DESERT HERO Rancher’s Dog Rescues Toddler Lost in the Desert
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 owner’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 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. 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.
When to Jump Off the Spinner THE HIGH-STAKES DECISION TO RETIRE
The playground spinner, a circular platform that whirls with increasing speed, is a fitting metaphor for the modern work experience. Much like the challenge of deciding when to jump off the dizzying ride, determining the right moment to retire can be equally disorienting. For high achievers, retirement isn’t just a financial decision; it’s an emotional and psychological one. Many professionals draw their highest sense of self from their career, making the prospect of stepping away quite daunting. Also, societal norms prioritize productivity, stigmatize early retirement, and instill fear of obsolescence, further complicating the decision.
For some, the fear of losing relevance or social standing can overshadow the allure of leisure.
To navigate this complex transition, it’s essential to:
Reflect on Personal Identity: Understand how much of your self-worth is tied to your profession and explore other avenues for fulfillment. Assess Financial Readiness: Work with your CAPTRUST Advisor(s) to comprehend the implications of retirement, especially concerning unvested benefits.
Envision Post-Retirement Life: Cultivate interests and activities that can provide purpose beyond the workplace. Ultimately, just like choosing the right moment to leap off a piece of playground equipment, determining when to retire requires introspection, planning, and courage.
Another factor delaying retirement is the presence of golden handcuffs, unvested benefits, or incentives that tie individuals to their roles. These can include stock options, deferred compensation, or bonuses contingent upon continued employment. Nick DeCenso, head of wealth management solutions at CAPTRUST, notes, “Golden handcuffs tend to amplify the decision about when to retire, and they can complicate the analysis of a retirement plan.”
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