At a Glance
- A 1-year-old Australian shepherd named Lana bolted from her owner after being spooked by strong winds in Mission Viejo, California.
- Ground teams and a thermal drone located the dog in a remote canyon roughly a mile from her last known spot.
- Lana was reunited with owner Fred Tarsky after a two-day search and showed no visible injuries.
- Why it matters: The rescue highlights how drone technology is becoming a critical tool for quickly finding lost pets in rugged terrain.
A wind-blown walk turned into a two-day ordeal for a newly adopted Australian shepherd in Orange County, California. Lana, a 1-year-old pup, slipped her leash and vanished into a canyon after sudden gusts startled her during an outing with owner Fred Tarsky.
The Search Begins
Tarsky had just brought Lana home after losing a 12-year-old Australian shepherd. When the winds picked up, the young dog panicked and ran toward the rugged area between Dove Canyon and Coto de Caza. Tarsky told CBS News he “started walking the whole area,” combing trails and ridges in hopes of spotting her.
Mission Viejo Animal Services Center received the call and dispatched officers immediately. The team paired ground searches with a thermal drone, but strong winds limited flight time and visibility. Despite an extensive sweep, nightfall arrived with no sign of the dog.
Breakthrough in the Canyon
On Saturday morning, a resident reported faint barking echoing from a remote canyon about a mile from Lana’s last confirmed location. Officers returned to the area, relaunching the thermal drone to scan steep slopes and dense chaparral.
The drone’s infrared feed pinpointed a single heat signature tucked among boulders. Guided by the aerial view, rescuers picked their way through thick brush and loose rock until they spotted Lana curled between two stones.
“Officers were then guided through the rugged terrain and dense brush to reach the animal, ultimately securing and safely extricating the dog from the steep canyon,” the center said in a statement posted Monday, Jan. 12.
Reunion and Relief
Staff checked the dog on scene and found no cuts, bruises, or dehydration. They fitted her with a spare leash and hiked her back to the trailhead where Tarsky waited.
“We love her,” Tarsky told CBS News moments after the reunion. “We’re so, so happy that she was not injured.”
The Mission Viejo center praised the teamwork between ground crews and drone operators, noting that difficult terrain would have delayed a purely foot-based search.
Another Dog, Another Drone
Lana’s rescue comes one week after a similar story unfolded on the opposite coast. Abbie, a golden retriever mix traveling from a South Carolina shelter to a New England home, slipped away from volunteers at a New Jersey Turnpike rest stop.
Final Victory Animal Rescue told WABC that Abbie wore an AirTag, but dense woods and highway noise complicated tracking. The USAR Drone Team, a veteran-led nonprofit, deployed thermal imaging and located the dog within hours.
“Our reward is seeing the smiles on everybody’s face, especially the owners of their pets. I mean, we consider them family members,” drone team member Michael Parziale told CBS News after Abbie’s safe return.
Key Takeaways
- Thermal drones give rescuers an edge in locating animals day or night, regardless of thick vegetation.
- Quick reporting by residents who hear barking or movement can drastically narrow search grids.
- Even short escapes can turn dangerous; newly adopted pets may bolt when startled.
- Mission Viejo officers stress microchips and secure collars, but drone technology is rapidly becoming a standard backup tool.
Both rescues ended happily, reinforcing how aerial heat-sensing cameras and coordinated ground response are rewriting the timeline for finding lost pets.
