Parents were worried sick when they couldn't find missing 2-year-old — then a dog returned home with the kid
A dog is called a companion for good reason, and a 6-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix, Buford, proved this through his heroic act. Corey and Sarah Allen, parents of 2-year-old Bodin Allen, were terrified when they couldn’t find their son in April, as reported by USA Today. Despite their efforts, they were unable to locate Bodin and feared the worst. While wondering where the boy could have possibly gone and where to look, they were surprised to learn Buford had saved his life. The canine made his way to the missing toddler, leaving everyone in surprising awe.
Sarah was attending to her 1-year-old when Bodin slipped out to play as usual. However, when his mom went to check on him, she couldn’t find him anywhere. “My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something. And he could be states away. Who knows what’s going on? And that feeling just kept intensifying by the minute,” Corey, the dad, recalled. The parents called it the “weakest moment of their lives.” A rescue team of 40 was put together to search for the boy, but they were unable to find any clues. Fortunately, Buford came into the picture.
A man named Scotty Dunton, who owned Dunton Ranch 7 miles away from the Allens’ home, noted that he had spotted the boy in his driveway. “When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance. I look up and the little kid’s standing there with my dog,” he recalled. Buford had reportedly found Bodin around the area and guided him to safety to Dunton’s driveway and stayed with him throughout, per 12 News. It was 16 hours before they found Bodin, and the canine kept him company after finding him.
Speaking of the canine’s actions, Dunton said that it was just his pet’s instinct to protect and do what he did for the 2-year-old. He explained that Buford “loves kids.” “So I can imagine he wouldn’t leave him when he found him,” Dunton said. Dunton’s wife, Dawn, added that his “chill demeanor” is what pushed them to pick him from the litter. Furthermore, the pet owners mentioned that Buford is a livestock guardian breed and it is their nature to roam and protect.
“Buford has always been a natural babysitter, whether it be with baby animals or with children,” she remarked. And the lovely furry pal did just that. He kept the boy company while also protecting him and getting him to safety. Finally, Bodin was reunited with his parents, completely fine. The Yavapai County Search and Rescue Team 4x4 Unit Manager, John Harris, said that Buford knew what he was doing while choosing to be with the boy. “We saw lots of coyotes and there were places he could have fallen and gotten hurt,” he explained.
In a Facebook post, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Buford was honored with an “Honorary Search & Rescue Certificate and a vest.” This was for “being a source of comfort to the family and community and playing a vital role in representing the spirit of keeping our community safe.” The parents are grateful for the canine and his exemplary act. “It’s a story of faith on my side,” Corey remarked. “I just look at a miracle, and I’m never going to forget it,” he added.