The Remarkable Rescue of a Lost Toddler by a Heroic Dog in Arizona
In a heartwarming tale of courage and companionship, a rancher’s dog in Arizona has become a local hero. This Anatolian Pyrenees, named Buford, managed to locate a 2-year-old boy who had wandered nearly seven miles from his home, surviving a night alone in the desert wilderness.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the search for the missing toddler, Boden Allen, began on Monday evening. The young boy had disappeared from his home in Seligman, Arizona, dressed simply in a tank top and pajama pants. The desert, where Allen wandered for nearly 16 hours, was reported to have two mountain lion sightings that night.
At 9 a.m. the next day, Buford found the toddler and led him to safety. The reunion with his parents was emotional, with Sheriff’s office spokesperson Paul Wick describing them as “distraught” but overjoyed at his safe return.
Scotty Dundon, the rancher and Buford’s owner, recounted the moment he found the boy with his dog. “I’d heard about the missing child before I was going to town, and when I was driving out the driveway I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance. And I look up, and the little kid’s standing there with my dog,” he said in an interview with the sheriff’s office.
Dundon believes Allen followed a powerline that led him onto the property, where Buford discovered him. “It was a relief that he was alive. I was ecstatic that he was ok and that my dog found him,” Dundon expressed.
Anatolian Pyrenees, known for their large size and gentle demeanor, are often used as guard dogs. Buford is no exception, as he vigilantly protects Dundon’s property from coyotes. Dundon remarked on Buford’s affinity for children, saying, “[Buford] loves kids. I can imagine he wouldn’t leave him if he found him,” amazed at the boy’s resilience and distance traveled.
Once found, Allen needed some water and food to recover, having spent the night under a tree. Fortunately, he was in good health, suffering only minor cuts and mild dehydration, as confirmed by Wick.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
