A loyal dog named Buford is being celebrated as a hero after helping rescue a missing two-year-old boy in Seligman, Arizona. On April 14, young Boden Allen wandered away from his rural home, sparking an urgent search across Yavapai County. Sixteen hours later, Buford led the child to safety.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Buford was spotted alongside the toddler at the main gate of a nearby ranch. The property owner, Scotty Dunton, who is also Buford’s owner, was the first to see the pair.
“When I got the little kid to calm down, I asked him, ‘Did you walk all night?’ and he said, ‘No, I slept under a tree,’” Dunton recounted. “Then I asked, ‘Did my dog find you?’ and he said, ‘Yep!’”
Buford had apparently found the child in the rugged terrain and guided him back to safety. Boden, who had spent the night under a tree, was uninjured but understandably shaken.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office recognized Buford’s life-saving instincts by awarding him an honorary search-and-rescue certificate along with a special vest. Boden was also honored with a challenge coin, symbolizing his bravery and resilience.
Officials say the boy had slipped away while his mother was tending to another child. The search for Boden involved over 40 responders, including sheriff’s deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers.
Thanks to Buford’s unexpected but heroic intervention, the story of a missing toddler had a joyful ending—and a very good boy got the recognition he deserved.
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