Is This The Real-Life Lassie? Meet Buford, The Ranch Dog Who Saved A Missing Toddler In Arizona
on Apr 18, 2025
40 Rescuers, 2 Mountain Lions, And One Brave Dog
Meet the incredible dog that saved the life of a young boy in Arizona.
On Monday, April 14th, at 5 pm, a large-scale search was launched for a young boy reported missing. The search took place in Seligman, Arizona, situated about 100 miles from the Grand Canyon National Park.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the boy was last seen in the treacherous desert wearing only pajama bottoms and a blue tank top.
Authorities later confirmed that the area where the boy went missing has a reputation for sightings of lions, coyotes, and the occasional bear.
A DPS helicopter spotted two mountain lions in the area.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that over 40 rescuers set out to find the two-year-old boy. The sheriff’s office, local authorities, and the Department of Public Safety rangers collaborated on this effort.
Yet a rancher’s dog found the boy and saved the day.
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Buford Saved The Day
16 hours after the boy went missing, a rancher and the owner of the now-famous dog, Scotty Dunton, discovered him on their property. The young boy had walked 7 miles from the location where he went missing.
The dog’s name is Buford. When he found the boy, he led him to his home and safety.
Dunton told NBC affiliate KPNX of Phoenix,
“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. I had heard about the missing child this morning, so I knew it was him.”
Dunton continued on to say that,
“He went through some rough country, it’s all mountains and canyons and boulder piles, and it’s rough for adults, let alone for 2-year-old kids. He did a remarkable job to go 7 miles like he did.”
When Dunton found the boy and Buford, he shared that the boy was okay, just upset.
Watch the interviews from the event below.
