After seven days of uncertainty: drone brings dog and owner back together!

Crystal Lake (USA) - For a week, a Bernese mountain dog struggled to survive alone in the wilderness. A drone brought the four-legged friend back to his family!

Charlie the dog was able to return to his family after a week alone in the wilderness.
Charlie the dog was able to return to his family after a week alone in the wilderness.  © Screenshot/Facebook/Kate Belmonte

Dog Charlie disappeared on December 30 in the US city of Crystal Lake (Illinois).

His distraught owner, Kate Belmonte, immediately launched an extensive search operation, as Lake & McHenry County Scanner reported.

Days passed with no sign of life from the two-year-old dog. Finally, Kate hired a company to search the area using drones.

And sure enough, a drone with a thermal imaging camera finally spotted Charlie in the middle of dense bushes!

With the help of a drone, Charlie was found surrounded by tall bushes.
With the help of a drone, Charlie was found surrounded by tall bushes.  © Screenshot/Facebook/Kate Belmonte

Dog Charlie suffered a broken bone

Charlie broke his thigh during his disappearance, but has since undergone surgery.
Charlie broke his thigh during his disappearance, but has since undergone surgery.  © Screenshot/Facebook/Kate Belmonte
Kate could hardly believe that her four-legged friend had finally been found after seven days.

But the joy was quickly overshadowed by another worry: Brave Charlie had suffered a fractured femur - presumably because he had been hit by a car .

Charlie was immediately taken to a veterinary clinic and operated on. He was finally allowed to return home last Tuesday.

"He's so happy to be back with us, but he needs time to recover (...) He really has had an incredible journey," Kate said with relief.