How A Dog Became An Arizona Hero Overnight

Growing up, my dad and I used to love to watch reruns of Lassie, an old network television show about a dog who helped out in family affairs, and would sometimes swoop in to save the day.

Based on that, I figured I'd be getting saved by dogs a lot more than I actually have, but one Arizona pup brought that legend back.

Danger in the Desert

On April 14th, the Allen family experienced something no family ever should: their son went missing. The two year old Boden had wandered outside and soon disappeared from his family's home in Seligman. The family was obviously distraught, and immediately reported him missing.

Over the next two days, over 40 volunteers, deputies, and troopers searched far and wide, but found no sign of the boy. Even more troubling was the sign of Mountain Lions in the area...

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An Unlikely Hero

16 hours in, at around 8:20am, he was found. Scotty Dunton, who owned a ranch about seven miles away from Allen's home, saw the child wander onto his property. The boy was guided by Dunton's dog, Buford, likely following power lines that connected Allen's home with Dunton's.

Boden was in good spirits, and cheerfully told Dunton that he slept under a tree the night prior. He was saved by Buford, who guided the boy to the Dunton Ranch and protected him from predators through the night. They still have no idea how the boy was in such high spirits, or how he walked seven miles through the night, but that all comes second to the steak dinner his parents promised him after his adventure.

[AZ Family][NBC12]