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

[notorious]

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.



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.



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."

[notorious]

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

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by notorious

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

[Tribal Warfare]

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

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

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.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Stewie and Brian?

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Guarantee Clay has ridden a dog before

He rode his mom???

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

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.

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.

[Pepe Silvia]

Damn good dog.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare

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.

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.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

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.

[hawkchief]

Dogs = God's finest work.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by notorious

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

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

[Bowser]

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.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

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.

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.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

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

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.