A dog has been found after an extensive five-day search following a suspected drunk drive collision which claimed the life of another dog.
The crash occurred near junction 33 of the M1 on Saturday evening, when a family and their three dogs were in collision with another driver. The second individual involved, who has been identified as male but remains unnamed, failed a roadside breath test.
A springer spaniel was killed in the crash instantly and with Athena – a German shepherd – fled following the incident. A third dog remained with the family at the scene.
Initial searches from South Yorkshire Police at the scene were unsuccessful leading to Police and local communities appeals for support and information in the following days with a huge turnout from multiple community members.
HARTSTAR and K9 RSQ, South Yorkshire based voluntary search and rescue groups, used high tech thermal drones after a sighting early this morning 19 March.
Athena had taken shelter in bushes near Sorbey Way fields, Rotherham, with the public advised to give the German shepherd distance as she played with another dog around 8:30am.
Both organisations as well as Athena’s owners, Michelle and Mark, arrived at the scene shortly after the sighting reuniting with the found dog.
HARSTAR have provided a PayPal link, with all contributions going directly to the owners of Athena in the wake of the tragic loss of there Springer Spaniel. The link for which can be found at the end of the article.
Food traps and surveillance cameras were also put in place by K9 RSQ but were not needed.
The unnamed man was charged with failing to provide and driving without due care and attention. He appeared in Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 17 March.
Both HARTSTAR and K9 RSQ regularly conduct successful searches for lost pets using the equipment they have at their disposal. HARTSTAR have found over 250 lost dogs through the efforts of their volunteers, collaborating with experienced animal trappers and rescuers K9 RSQ on multiple occasions.
More information about the work both HARTSTAR and K9-RSQ do can be found below.
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