Overview
- A duplex fire on Sunday forced two families from their Tybee Island home and killed one dog while a second dog, Walker, fled toward Little Tybee Island.
- Tybee Island police used a heat-sensing drone to confirm Walker’s location on Little Tybee on Tuesday morning and turned the search over to Chatham County Animal Services and TRAPS.
- Search teams have since captured Walker on camera but he has eluded repeated drone scans, with marsh heat producing false positives for infrared equipment.
- Rescuers are leaving food and bowls of water and placing traps daily while warning the public not to attempt independent rescues because uncoordinated activity could frighten Walker or endanger crews.
- Officials say Walker is fearful and likely dehydrated after more than 50 hours without fresh food or water, and recovery depends on careful planning plus the dog’s willingness to be approached; families displaced by the fire have started fundraisers to help with recovery.