Arizona parents Sarah and Corey Allen lived through every parent’s worst nightmare on April 14 when their two-year-old son Bodin went missing. The tot quietly left home around 5pm local time while his parents were distracted — Corey was working on the roof, and Sarah was changing diapers for Bodin’s one-year-old sibling. 16 harrowing hours and one 40-person search team later, Bodin was found at last… at a ranch seven miles away, with three mountain ranges and two mountain lion sightings in the path. That kid covered a lot of ground! And he made it through the trek safely thanks to one intrepid ranch worker: Buford, ranch owner Scotty Dunton’s faithful Anatolian Pyrenees. Buford regularly patrols his property, so when he spotted Bodin by a tree in the wee hours of the night, he basically shepherded the toddler to the main house, whereupon Dunton reached out to the police. And now? Bodin’s parents say “he’s fine like nothing ever happened.” Job well done, Buford.
A parent’s worst nightmare: Corey later told KPNX that he was working outside while Sarah was taking care of Bodin’s younger sibling at the time of the incident. Sarah recalled Bodin going outside to play. But when she called out his name after changing her younger child’s diaper, Bodin didn’t answer. “My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something,” Corey said, per the Arizona Republic. “And he could be states away. Who knows what’s going on? And that feeling just kept intensifying by the minute.” … “I didn’t even know how to process it,” Sarah told KPNX. “I looked at his empty bed in the middle of the night, and I’m like, ‘This isn’t real, how is he not here? How is he out in the dark alone? How is that real?’” “It’s like the worst living nightmare any parent can feel,” Corey said.
Lost and found… 7 miles away: After 16 hours of searching for the child — who was wearing a blue tank top and pajama pants when he disappeared, according to a police missing person’s poster shared via Facebook — he was discovered on the property of a rancher approximately seven miles from home. “Upon arrival at the ranch, deputies confirmed that this indeed was the missing boy,” the police said in their statement. Scotty Dunton, who was identified as the rancher, per KPNX, said that his dog Buford had discovered the child while guarding his property.
Toddler’s best friend: Dunton said Buford “likely protected and directed the missing boy to safety,” in an on-camera police interview. The rancher told authorities that finding the child, who he said was “upset” but “in good shape,” was “a relief.” “I was ecstatic that he was ok and that my dog found him,” he added. Bodin also told the rancher that he had been discovered by the dog, and Anatolian Pyrenees, after “holing up” under a tree all night. “He loves kids, so he wouldn’t leave him when he found him,” Dunton further said of his dog. The rancher also said that Buford typically patrolled the property “all night” to ward off coyotes.
The kid is totally unfazed, thank dog: Corey later told KPNX that it felt like God sent that dog to rescue Bodin, who walked away with only some minor scratches. “It’s unreal, it’s unbelievable and it’s a miracle,” Sarah also said, according to the outlet. “[Bodin is] here, he’s healthy, he’s fine like nothing ever happened, it still feels like a dream.” The couple thanked Dunton in person on Thursday, April 17, KPNX further reported.
I know I say this at a minimum of once a week now, but it’s true each and every time: we do not deserve these loving floofs! They are the best of us. Scotty Dunton told NBC News that he was able to trace Buford and Bodin’s paw prints to a mile out from the ranch that they walked together. I can just imagine Buford softly nudging Bodin with his snout to say “Come with me, kid. I gotcha.” Buford didn’t pose long for the cameras — he probably wants to keep a level head for simply doing what any very good boy or girl would do — but from the glimpses we got, he strikes me as a gentle giant. Ready to do battle against mountain lions and coyotes and bears, no doubt, but preferring to keep things quiet and orderly. And don’t worry, Dunton confirmed that Buford was served up a homemade steak dinner for his heroic deed.
I hope Buford and Bodin keep up a friendship. And if I could make one recommendation to Bodin’s parents, it would be to get a dog of their own! I know they have their hands full with two kids aged two and under. But the right family dog would bark his head off if he saw one of his people wandering away from home! Just sayin’…
Good boy! Who’s a good boy? Yes you are, oh yes you are!
❤️
As the owner of a great pyranees who’s only job is to guard the house, me and her 10 lb playmate, I know how protective they are and Bodin was in the best hands possible outside of his own family. These dogs are loving and caring and make wonderful playmates. My dogs favorite walk is by the local elementary school when the buses are unloading, and she gets all the pets!
That is so sweet! Also a relief that being so protective he was not aggressive to the kid! Seems like a great breed
DONT let 2 year olds out of your sight, jfc. Everytime one of these stories make the news it’s because of parents who left their toddlers alone. And the cherry on top, ‘it’s like god’ was involved. No, you’re lucky. Your child could’ve died. Divine intervention isn’t a thing no matter how badly you want it to be. Do better.
I have a 2 year old and this terrifies me. He can turn latches now, so I always make sure the dead bolt is latched on the front door–it’s out of his reach but alas, not for long. He’s a tall kid. I wear running shoes every day to work because my kid is prone to take off running when we get home. He thinks it’s funny. So I bring in the bags, the coats, and other stuff and leave him strapped in his car seat. Then I get him out with empty hands, and if he takes off running, I can sprint after him since I’m in running shoes!
