Franklin family reunited with lost dog thanks to high-tech search efforts

FRANKLIN, Maine (WABI) – People do everything for their dogs, and when one family in Franklin lost their pet, they recruited some serious help.

Recently, a family member was watching their dogs while the Cotes were out of town.

Their two dogs were outside when they were helping with yard work and that’s when Stormi disappeared.

When they heard the news, panic set in.

“It all started, we put out a post of Stormi being missing. The community was great, everybody pitched and helped us walk in the woods. I had countless friends come help. I was in the woods one day for 12 hours,” said Paul Cote, one of Stormi’s owners.

Two days passed with no sight of the eight-month-old French Bulldog.

The Cotes sought an expert at finding lost dogs from out of state equipped with a thermal imaging drone and two-way radios.

“We were skeptical of whether we were going to find him or not, and then all of a sudden, we had a small glimpse of his back underneath the tree about, I’m guessing maybe a mile, a mile and a half out in the woods in a swamp. Very very thick stuff. He’s only 20 pounds, very small,” Paul explained.

As Stormi was located a mile back into a swamp, a rescue was not easy.

“This was a legit swamp, waist deep water. These little little tiny islands in the middle of the water and he was on an island,” noted Robert Russell, Owner of 2A TAC Air OPS Drone Services.

Russell kept an eye on Stormi from the sky as Cote went into the swamp.

“I give them a two-way radio. I have a radio in my truck, so the whole time they’re going out, I’m watching from the drone, but I’m communicating with them via radio. That’s to get them to Stormi, but the other thing is once they’re getting close, I’m coaching them, actively coaching them on the way to approach the dog because it’s one thing to find the dog, but we need to get Stormi home,” explained Russell.

As a dog’s fight or flight response will kick in just a few hours after being lost, it was important not to startle Stormi.

Luckily, Cote was able to get a leash on Stormi after a few minutes.

“Once we grabbed him all the stress was gone and we felt whole again, he’s a kid to us,” stated Paul.

Stormi was also glad help finally arrived.

“He was so happy to see me. He rolled right over on his back and actually fell into a mud puddle,” Paul added.

The many community members who assisted in the search were also delighted to hear the good news.

“I was really overwhelmed because we had so much help from the community. Everyone was reaching out, really taken back and really super happy to be able to tell everyone it was successful,” said Katelyn Cote, one of Stormi’s owners.

Since the rescue, Stormi is getting back to his old self.

“He’s healthy, he’s sleeping a lot, eating a lot. He’s just been getting cuddles and hasn’t left our sight,” said Paul

“When we have dinner, he likes to go under my feet and try to eat some of my food and he likes to get his stomach rubbed,” explained Sailor Cote, one of Stormi’s owners.

The Cotes have made sure this will be the last time Stormi goes missing.

“Ironically, we bought an air tag to put on our daughter before a cheer competition and we have switched the air tag over to one of Stormi’s collars,” stated Katelyn.

Russell posts many of his rescues on his Youtube Channel, a link to it can be found by clicking here.

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