'I was out the door pretty much immediately when I heard '2-year-old'': Toddler goes missing in cold New England woods, she is found surrounded by her family's pets thanks to the help of a volunteer search-and-rescue dog, Freyja

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Nov 20, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Dogs are really too good for this world. They make us smile by licking our faces to wake us up in the morning, they do howlarious interpretive dances upon receiving pieces of broccoli, and they even find lost kids when no one else can. Frejya, a 7-year-old search and rescue dog, leaped into action when her handler was alerted of a 2-year-old who went missing in the woods about 40 minutes away. With time running out, they rushed to the family's house, smelled one of her sandals, and Freyja was off, leading a more than 100-person team of volunteers to find the poor toddler. 

They found her, surrounded by her family's dogs, who they suspect she followed into the woods without knowing she could get lost. Luckily, Freyja located her safe and sound, and she was even excited to see them! The handler let her play with Freyja for a bit, then they returned home, and everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Read more about this miraculous rescue story below!

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  • 01
    This German shepherd helped find a toddler lost for hours in cold, dense woods
    via washingtonpost
  • 02
    Search teams fanned out through the dense woods of Dorchester, New Hampshire, and the sun was starting to set. Temperatures dropped below 40 degrees as volunteers scoured the area for a barefoot 2-year-old girl who had been missing for hours.
    via washingtonpost
  • 03
    Sgt. Christopher McKee of New Hampshire Fish and Game said the day might have ended differently if not for the volunteers - human and canine.
    via washingtonpost
  • 04
    Jeremy Corson and his dog Freyja, who are based in Concord - over 40 miles away - rushed to help. Corson volunteers with New England K9 Search and Rescue. "It's my 13th year doing this," he said. Freyja, a 7-year-old German shepherd, is a certified search-and-rescue dog.
    via washingtonpost
  • 05
    - - Just before 8 p.m. — nearly five hours after the girl went missing – Freyja started picking up a scent of a person. Corson called out the girl's name, and she responded. Corson said she seemed delighted to see him, and initially thought he was her father.
    via washingtonpost

  • Now, our doggo might not be able to find missing kids, but they still bring lots of joy to our lives. So whether your doggo is the best cuddler, a pawfect companion, or a service dog, go give them a big hug and kiss for us, because they make everyone's lives better simply by being themselves.

  • 06
    "The dogs are just crucial," he said. "Without them, we wouldn't be able to do what we do."
    via washingtonpost
  • 07
    Corson said he's always amazed by Freyja's sharp instincts. He gave her a new ball as a reward, plus plenty of extra pets and praise that night. "I'm extremely proud," Corson said. "All the work she does is incredible."
    via washingtonpost
  • 08
    Silent-Resort-3076 ⚫ DORCHESTER, N.H. (WHDH) - After a 2- year-old girl went missing in the woods Friday night in Hew Hampshire, Jeremy Corson and his search and rescue dog Freyja answered the urgent call to try and help find her. (THERE WERE ABOUT 100 VOLUNTEERS SEARCHING)
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 09
    • "I was out the door pretty much immediately when I heard '2-year-old,'" said Corson, Senior K9 Handler for New England K9 Search and Rescue. "It's like go go go right out of the gate so I basically pulled over, got the dog, and started running into the woods."
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10578474240
    via New England K9 Search and Rescue

  • Dogs' noses are incredible. They can smell differences in hormone production, the onset of seizures, sugar levels, and even some forms of cancerous cells. And yet, they still have trouble finding the food we “accidentally” drop on the floor for them to clean up.

  • 11
    • With the sun setting and temperatures dropping in Dorchester, New Hampshire, Freyja got right to work. The dog sniffed the girl's sandals to become familiar with her scent, then her training took over.
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 12
    "Freyja is coming through, searching that area with you and starts displaying that human scent behavior we see over and over again...during trainings and searches which just gets all of our attention. We just started all watching her and she takes control," said Corson.
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 13
    NEW ENGLAND K9 SEARCH AND RESCUE Jeremy Corson
    via New England K9 Search and Rescue
  • 14
    • He said the girl was excited to be found after four long hours. • "I called out her name and and she jumped up and I could hear her like, 'yeah I'm here! Hi! Hi dad! She very much though dad was coming to save her in the woods."
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 15
    • Before bringing the girl back, Corson said she and Freyja shared a sweet moment. • "I gave her a ball and let her throw it for Freyja," said Corson. "I was all excited, very, very happy. Plus, you want to be warm and happy for the little girl who just had a scary four hours in the woods by herself, she wants that warm welcome."
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 16
    • Officials believe the girl followed her own dogs out of her yard and into the woods, but thanks to Freyja, she is doing well and was immediately reunited with her parents.
    via Silent-Resort-3076
  • 17
    carolinelperry The goodest girl!
    via carolinelperry
  • 18
    likhawatdesigns Bravo Freyja
    via likhawatdesigns
  • 19
    hocking5 Hero
    via hocking5
  • 20
    _katywong_ we don't deserve dogs!!!!! G
    via _katywong_
  • 21
    mannatks @weratedogs
    via mannatks
  • 22
    mariannemartens Good girl, Freyja!
    via mariannemartens
  • 23
    nagnandini Dogs are angels in disguise
    via nagnandini
  • 24
    raincitywoman1 Dogs are magic
    via raincitywoman1

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