A tiny desert town along Route 66 in Arizona is home to a new hero — a big, shaggy ranch dog who rescued a toddler lost in the desert this past April. Two-year-old Boden Allen was missing from his Seligman, Arizona, home for 16 hours when a 6-year-old Anatolian Pyrenees named Buford appeared in his master’s driveway with the child at his side — 7 miles from Boden’s home. Buford’s owner, Scotty Dunton, had heard about the child’s disappearance. “I noticed my dog was sitting by the entrance (to his ranch),” he said, “and the little kid’s standing there with my dog!” He calmed the child, who was Rancher’s Dog Rescues Toddler Lost in the Desert DESERT HERO
WHEN MEMORY FA Talking to Children About Alzheimer’s in a
When a loved one begins showing signs of Alzheimer’s, it can be confusing and even a little scary for adults and children. But with a little compassion, honesty, and patience, you can help children make sense of what’s happening in a way that supports both their understanding and emotional well-being. Use simple, age-appropriate language. Children don’t need to understand the science of Alzheimer’s to grasp the changes they’re seeing. For young kids, you might say, “Grandma’s brain is getting sick, and that makes it harder for her to remember things or act the way she used to.” Keep the message clear and gentle. Older kids might be ready for a more detailed explanation, especially if they’ve already noticed something isn’t right. Create a safe space for emotions.
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unharmed except for a few scrapes and nicks, and gave him water and food while calling authorities. Dunton was overjoyed. “I was ecstatic that he was okay and that my dog found him,” he said.
Let your child know their feelings are valid. They might feel sad, frustrated, or even embarrassed, and that’s okay. Open the door
Dunton asked Boden if he had been walking all night, and the child
told him no, he had been lying under a tree. “Did my dog find you?” Dunton asked Boden. He wasn’t surprised when the child said yes. Dunton traced the little boy’s tracks
more than a mile from his ranch, with Buford’s paw prints beside them. “That’s what he does,” Dunton said of Buford. “He loves kids. I can imagine he wouldn’t leave him when he found him.” Dunton’s discovery of the little boy ended an anxious 16-hour search by more than 40 search-and-rescue volunteers, sheriff’s deputies, and state public-safety officers. Wearing only a tank top and pajama pants, Boden had wandered away at about 5 p.m. into rugged desert terrain, where two mountain lions were spotted later that night. Boden’s frantic parents had reported his absence to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. Dunton says he wasn’t surprised by Buford’s protective behavior. “He is a guardian dog. He patrols all night and keeps coyotes away,” he says. The Anatolian Pyrenees is a crossbreed, a combination of a Great Pyrenees and an Anatolian shepherd, known for its intelligence, gentleness, and protective nature. In appreciation for their neighborhood hero, Buford’s admirers piled chew toys, bones, and other gifts on Dunton’s doorstep for days after the rescue.
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