A Retired press photographer who has created a drone search and rescue group which has found more than 6,000 lost dogs is in the frame for a top award.

A retired press photographer who has created a drone search and rescue group which has found more than 6,000 lost dogs is in the frame for a top award.

Graham Burton, from Cilfynydd, Pontypridd, who set up Drone Sar for Lost Dogs UK in 2017 has been short listed in the Animal Star Awards of the Year Southern Region final which is being held in the Village Hotel Portsmouth on May 25th.

The Animal Star Awards was created in 2016 aimed at giving recognition to animals and humans alike for the extraordinary things that they do for one another.

Also making it to the finals Volunteers of the Year category Group Admin Amanda Wood-Wooley while scent dog Odin and owner Group Admin Amy Heyes are short listed in the Working Dog of the Year category.

Graham said;”I had my first dog when I was eleven years old and I have never been without one since.

“Prior to me setting up the Project I was involved with groups trying to locate lost dogs.

“Drones weren’t readily available back then and what prompted me to set up Drone Sar was an elderly lady in Devon who had lost her Retriever and who asked if the group I was in could help.

“She had asked a drone pilot to help and was told it would cost £800 a day searching for her dog.

“I felt I needed to help so I contacted friends in the Devon area who were drone pilots and they did a search and found the dog at no cost to the owner.

“That is when I decided to set up my own group and Drone SAR was created. The group now has 110,000 members nationwide.

Graham said that the Drone project quickly took off with an increasing number of owners getting in contact for help in finding missing dogs.

He said:“As time went on our searches become more and more widespread with more drone pilots joining the Group.

“We now have drone searches throughout the UK and Northern and Southern Ireland as well as in Jersey.”

In 2021 Drone SAR for lost Dogs was recognised by prime minister Boris Johnson for its outstanding inspirational voluntary service with a UK Point of Light Award.

In a personal letter to Graham Prime Minister Boris Johnson said;”

“As an owner of a Welsh dog myself, I was delighted to know that you have brought joy to people across Wales by reuniting them with their beloved dogs”

In 2022 Graham attended a presentation at the House of Lords where Drone SAR was recognised with an International Fund for Animal Welfare Award.

Graham said he was delighted to accept the award on behalf of all the admins, and volunteer pilots and ground searchers within the Group.

He said:”We are all volunteers and there is no cost in our efforts to locate lost dogs.”