Don’t Shoot Down That Drone: It Could Be Helping To Find A Lost Horse Or Dog In Maine

Let me start by saying that I get it; I'm not the biggest fan of seeing things in the sky that I don't expect to be there. And  I completely understand that with the ever-advancing technological breakthroughs and capabilities, where flying robots can be outfitted with things like cameras and recording devices, it's not surprising to me that folks might find a drone flying around their neighborhood or their land unnerving.

That being said, I do realize that for every nefarious or malicious use someone has for tools like these, there are others who would use them for good.

Take, for instance, the company 2A TAC AIR OPS Drone Services. This is a New England-based company that uses drones to help find missing animals and beloved pets.

Read More: In Maine, You Could Possibly Be Violating the Law with Your Drone

According to their website, they're a team of FAA-licensed drone pilots who utilize their expertise for the greater good.

"We are a Drone Service that provides Pet / Human and Livestock Thermal Drone Searches all over the Northeast. We provide support to police departments for Missing Persons Cases, and we go out every day to assist people in locating missing dogs and other animals, such as livestock."

People whose animals go missing can hire drone pilots, such as Rob Russell, to send machines into the air. These drones are then able to get a glimpse of places farther away, faster than folks on foot would be able to search.

It's a helpful service to have on hand, especially in a place like Maine, where there's so much land and space to cover, a lot of it tricky terrain.

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For instance, earlier this week, a horse named Gumby went missing from his home in Stetson.

The folks from 2A TAC AIR Ops were contacted to see if they could help in the effort to find Gumby.

Pilot Russell came to Maine and set up shop in Penobscot County, with the help of some local equestrians and volunteers. Then the mission was on!

Searchers came across some tracks and gave Russell a starting point, based on the direction of the tracks.

An announcement was made via media to give folks in the area a heads-up that a drone would be sent up in that area, so that people weren't caught off guard.

Based on the information the folks on the ground were able to provide, it was less than 5 minutes before Russell spotted something on his screen.

There, plain as day, was Gumby, the horse everyone had been looking for, and immediately the search turned into a rescue mission.

With excellent teamwork and communication, a plan was put into place to recover Gumby. Ultimately, the horse was brought back to its owner, safe and sound, which is exactly the outcome these drone pilots hope for.

Russell is also working on the missing dog cases of Ruger and Marlin this week. Both dogs were reported missing in Eastern Maine on February 4th.

The machines drone operators like Russell send up during these missions are not cheap, and can often encounter damage due to weather, terrain, or sometimes even human interaction.

The upkeep and repair of these important tools can add up to thousands of dollars.

Some drone pilots have even had their crafts shot at or shot out of the sky.

Russell had direct experience with folks shooting at his drone last year, in Corinth, when he was using the craft to locate a couple of missing dogs in the area. In that case, authorities had to get involved.

Read More: Can You Legally Shoot Down A Drone Over Your Property?

Believe it or not, it is illegal to shoot at drones flying in the sky over your property.

While you may own the land, the airspace above your home is not considered your property, but that drone you're shooting at IS considered an aircraft, and therefore protected by federal law through the Federal Aviation Administration.

So while a drone in the sky may annoy you, it's not just something you can take upon yourself to remove from the sky and/or damage, at least not without major repercussions that could be costly to you in many ways.

For a better look at just how helpful this drone technology can be, check out this footage of another drone rescue involving a couple of Maine horses that went missing.