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From NBC News: A 2-year-old boy who spent the night alone in the remote Arizona wilderness and walked 7 miles through mountain lion territory was led to safety by a rancher’s dog, authorities said Tuesday.
A huge search operation was launched when the boy disappeared from his home in Seligman, Arizona, about 100 miles south of Grand Canyon National Park, at about 5 p.m. Monday. He was wearing just a blue tank top and pajama pants, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office said that more than 40 rescuers, including Department of Public Safety rangers, joined the search, and a DPS helicopter spotted two mountain lions in the area.
But 16 hours after he went missing, rancher Scotty Dunton found him on his land 7 miles away. The boy was safe and well and had apparently been led to his property by the rancher’s dog, Buford.
“I got in my truck to go to town and I see Buford walking down the side of the fence with a little blond kid with him,” Dunton told NBC affiliate KPNX of Phoenix. “I had heard about the missing child this morning, so I knew it was him.”
READ MORE from NBC News.
In an earlier missing child report, the little boy was identified as 2-year-old Boden Allen.
Dunton told reporters that Buford was going to get a steak for supper, for saving the child’s life.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office shared additional details in a press release on Facebook:
2-YEAR-OLD CHILD SPENDS THE NIGHT IN ROUGH TERRAIN – RESCUED BY A DOG AND A RANCHER
On Monday, just before 5 pm, Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a missing 2-year-old child who wandered off from his home in Seligman. Over 40 search and rescue members, several deputies, DPS, a DPS ranger, and Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies immediately headed to the property. After 16 hours of searching, a rancher approximately 7 miles away reported that a young child had walked onto his property. Upon arrival at the ranch, deputies confirmed this was indeed the missing boy.
During the overnight search, the DPS ranger rescue helicopter said they spotted 2 mountain lions among the terrain the boy traveled.
The rancher who located the missing boy said his dog had discovered the boy while patrolling his property and likely protected and directed the missing boy to safety. The boy told the rancher he slept under a tree.
YCSO thanks DPS, search and rescue teams, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Mohave County Sheriff’s office, and the public for sharing the flyer. And of course, Buford the dog, who stayed with the boy and brought him to safety.
WATCH the news reports below for the entire, incredible story:
Below is an interview with the parents of the lucky little boy.
Hero Dog Leads Missing Toddler to Safety!
A missing 2-year-old boy survived a night alone in the Arizona wilderness, walking 7 miles through mountain lion territory. He was led to safety by a rancher’s dog.https://t.co/oJSzSMl9dD— National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (@NCMEC) April 16, 2025
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