Doggy playdate turns into rescue, reunion mission after dog swept away in floodwaters

A dog who was swept away by floodwaters earlier this week is now reunited with his owner after being found the following day. (WLOS Staff via CNN Newsource)

FLETCHER, North Carolina (WLOS) -- A dog who was swept away by floodwaters earlier this week is now reunited with his owner after being found the following day.

Following storms from earlier this week, the dog, named Monchu, was rescued one day after it had been swept away by floodwaters, thanks to community support and drone technology.

The search began the day after a doggy playdate gone wrong.

Sam Haney and his girlfriend Kristen Honeycutt took their dogs to a spot along Cane Creek, but Honeycutt says that day the water level was much higher than usual.

“Before we could even make it over the hill, to get to the water, the dogs were already in the water before we even got a chance to see the water levels and immediately both of us, when we saw we were instantly like this is not good,” Honeycutt said.

Honeycutt’s dog was being swept away and naturally, she went in to rescue her dog. Honeycutt was swept away as well.

Some of the other dogs entered the water during the rescue attempt. Honeycutt eventually got the dogs and herself out of the water, but Haney’s dog Monchu was still missing.

“I saw Monchu poke his head over Kristen’s shoulder and I was trying to tell him to stay there and he just kind of got freaked out and I guess jumped right back in the water because there was no other path of anywhere to go,” Haney said.

Honeycutt says they called 911 and continued searching along the creek.

As Honeycutt and Haney continued to search, Honeycutt’s mom turned to social media, asking for help.

“Eleven, we get back to the cars and we get quiet for a second and we started hearing complete strangers all around calling for Monchu and it was just the most incredible experience just knowing that the community was out looking for him,” Haney said.

The next day, local drone pilot Bree Day-Bottai saw the social posts, reaching out to offer help.

“We went back down to the river and she launched there,” Honeycutt said.

The rescue mission launched with Day-Bottai quickly locating Monchu.

“I was like, ‘hey, I got him,’ and they were over there instantly looking at the camera and it was him,” Day-Bottai said.

The couple was filled with joy.

“She says I think I got him and we just like jumped up like, ' What? ‘” said Honeycutt.

Haney described his reaction.

“Bolted over to the screen,” Haney said. “As soon as I saw him do the little circle on the screen and you couldn’t even make out, it was just a little blob and I saw it do a little loop and I was like ‘yup, that’s him,” Haney said.

By Rian Stockett.