Rescue Dog Who Escaped on Her Way to a New Home Runs 26 Miles Before Being Found by a Drone

A dog that slipped away during a routine pit stop has been found safe after covering an astonishing 26 miles.

Final Victory Animal Rescue told WABC that Abbie, a golden retriever mix, was being transported from a South Carolina shelter to New England, along with several other dogs headed to their adoptive families and forever homes.

While the group stopped at the Joyce Kilmer rest area off the New Jersey Turnpike, Abbie managed to break free. Fortunately, she was wearing an AirTag, which helped rescuers track her movements.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Jan. 4, Final Victory confirmed that Abbie had been located and safely secured.

“Abbie has been found, caught, and is safe,” the organization wrote, adding that the team was “incredibly relieved” to share the update.

Despite being nearly 10 hours away, rescue staff worked nonstop throughout Saturday to support the search effort.

“At 2:20 a.m., Abbie was located and secured in just seven minutes by the USAR Drone Team using thermal imaging,” the post explained.

The USAR Drone Team is a veteran-led nonprofit search-and-rescue organization that specializes in locating missing people and animals.

“Our reward is seeing the smiles on everybody’s face, especially the owners of their pets,” said drone team member Michael Parziale, who assisted in Abbie’s rescue. “We consider them family members.”

Final Victory also praised Woodbridge Animal Control and the Woodbridge Police Department for carefully coordinating efforts to prevent Abbie from running back toward the busy turnpike.

According to the rescue group, one officer spent hours searching in the woods, while at least six others worked both sides of the area. The organization described the effort as “true teamwork, determination, and compassion in action.”

“All for a dog they didn’t know from states away,” the post added.

After being recovered, Abbie was taken to Tri-State Veterinary Hospital in Woodbridge, New Jersey, where she was treated for a hip and ligament injury as well as road rash.

In a follow-up update on Monday, Jan. 5, Final Victory shared that Abbie had returned to South Carolina and was reunited with a foster parent, where she is recovering while awaiting surgery.

The update concluded, “We are deeply grateful for the communication, collaboration, and compassion that made it all possible.”