision, better thermal cameras and even augmenting the drone itself for increased performance. The thinking goes, as the tools improve the quantity of rescues will increase.
Who wouldn’t want that goodness?
An exciting career opportunity for a generous entrepreneur!