One mother’s frantic search for her lost toddler could have ended a lot differently if it wasn’t for a family dog named Buddy. The little boy wandered away from his siblings while they were all playing in the yard, but Buddy never left his side. The big dog protected his littlest family member until help arrived, and he’s been deemed a four-legged hero.
According to Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, the boy’s mother dialed 911 as soon as she realized her three-year-old was missing. She told the dispatcher that her family’s dog was also missing. It could have been a poorly timed coincidence, but she hoped her loyal dog was with her missing child.
Suwannee County patrol deputies, investigators, and K9 units from Suwannee Correctional Institution responded to the call and led the search. The group started close to the boy’s home and slowly expanded their search radius.
While police were scouring the area, the 911 dispatch center received yet another call from the local area. This one was from a man who found a small child and a dog in the woods behind his house. The man said the dog was watching over the child and wouldn’t let anyone get too close.
When police arrived on scene, Buddy ran up to them. Body cam footage shows Buddy approaching the officers and leading them directly to where the boy was located. The family dog seemed to know the men in uniform were there to help.
Sheriff Sam St. John told WCTV,
“It was such a good ending to something that could have been tragic. We’re all the time putting out tragic news. I’m telling you, it feels so good, so good to tell a good story.”
Watch news coverage of the search below.
Thanks to the neighbor and Buddy, police were able to reunite a desperate family. They report that the little boy was not injured, and he and Buddy are both home safe.
Way to go, Buddy!
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