Amanda Jones, a resident of Polesworth near Tamworth, has dedicated her spare time to rescuing lost dogs after a personal experience that deeply affected her. Amanda grew up with her grandmother’s border collie, Petra, which sparked her lifelong love for dogs.
In 2021, while walking in the woods with her husband Paul, Amanda’s own border collie, Nellie, went missing. She recalled the distressing moment: “She was missing for half an hour, and I thought my world had ended. I absolutely adore my dogs. I was walking around the woods crying, until I finally found Nellie who must have heard my voice-it was a really stressful time.”
This experience motivated Amanda, 52, to learn how to operate the DJI Mavic 3T thermal drone. As a volunteer member of the UK charity Harvey’s Army, she now takes her drone on missions to locate lost dogs in collaboration with other volunteers. The drone’s thermal imaging is particularly effective for spotting animals from a distance, facilitating their safe return to owners.
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In May, Amanda successfully located a cockapoo named Millie after a burglary in Atherstone left the family’s door open, allowing the dog to escape. Using the drone, Amanda tracked Millie near a local water tower. She explained, “It was a straightforward rescue. A team member directed the owner by phone to the location, using a QR code on the drone to provide a Google Maps position. The process was quite remarkable.”
Balancing a full-time office job with her volunteer work, Amanda finds the rescues a rewarding outlet. “You feel a responsibility when someone asks for help,” she said. “Reuniting a dog with their owner brings a joy that’s hard to describe. The owners can’t be more grateful and we never expect anything in return; we’re just a bunch of crazy animal lovers.”
To enhance her rescue efforts, Amanda has launched a £6,000 fundraising campaign to upgrade to a DJI Matrice 4T drone. She emphasised that the new equipment would serve the volunteer community and be passed on when she eventually retires.