Rancher dog saves missing boy’s life by leading him to safety after he spent the night alone in the wilderness

Sometimes, it takes a moment of fear to shine light on unexpected heroes. In the Arizona wilderness, a young boy’s disappearance turned into a story of hope, resilience, and an unlikely four-legged savior. As reported by PEOPLE, a 2-year-old, Bodin Allen, went missing from his family home in Seligman, Arizona, on April 14. His mother, Sarah, said he had gone outside to play but didn’t return. “It’s like the worst living nightmare any parent can feel,” expressed Corey, Bodin's father. A 40-person search team was immediately dispatched. For 16 long hours, searchers combed the area, looking for the toddler, who was last seen wearing a blue tank top and pajama pants. Eventually, he was found about seven miles away on a nearby ranch, thanks to a dog named Buford.

Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees owned by rancher Scotty Dunton, was guarding the property when he came across Bodin. Dunton believes Buford helped protect and guide the boy until help arrived. Dunton shared how the boy was in "good shape" when the authorities located him. After checking the area, Dunton confirmed that Bodin had walked the full distance on his own. “It was crazy. I got Buford with him for a mile. Then I got in the rocks and lost his track, but he was with him for at least a mile from my house,” he recounted. 

On April 21, just one week after the incident, Bodin and Buford were reunited, a touching moment for everyone involved. “I just look at a miracle, and I’m never going to forget it,” said Corey. Buford has since received an outpouring of appreciation, including toys, treats, and snacks from grateful strangers. He was also named an honorary member of the Yavapai County Search and Rescue Team and given a blue vest to mark the occasion. “It’s very rewarding to our members when a search is successful,” said John Harris, manager of the 4x4 Rescue Unit. “They’re just glad that they were found, that’s the bottom line.” The parents also expressed their gratitude towards Dunton in person. “There is still good out there, and Scotty is a great person," stated Sarah. 

Following the rescue, Bodin’s family is taking steps to raise awareness about child safety. Corey shared that his son now wears a whistle on a necklace, which he knows how to use in an emergency. Looking ahead, the family hopes to build lighted landmarks, or "lighthouses," in open areas to help locate missing children more easily. “There will be playgrounds and lots of fun noise-making things. This will be a community effort for the children,” Corey said. He added that whistles would be available at each lighthouse, with some created in honor of Bodin’s rescue. 

While Bodin was one of the missing cases, countless other children go missing each year; however, the number has gone down. According to a report by the Arizona Department of Child Safety, in 2020, there were around 216-245 runaway children and 34-51 missing children each month, making up about 2% of those in care. Between April 2022 and March 2023, that number dropped to 126-163 runaways and 29-38 missing children, or about 1.5% overall.