Saving Montana: A thermal-imaging drone and lots of support find lost dog in Springfield

Yahoo

10-04-2025

Montana's three-day life on the lam all started because she didn't want a bath.
By the time it was over, she could have used a couple.
The 2 1/2-year-old Springfield Township Bernedoodle — a Bernese mountain dog-poodle mix — was scheduled for some pet pampering April 1 at Posh Pooch Dog Grooming in the township.
But Montana had other ideas, leading to a frantic search that involved social media posts, false sightings and a police drone with thermal imaging.
"We had people out looking everywhere for her," Montana's owner, Tracy Mock, said Tuesday. "I did not sleep for two nights."
Montana's adventure began when she arrived at Posh Pooch on Canton Road. Sensing what was to come — she hates water, Mock said — Montana made an executive decision.
A bad one.
"As soon as the door was open, she bolted," Mock said.
Montana headed for an auto parts store across Canton Road, crossing the street unscathed.
It was the last time Mock saw her Bernedoodle before they were reunited April 3.
The long hours in between became a blur of efforts to find Montana.
Mock and her daughter canceled a planned vacation to Florida. Mock posted online and ran up 1,200 shares on the first Facebook post made April 1.
We found Montana!!!!! Thank you everyone !!!April 3 NOt found yet. I hipe someone has her in there house. She hates...
Posted by Tracy Mock on Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Township Trustee Kellie Chapman, who runs Lakemore Dogs Homeward Bound, became involved and helped publicize the search for Montana.
"So many lost dogs don't get claimed," Chapman said. "It's nice when (the owners) are actively looking for them."
Mock and her family posted flyers at businesses throughout the community and fielded calls and messages from people who believed they'd seen the elusive dog.
"The love of the community was absolutely amazing," she said.
But searches for Montana from Mock family members, individuals in the Springfield-Lakemore community and even the Lakemore Police didn't recover Montana.
Not until the morning of April 3.
Mock said she received a frantic call that Montana had been seen in a wooded area.
"Everybody was saying, go get a drone," she said.
Turns out, the Springfield Township Police Department had one available.
It's a newer device for the department, said Chief Jack Simone, but had already proved its usefulness tracking down a fugitive.
"That was a great situation where they were able to apprehend him," Simone said. "He was hiding behind a garage."
The drone program got heavy backing from Officer Ty Klapp, Simone said.
"He actually fund-raised for the program," Simone said. "He raised upwards of $20,000."
The department is still figuring out new ways the drone can be helpful, although locating a lost dog wasn't the first thing that came to mind when starting the program, Klapp said.
Last Halloween, it was used in a big hide-and-seek event that drew dozens of students who hid from police. The drone was called upon to find the last 10 students. It was a popular event that will be held annually, Simone said.
Capt. Denise Moore said the drone program has been beneficial in its short life, including the Halloween event, where the last student was particularly difficult to locate.
"If it weren't for the thermal imaging, we never would have found (her)," Moore said.
When Montana was sighted in a wooded area off Sanitarium Road on the morning of April 3, Klapp jumped into action.
The drone had to stay below 100 feet because of the proximity to Akron Fulton Airport. The low ceiling forced Klapp to dodge and weave the drone around the treetops.
"It took a while to search the woods," he said.
But, using the infrared camera, he spotted Montana.
"She was laying down and … something loud went by and she jumped up running," he said.
Members of the Mock family were at the scene, and Klapp alerted Mock's sister-in-law where to look.
Success quickly followed.
"Everybody was ecstatic," Klapp said. "There were people who were running through the water."
A heavy rain had soaked the wooded area, Klapp said.
The pup who hated water had been trudging through muddy woods and had a bite on her nose, but was otherwise — physically — unscathed.
"She was exhausted," Mock said. "She laid (around) for days."
But she has perked up and become more active with Stella, another family dog and Montana's close companion, Mock said.
She said her dog survived a harrowing and dangerous experience.
"To cross 224 and Canton Road and not be hit by a car is a miracle," she said. "Last night was the first time she played with Stella."
Montana was mum about her experiences during life on the road.
Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at [e-mail]. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.newsman.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Springfield Township police drone helps locate missing dog