Officer Josh Thompson doesn't know who the dog belongs to, but believes the dog “was a blessing from God"
Louisville Metro Police Department
NEED TO KNOW
- Police in Louisville, Ky., began searching for a 3-year-old boy on Jan. 7
- During the search, Officer Josh Thompson was approached by a barking dog, which led the officers to the boy
- The dog brought the officers to a locked car, where the “terrified” boy was found in the passenger seat
A heroic neighborhood dog is being credited with helping police find a missing toddler.
A 3-year-old boy went missing on Jan. 7 in Louisville, Ky., prompting the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) to search via drone, aircraft and on the ground. However, an unexpected helper assisted in the rescue.
As police looked for the boy, a dog approached LMPD Officer Josh Thompson. It “seemed to know something was wrong and led officers straight to the child,” the LMPD said in a Feb. 9 Facebook post that included footage of the search and Thompson's narration of events.
Also during the search, another officer told Thompson he received a call from a woman about a child ringing her Ring doorbell and running off. Even though the child did not fit the description of the one reported missing, Thompson decided to talk to the woman, who told him that the child was in the home across the street.
However, when Thompson knocked on the other home’s door, no one answered. He then briefly walked around the front of the property, where a dog ran right up to him.
"I'm kind of being a little leery of the dog. He's barking, chirping at me a little bit, and then continues to follow me back to the front porch again to knock on the house again," Thompson said in LMPD's video.
Then Thompson addressed the dog and said, "Hey, let's go find this kid," prompting the dog to run to the backyard.
“At this point, I’m thinking, ‘This kid is in the backyard,' " Thompson recalled.
Thompson noticed the back door was open and went inside, but the dog returned and led the officers to the garage and the vehicle. That’s when they discovered the young “terrified” boy in the front passenger seat.
Louisville Metro Police Department
“Dad mode turns on, and I’m trying to get this kid to hit the unlock button," Thompson explained. "He hit the door latch, and I just gave him the yank motion. He yanked, and I pulled that door open quickly. And he jumped from the car, bear hugged my neck, and wouldn’t let go.”
The child was safely reunited with his family.
As for the dog, Thompson said he doesn’t “know where the dog came from.” In his two years patrolling that neighborhood, Thompson has never seen that dog, but believes the dog “was a blessing from God," he said.
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"Outstanding work by our officers, and a four‑legged friend who reminded us that heroes come in all forms," the LMPD Facebook post read.
Read the full article here
