Arizona Ranch Dog Credited with Protecting Missing Toddler Found Miles from Home
A ranch dog is being hailed as a hero after helping protect a missing 2-year-old boy who wandered away from his home in rural Arizona and was found nearly seven miles away.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded on April 14 to a report of a missing toddler in Seligman, a remote area located about 180 miles southeast of Las Vegas. The boy had wandered into rugged terrain surrounding his home, prompting an urgent search and rescue operation involving 40 team members.
After 16 hours of searching, the child was discovered safe in the driveway of a nearby ranch—thanks in part to an unexpected guardian: Buford, a 5-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian shepherd mix belonging to rancher Scotty Dunton of Dunton Ranch in Kingman.
Dunton recalled the moment he found the boy in a video posted by the sheriff’s office. “When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog sitting down by the entrance,” he said. “I look up, and the little kid’s standing there with my dog.”
The sheriff’s office praised Buford’s calm presence, suggesting the dog may have helped keep the frightened toddler safe through the night.
Officials said the child was safely reunited with his family and is doing well. The heartwarming story quickly gained attention as a testament to the protective instincts of man’s best friend.