Like they and all parents the world over don’t already know that. People make mistakes. The child is obviously loved and taken care of. Celebrate the win and stop the judgement.
This is terrifying just because anyone who’s ever had a two-year-old knows how fast something can happen to them even when you are with them. My daughter took a fall and got a concussion when I was 2 feet away from her but busy helping her brother up a slide
My 2-year-old nephew got out of his family’s hotel room by stacking pillows because he wanted to walk on the beach. An older nephew thankfully was surfing when he spotted him and carried him back to his parents, who were still sleeping because it was 5 a.m., and they had driven for hours the night before.
We went to a hardware store, then put alarms on all of the doors and windows of the rental house when we arrived there later that day.
Wait?? So you are saying we shouldn’t leave 2 year old kids to fend for themselves?!? My god what instructive information. —- you are a horrible person for blaming these parents. Kids can get away in a heartbeat. I’m so proud of you that you have never gotten distracted or made a mistake. Please write a book so we can all learn from your infinite wisdom.
😭😭😭😭 dogs are the best and we don’t deserve them
BIG SIDE EYE when the dad said his first thought was the kid had been trafficked. My dude, get off of Fox News omg.
Totally my thoughts. You guys were distracted, lose your kid, and your first thought is to blame traffickers? 🤦🏻♀️ Don’t come at me – I had 4 kids of my own, I know that sometimes things can happen. However, I would never have jumped to blame other people for a mistake like this. And let me guess – it would have been illegal immigrants and MS-13 gang members responsible 🙄
That part stood out to me as well. That was your first thought— really? So quick to blame others. Although I guess in a moment of panic all sorts of crazy thoughts run through your head. But stress can also reveal your true colors. Sigh.
Congrats on getting your kid back after what was surely a terrifying ordeal. Please use this opportunity to be better people.
This was exactly my reaction. Human trafficking out there in the middle of nowhere? Nope. Come on now. Stop watching Fox News and listening to Trump. We all know toddlers often run off if you take your eyes off them for a few minutes. Stop and take a breath. Right wing media has broken peoples’ brains for real.
It goes to show how far he’s been influenced by media. “My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something,” Corey said.
Ok you’re in the middle of nowhere and your concern wasn’t wild animals, dehydration etc., but trafficking. We are all being brainwashed. (not saying trafficking doesn’t happen)
Fox News and QAnon have brain washed half of this country.
He immediately started catastrophizing which may mean he has an anxiety disorder. I know plenty of people who don’t watch Fox News but immediately assume the worst possible outcome in stressful situations.
Incredible. Only 3 comments in and we already have someone blaming the parents. It says in the article that he wandered off while mom was changing his sibling’s diaper. Obviously, you can’t leave a 2- year-old unattended for any extended period of time, but this comment seems to imply that a parent can’t even use the bathroom without bringing their child with them. And we wonder why parents today have such high rates of depression, anxiety and burnout. Jfc indeed
Amen! I’m going to guess that anyone criticizing this either has never had children or their children are fully grown. Anyone who’s had children that age in the last 10 to 15 years knows how fast something like this can happen and you can’t possibly watch them every second without becoming a helicopter parent
I met a Pyrenees once. It was at a free range chicken farm and he roamed at night (like this dog) to patrol for coyotes. So he was a floof resting on the back porch, but followed us when we went to see his chickens. Chickens were standing peaceful in the field so he trotted between them, and yep, they strutted out of his way! Told them whose the boss, lol. Good puppy.
Good dog!
So glad this story had a happy ending and love Buford!
One of my dogs is Anatolian Pyrenees and I agree that they are very special – my boy is gentle but a great protector of the family. Other dog is Pyrenees cattle dog and he’s a floofy but more clever version of his brother, which spells trouble lol.
We have a Pyrenees mix, and this is her dream! She once found our neighbor’s missing tortoise and refused to move until the tortoise was back with its owners.
My son was a wandering toddler, and it is terrifying and can happen in the blink of an eye, especially when your kid is determined to be free range. Mine was the youngest of three and so had lots of eyes on him, and he still managed to disappear from time to time. But I never even once thought my kid had been trafficked! Get real people. And take a treat to good boy, Buford!
Dogs are the best. My rescue is so protective of us, too, but he’s a terrible emotional support dog LOL. He gets so worried if one of us is crying that we have to cry outside the house or in the shower so we don’t upset him.
We live in N. AZ and are huge dog lovers so this story has been awesome. That little boy went 7 miles from home, and the trackers had evidence that at least two mountain lions were tracking in the same area.
The fact this little boy is alive is solely due to Buford, best boy ever. My son is 2 and wasn’t a wanderer, thank God. I refused to get a house with a pool when our son was little because you literally never know what can happen as ,much as you protect your children.
Give a dog a Milk Bone today.