A 2-year-old boy, Boden Allen, was found safe after wandering away from his home in Seligman, Arizona. He managed to travel a perilous seven miles before being led to safety by an attentive dog. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office mobilized a considerable search party of over 40 individuals alongside deputies and Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers, launching an operation lasting 16 hours, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
The child was eventually discovered on a neighboring rancher's property. Buford, a dog owned by rancher Scotty Dunton, is reported to have guided the boy to safety. "He picked him up at least a mile out. I don't know how far past that, that he found him but he hung with him and brought him back here. So, good dog," Dunton told FOX 10 Phoenix. Amidst the vast and rugged terrain rife with mountain lions, bears, coyotes, and snakes, the boy's survival and rescue are nothing short of miraculous.
Authorities had intensified the search efforts with on-foot patrols, all-terrain vehicles, and helicopters. Megan Fitzgerald, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office public information officer underscored the diverse approach to the search, stating, "Not only did we search on foot, but also, there were some of the razors and 4x4s. We did make use of some of the helicopters to make sure we were doing everything we could to locate the child," she told 12 News. The search included the use of thermal detectors on helicopters, which detected the presence of two mountain lions in proximity to the search perimeter.
Upon his safe return, young Boden, though shaken, appeared unharmed apart from a few scratches. His rescuer, Dunton, whose dog Buford is an Anatolian Pyrenees breed known for its guardian nature, expressed amazement at the child's endurance. "I told him, 'Buddy, you’re the toughest little two-year old I’ve ever seen.' He’s like, 'Yep,'" Dunton recounted in an interview with 12 News. In a region where the natural environment poses vast challenges, the collective sigh of relief for Boden's safe recovery is palpable.
Reunited with his family later on Tuesday, the toddler's ordeal serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictability and potential dangers of rural, wildlife-rich landscapes. As for the mother, she was reportedly busy changing another sibling's diaper when Boden wandered off, thus setting the stage for an unforeseen adventure and an unexpected canine heroism that led the young boy back home.
