Late Monday afternoon, Boden Allen, a two-year-old boy, went missing from his home in Seligman, Arizona. Authorities launched a large-scale search effort overnight involving 40 search and rescue members, deputies from multiple counties, and a Department of Public Safety helicopter. During the search of the area, a pair of mountain lions were spotted and temperatures dropped into the 40s, but there was no sign of Boden.
Then early on Tuesday morning, local rancher Scotty Dunton found Boden standing at the end of his driveway - about seven miles from the boy’s home - with his dog, Buford, sitting nearby. Dunton had heard about the missing child and brought the boy inside to give him some food and water. The toddler said he’d slept under a tree, and the rancher believes Buford discovered him and stayed with him through the night before bringing him to safety.
Dunton describes Buford as a guardian dog that usually patrols the property at night and is known for protecting livestock and scaring off coyotes. He said Buford loves kids and likely didn’t leave Boden once he found him. Authorities were called in and quickly reunited the boy with his grateful parents. Dunton says that Buford would be getting a well-deserved steak dinner for his heroic effort.
Source: CBS NEWS
photo: GETTY
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