Missing Arizona toddler found 7 miles from home with rancher’s dog
 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/missing-a...182410115.html

This good boy deserves a steak for every meal the rest of his life.

Missing Arizona toddler found 7 miles from home with rancher’s dog

A rancher's dog is being credited with helping protect a toddler who went missing in Arizona this week after he wandered away from his home and was found several miles away.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call April 14 reporting a missing 2-year-old boy, the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook. The toddler had wandered away from his home in Seligman, Arizona, about 180 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and into rough terrain.

A search and rescue party consisting of 40 members was put together to look for the toddler, according to police. After 16 hours of searching, the boy was found in a rancher's driveway, almost 7 miles away from his home.

But the boy wasn't found alone: he was with the rancher's dog named Buford, a 5-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix.

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Buford, a 5-year-old Great Pyrenees-Anatolian mix, at Dunton Ranch in Arizona helped rescue a 2-year-old boy who wandered from his home and into mountain lion territory.

Buford, a 5-year-old Great Pyrenees-Anatolian mix, at Dunton Ranch in Arizona helped rescue a 2-year-old boy who wandered from his home and into mountain lion territory.
'I can't believe that kid made it that far'

In a video posted by the sheriff's office, the rancher, Scotty Dunton, said he had heard about the missing toddler and was headed to town when he spotted him.

"When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," said Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman. "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog."

"I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added.

The sheriff's office said that during the overnight search, "DPS ranger rescue helicopter said they spotted 2 mountain lions among the terrain the boy traveled."

Dunton's wife Dawn told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue, but the "child was in fairly good condition all things considered."

"He was crying but Scotty was able to comfort him. His little face was all dirty and of course he was hungry and thirsty," Dawn said. "He is doing well now after some much needed rest in the safety of his home."
Buford 'loves kids,' is a 'natural babysitter'

Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before their dog Buford found the boy.

Buford "loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said.

Dawn told USA TODAY Buford has been with them since he was a puppy.

Buford babysitting Lil Bit at the Dunton Ranch. Buford's owner Dawn Dunton said Buford has always been a natural babysitter.


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Buford babysitting Lil Bit at the Dunton Ranch. Buford's owner Dawn Dunton said Buford has always been a natural babysitter.


"We chose him from the litter because of his chill demeanor," Dawn said, adding that Buford is a livestock guardian breed and it is their nature is to roam and protect.
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"Buford has always been a natural babysitter, whether it be with baby animals or with children," Dawn added.

The trek would've been 7 miles had the toddler walked straight, the rancher said. "For a 2-year-old to do that, it's insane."

A little good news, Happy Easter everyone.

damn allergies!

Why does the media always present mountain lions as bad guys? They're just out there trying to make a living like the rest of us.

If only that big, loving, fluffy dog knew he was protecting the true villain.

Plot twist:

The dog was actually leading the toddler away to be abandoned in the woods, due to years of faking throwing the ball. His plan was thwarted by the authorities just in time..

A pitbull would have eaten that boy's face off.

That deserves its own thread here.

His cougar experiences will come

He was protecting him from roving pits. GOOD BOY

Amazing story....

Who’s a good boy??

He was a good boy...Rubs his head and gives him a treat...

How do the parents let the boy wander away from their home? WTF

He’s the goodest boy.

Great parenting job.

Why am I imaging the toddler riding the dog back to the ranch like he's a horse?

Guarantee Clay has ridden a dog before

Anatolian's can be surly, due to their nature of defending a flock from predators. It's awesome to hear that an atypical dog of the breed was paternal

My brother has one of those and it is INSANELY protective of his kids, to the point where he’s nicked people. He almost bit me once and he knows me.

He’s a pain in the ass but my brother loves him.

Stewie and Brian?

He rode his mom???

Yeah you don't **** around with that breed and its cousin Kangals if it isn't imprinted on you. People think Pitt Bulls are hardcore, said Anatolians/Kangals would eat those mother****ers alive if it came down to it.

Damn good dog.

My dad has one and they're always saying it's a ****ing coward (especially for it's size) at the smallest things, but is also insanely territorial to the point they can't have it in the same room as anyone else because it'll bark until the end of time.... there was one time we were all sitting and everything was cool until I dared to stand up, then it started growling and barking. And apparently it bit one of their friends a while back. They spend money to send it to dog daycare whenever they have visitors.

Yet, outside of the house and around other dogs, totally fine.

Sounds like a complete pain in the ass of a dog, at least in a non-ranch setting.

That sounds like a major hassle. I don't understand why people make that choice. But I guess it'll pay off if you ever wonder off into the desert and get lost. We know that dog is coming to get you.

Dogs = God's finest work.

I am trying to wrap my head around how a 2 year old made it seven miles...

This is the type of feel good escape story I need with basically everything else in the world on fire these days. Thanks for posting.

Yeah, I guess part of it would be the dog had no issues with other people as a puppy and sort of flipped a switch at some point... so then you're attached to it.

Now that I type it, sounds like the dog was running a scam. :hmmm:

Yeah, that’s hard to believe. I go prairie dog hunting around Seligman every spring; that’s rough ground. And no one mentioned the rattlers along with all the yotes, lions, wildcats , feral dogs, etc.

The Big Guy on high was looking out for him

Great Pyrenees are the best dogs in the world!

Yikes!

:eek:

You quoted the answer to your question. Sheesh.

Happens to me all the time.

Yeah, that’s a hardcore 2-year old. Sounds like he probably walked several miles until he encountered the dog.

Shit, the article says the owner of the ranch went outside to head to town and found the boy in his driveway with the dog. It’s possible that the boy walked the entirety of the 7 miles alone and the dog was just chilling there the whole time but now he’s taking credit lol

I've read a few articles on this amazing story and a couple of them state that Buford's owner went at least a mile where he saw tracks from the dog and the boy together.

My next door neighbor has a Great Pyrenees Anatolian mix. He is huge and very protective of his owner's property. Alway barks at me when I pull into my driveway or go out to the backyard. When I smoke or grill the smell drives him nuts.

The owners keep him on a tether as he is a bit aggressive to his other dogs. One night after midnight I woke to barking and whimpering. Looked out and this huge dog was struggling and rolling around. I turned the floodlight on and went out. He had dug under the chain link fence and pushed his way through on my side. He ran out of cord and was all tangled, so I was worried he would choke to death. I pushed him so there was slack on the line. Tried to untangle him but he was not having any of that. Woke up his owner he just dragged by the cord and collar, pulled him under the fence.

I had put a pork butt in the pellet grill to have it readt to be pulled by lunch time. I think that poor dog tried to get to where the good smells were coming from. WE are good buddies now, but he still barks at me from the other side of the fence. I give him treats off the grill I think i'm on his good side.

Scary place to have your toddler wander off with mountain lions running around.

I lived in Arizona for years and both of my kids are from there. I wouldn't want my toddler wandering off in Gilbert (affluent suburb, if you don't know the area) let alone anywhere in Yavapai Co. Just too much wildlife and natural conditions that can kill a healthy adult, let alone a child. This story is simply a miracle.

Here is the most recent family photo

Yeah.. I think the story is embellished a little.. The kid probably walked up and woke the dog up and the dog thought WTF are you doing here?? I don't think there was any protective shared journey...

love me some good ranch dog stories

The name of the dog is Buford T. Justice.

That story is amazing and what a great dog. I still can't get over how a 2 year old walked 7 miles, though.

100% this. Gotta be more to the story...this is way to feel good for today's day and age

If this were a pit bull, you'd all be demanding they put a bullet in the dog

Yes because a pitbull would have eaten the child.