Last month, a little terrier named Krakka was at her home in the United Kingdom when she felt a sudden urge to run. Tempted by open fields and exciting smells, Krakka and her dog sibling escaped their house and headed out on an adventure.
When their mom, Glynis Elgey, realized the pups were gone, she panicked. Elgey was comforted when Krakka’s sibling returned home that same night.
But where was Krakka?
In need of expert assistance, Elgey called Steve Priestman, of Drone SAR for Lost Dogs UK, an organization that uses drones to locate missing pets.
“We immediately began searching the nearby farmland and open countryside,” Priestman said in a video for The Dodo. “But there was still no sign of her.”
The next day, Priestman and his team expanded the
search. Hours went by with no sign of Krakka. Team members were about to give up when they noticed Krakka’s sibling becoming “fixated” on a cluster of rabbit holes.
“That’s when we realized Krakka was trapped below the surface,” Priestman said.
Rescuers dug through 3 feet of soil. Finally, they spotted Krakka’s fluffy white face poking out from beneath the dirt.
Team members hoped they could pull Krakka right out, but soon realized she was trapped beneath thick tree roots. Eventually, they managed to remove a large root wrapped around Krakka’s abdomen, allowing her to wiggle out to freedom.
The grateful terrier leaped from the hole and showered her mom in kisses. Later that day, she visited a veterinarian, who confirmed she hadn’t sustained any major injuries. Krakka was going to be just fine.
Priestman was glad to see Krakka back where she belonged.
“We were all so relieved,” Priestman said. “It was an incredible feeling knowing she was going to be OK and reunited with her family.”
