Easton Police, with the help of two adjoining towns and a State Police helicopter equipped with thermal imaging cameras, rescued a stranded dog-owner who became lost and disoriented at the Trout Brook Valley Open Space late Saturday.

Robert Kinney, 70, of Wells Hill Road in Easton left his home at about 4 p.m. to walk his Rotweiller on one of the hiking paths at Trout Brook. Easton Police Chief Jack Solomon said Kinney's wife had reported him missing and had explained that her husband often walked their dog there.

"He was cold and alarmed when we found him," Easton Police Chief Jack Solomon said. "He was sitting with his dog on the trail when we found him. He decided to stay there, hoping someone would find him."

Westport Police Officer Ryan Paulsson and his dog, Ellie, a bloodhound tracked Kinney to a spot about a mile into the wooded property, according to Easton Police. Approximately, 50 rescuers from Easton, as well as the Westport Police Department, the Weston Police Department, Easton EMS and Weston EMS, joined in the search for Kinney.

Although Kinney is a regular at Trout Brook, Solomon said he believes that Kinney might have started walking his dog later than usual and become disoriented as the sunset. "Even though all of the trails are marked, we like to encourage people to stay out of places like this with so much property so late in the day," Solomon said, adding that carrying a cell phone would also be helpful for alerting friends, family or police if you get lost. According to Solomon, Kinney did not have a cell phone with him. However, he did have a flashlight.

"Over the past five years, we have had a few search and rescues at Trout Brook," Solomon said. "And when you have this type of situation where it's freezing outside, we know it becomes even more imperative to find that person fast."

Paulsson and his dog Ellie located Kinney at 8:04 p.m. about an hour and 15 minutes after their search started. Trooper I, the State Police helicopter arrived just as they found Kinney. The helicopter pilots used their night-vision lights to guide the rescuers out of the open space.

"Those lights are incredibly bright," Solomon said. "It's known as night sun and it lit the place up like a football field" for a night game.