All's well that ends well for a 95-year-old gentleman. As reported by the website Ici Pays de la Loire, a carer discovered that one of her patients' homes was empty during her morning rounds.
The French police were immediately alerted and launched a large-scale search, calling in the canine unit from Château-Gontier in the neighbouring department of Mayenne.
A second rescue
Upon arriving at the scene, dog handler Cyril Changeux followed the standard procedure for tracking searches. He went into the missing man's bedroom to retrieve an item carrying his scent – in this case, a pillowcase. After letting Padmé sniff the fabric, the search began.
The dog quickly picked up a scent and set off in a specific direction, with the officer close behind. Barely 200 metres later, Padmé came to a dead stop. Hidden behind thick bushes, the elderly man was lying on the ground, unable to get up.
While in constant contact with the SAMU (the French emergency medical service), the officers administered first aid to the pensioner.
A hero's reward
For Padmé, this successful operation marked the second time she had rescued a missing person during her career with the South Mayenne gendarmerie. To congratulate the brave Malinois, her handler gave her plenty of cuddles and a brand-new chew toy.