A 2-year-old child who wandered miles away from his home in the Arizona desert was safely reunited with his family thanks to the help of a loyal ranch dog, authorities said.
The toddler, who had wandered from his home in Seligman on Monday afternoon, April 14, became separated from his family just before 5 p.m. Despite efforts by over 40 search and rescue personnel, law enforcement, and rangers who scoured the area through the night, the child’s whereabouts remained unknown for hours.
However, after 16 hours of searching, a rancher located the missing child roughly seven miles from the family home. Upon arriving at the ranch, deputies confirmed that the toddler was indeed the missing boy. The rancher, who had been alerted about the disappearance, suspected that his dog, Buford—a guardian Anatolian Pyrenees—had found the boy and brought him back to the property.
Buford, who regularly patrols the area to protect livestock and fend off predators like coyotes, had been on his nightly rounds when he likely discovered the toddler near a tree in the horse pasture. According to the rancher, the dog has a special fondness for children and would not have abandoned the boy once he found him.
Despite the dangerous terrain of Arizona’s high desert, including areas known to be inhabited by mountain lions, the toddler made the perilous journey without incident. The rancher, who provided food and water to calm the boy after the ordeal, asked him how he survived the journey. The toddler explained that he had rested under a tree during his trek and was certain that Buford had found him along the way.
Reflecting on the child’s remarkable survival, the rancher expressed amazement at the toddler’s resilience, noting the treacherous landscape that stood between him and his home. “I can’t believe that kid made it that far,” he said, contemplating the vast, rugged desert terrain the child had crossed.
Although the story of the missing toddler has left many incredulous, those familiar with the wilderness surrounding Seligman were less surprised, acknowledging that young children in the area often venture off on exploratory journeys. Nevertheless, the reunion of the toddler and his family, aided by the diligent efforts of a ranch dog, was a joyous moment for all involved.