A VOLUNTEER group on the Isle of Wight that uses drones to help find missing pets is up for an award.
The Island branch of Drone SAR for Lost Dogs has been named as a finalist in this year's Animal Star Awards.
The organisation, which has been operating on the Isle of Wight since June 2024, helps reunite lost pets with their owners.
The group is made up of more than 50 volunteers, including drone pilots, ground searchers, search dogs and their handlers.
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The group also has two thermal drones and other equipment, including humane traps and cameras, which are used to help find missing pets.
Drone SAR for Lost Dogs was formed in 2017 by Graham Burton, who saw the potential for using drone technology to find missing animals.
Since then, the organisation has helped reunite more than 6,000 missing pets with their owners.
In 2021, the group received the Prime Minister's Point of Light Award and, in 2022, won the International Fund for Animal Welfare Award.
The Isle of Wight branch of the organisation has now been chosen as a finalist in the Animal Star Awards.
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A spokesperson for the group said: "Being nominated means the absolute world to all of our volunteers.
"As we've only been going on the Island since June last year, we feel this is such an achievement.
"To us, we feel we're already winners."
The group will find out if they have won the award at a ceremony to be held at the Village Hotel Club in Portsmouth on Sunday, May 25.
Drone SAR for Lost Dogs is entirely run by volunteers and does not charge for its services.
The group does accept donations, however, which are used to buy more equipment to help find missing pets.
"No one earns a penny from volunteering and no one is required to pay for our services, they are totally free," the group's spokesperson added.
"If anyone asks you for money to pay for thermal drones, please do not respond, they will not be genuine Drone SAR volunteers.
"All donations we receive are used to purchase further equipment to help missing pets home."
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