Local farmer's family doggo miraculously saves 2-year-old who went missing and eluded 40-person search & rescue team for over 16 hours: 'He loves kids... he wouldn't leave him once he'd found him'

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Apr 21, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Howdy, fellow animal fans and enthusiasts. Dogs are just constantly reminding us how woofingly amazing they are every day. One day they're working hard helping their hoomans as service dogs, the next day they're cuddling with their pawrents to make them feel better, and the day after that, they're finding missing toddlers that got lost in the wilderness! We hope they never stop being the bestest boys ever, especially Buford, who is not only the hero of the day, but also the doggo of this wholesome rescue story.

After this 2-year-old went missing, the whole community jumped into action. A 40-person search & rescue team worked for over 16 hours to try and find the tiny toddler, but they couldn't find him. That was, until, a local rancher saw his doggo coming back from his patrol with a young kid next to him. Buford found the boy over seven miles from home and stayed with him until he took him home. Buford deserves all the treatos for this - scroll down to watch the video below!

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  • 01
    ARIZONA DOG FINDS MISSING 2-YEAR-OLD THAT LOCAL RESCUE TEAM SPENT 16 HOURS SEARCHING FOR
    via weratedogs
  • 02
    weratedogs ✶Monday night, a 2-year-old child was reported missing in Seligman, Arizona after he walked away from his home. The city began an immediate search which included a 40-person search and rescue team, several deputies from the Yavapai and Coconino County Sheriff's Offices, and members of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The efforts continued overnight in temperatures of high 40s and low 50s, but searchers didn't find anything.
    via weratedogs
  • 03
    ARIZON SO HE'S A GUARDIAN DOG.
    via 12News/KPNX of Phoenix, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
  • 04
    Tuesday morning, local rancher Scotty Dunton was surprised to see the missing child in his driveway accompanied by his dog, Buford. Dunton confirmed the boy's house is 7 miles away from his own, and was shocked he made it all the way there. After getting him food and water, Dunton asked if he had walked all night. The young boy told Dunton he slept under a tree, and when asked if Buford found him, the boy said yes.
    via weratedogs
  • 05
    SHERIF ARIZON I SAID, "DID YOU WALK ALL NIGHT?"
    via 12News/KPNX of Phoenix, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
  • 06
    ARIZON "WELL, DID MY DOG FIND YOU?"
    via 12News/KPNX of Phoenix, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
  • 07
    IZON AND HE GOES, "YEP."
    via 12News/KPNX of Phoenix, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

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  • 08
    Buford is an Anatolian Pyrenees, a breed known for being affectionate and protective. He serves as a guardian dog and patrols his family's ranch at night. Dunton suspects Buford found the boy sleeping under a tree while on his nightly patrol, and brought him back to safety. "He loves kids," Dunton said about Buford, "So I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him." For his heroic actions, Buford's family promised him a well-earned steak dinner. 15/10
    via weratedogs
  • 09
    Near Kingman, Ariz. NBC NEWS Arizona rancher's dog leads lost toddler to safety Buford, the Anatolian Pyrenees...
    via weratedogs

  • Pyrenees dogs are amazing family dogs - very loyal and protective. On top of that, they're also enormous and exceedingly fluffy. Buford is all of those things and more. Way to go, buddy!

  • 10
    But on Tuesday morning, there was someone else Buford protected. NBC NEWS
    via weratedogs
  • 11
    NBC NEWS DUI ENFORCE SHER COL The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office conducted a 16-hour search *
    via weratedogs
  • 12
    alialfarom If Buford didn't receive a 15/10 I would have rioted lol
    via alialfarom
  • 13
    hawaiiboundz The dog told him he found the kid under a tree? That's incredible
    via hawaiiboundz
  • 14
    momservations Buford for president!
    via momservations
  • 15
    about seven miles away from home, sleeping underneath a tree. NBC NEWS
    via weratedogs
  • 16
    emazingpnw Poor little kiddo sleeping under a tree smart kid sleeping under a tree, and he knew to follow the good boy home. That he would help. I love the story absolute hero. I still have so many questions tho
    via emazingpnw

  • Well, luckily Buford looks like he makes a pawfect pillow substitute. If we had to sleep outside underneath a tree, we would happily do it with Buford. Loyal and floofy, what more could you ask for?

  • 17
    wefeedraw Buford deserves a steak, a medal, and full creative control of the movie adaptation.
    via wefeedraw
  • 18
    leiathedane Everyone: we can't find the boy. Buford: Hold my kibble ♥♥♥
    via leiathedane
  • 19
    ajinkyanotrahane Buford is somehow the most perfect name for a gentle giant like this.
    via ajinkyanotrahane
  • 20
    via weratedogs

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Tags

aww wholesome missing dogs ranchers adorable heartwarming toddler miracle cute animals cute doggo farmers animals Search and Rescue rescue
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