A 2-year-old boy is safe at home after an incredible rescue by a ranch dog, following a night alone in the harsh northern Arizona high desert.
The toddler, Boden Allen, wandered away from his parents’ property on Monday, finding himself in the vast desert, where temperatures plummet after dark, and predators such as mountain lions roam. Two mountain lions were spotted during the search, according to Megan Fitzgerald of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
“Cases like these rarely have happy endings,” Fitzgerald noted, reflecting the often grim nature of such searches.
Despite the challenging conditions, Yavapai County search and rescue teams acted swiftly. The following morning, a ranch dog named Buford found Boden, seven miles from his home.
Scotty Dunton, Buford’s owner, recalled the moment: “I saw my dog sitting with the little kid. He brought him up from the horse pasture and sat with him near the gate.”
Dunton believes Boden may have followed the power lines, eventually reaching his property. “I asked Boden if he walked all night. He said, ‘No, I slept under a tree.’ When I asked if my dog found him, he confirmed, ‘Yep.’”
In a twist of fate, the loyal dog ensured a happy ending for the family in an otherwise perilous situation.
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