Missing dog found by Dog Gone Pet Recovery's thermal drone, reunited with Crystal Lake, Illinois family: VIDEO

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (WLS) — The dog’s owners say Charlie went missing one week ago Monday after being let out on a foggy morning.

The couple says they spent days trying to find him until they got help from one group using thermal technology.

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A thermal drone scanned a Crystal Lake neighborhood in search of the family’s missing dog.

Then suddenly, blue and green images turned clear.

“Oh my God! Got him! Yes, we got him! We got him!” one of the rescuers said.

Video captured the moment 2-year-old Charlie was found Sunday near Huntley and Ackman roads, a mere two-minute walk from home.

“He was in this park, on a walking trail, hidden in tall grass and among broken-down trees,” shared Kate Belmonte, Charlie’s owner.

Kate Belmonte and her fiancé, David Nowak, had been looking for the Bernese Mountain Dog since last Monday morning.

And with the help of Dog Gone Pet Recovery, a Lake Villa animal search and rescue group, they were finally reunited with their canine best friend.

READ MORE | Berwyn couple pleads for safe return of Pomeranian ‘Wally’ stolen with SUV

Though, he was badly hurt. Charlie was taken to a veterinary hospital with a broken femur.

The couple is thankful for Charlie’s will to survive in the cold for nearly a week and for the group’s days-long effort to find him.

“The technology used to find him is incredible. To be honest, without it, I’m not sure we would’ve been able to locate him,” expressed David Nowak, Charlie’s owner.

David and Kate mentioned that Charlie is currently at the hospital recuperating from surgery done on Monday. However, he is expected to return home on Tuesday, where he will enjoy warmth and comfort with the couple and their other two dogs.

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