In an unexpected turn of events, an 11-year-old dog named April played a pivotal role in locating a missing 4-year-old boy in the woods of Fauquier County on Thursday, after a search involving law enforcement and even a helicopter.
The incident began when a father, in a rural part of the county, contacted the sheriff’s office to report that his son had run into the woods while he briefly turned his attention elsewhere to load his car. Despite organizing a search with perimeters, a command post, and aerial assistance, the child remained unaccounted for.
Steve Elmore, a neighbor to the family, was unaware of the situation, but his Black Mouth Mountain Cur, April, appeared to sense something amiss. The dog began barking insistently, drawing Elmore’s attention to the nearby woods.
According to a spokesperson from the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, “April had seen something in the woods and was alerting the Elmores.” Following the dog’s lead, Elmore ventured into the forest, eventually spotting the young boy, who was carrying a brightly colored umbrella and wandering through the trees.
Elmore checked the child for injuries and, after ensuring he was unharmed, guided him back to safety. As they approached a road, Elmore noticed the increased presence of law enforcement and returned the child to his family. Deputies later reported that the boy had wandered 500 yards into the woods on his own.
“When Steve walked up to the tense scene with the child, a sense of relief washed over the parents and deputies,” the sheriff’s office stated, emphasizing the pivotal role April played in the rescue.
Though Elmore humbly downplayed his role, crediting April for the discovery, he said he was simply following the dog’s instinctive lead and doing what he felt anyone would do in the situation. “I just walked him to safety,” Elmore said. “April’s the one who deserves the credit.”
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