A lot of people would say that being a parent is the most rewarding part of life. However, that doesn’t mean that at times it can’t be downright scary.
For the Bensch family of Arizona, their worst imagination came true when three-year-old Victoria went missing.
It all took place on just an average day in February at the family’s property. The toddler had been playing with their Queensland Heeler named Blue on the porch.
Around 5 p.m. that evening Victoria thought their other dog, Rusty, had wandered off. So, she went to go look for him out in the rural area.
As it turns out, Rusty wasn’t missing at all. But now Victoria was instead.
The little girl’s parents were frantic when they discovered she wasn’t there. They looked everywhere for her, only to come up empty-handed. According to The Arizona Republic, that’s when they called the authorities, who jumped into action with a search party.
On top of it all, it was a cold winter night with the temperatures in the 30’s. She had only been wearing a t-shirt. How would she stay warm?
The search continued into the night and through the morning. Then about 15 hours in something caught the eye of DPS pilot, Matthew Uhl, and Eric Tarr. They were flying in a search helicopter.
About a half-mile from the Bensch’s property they noticed the family dog Blue in a ravine, which was surrounded by the Arizona wilderness. However, he wasn’t alone.
The toddler was lying on the ground near the dog.
Sgt. Jeff Newnum from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office told reporters:
“That dog stayed with her, and she was able to stay warm with the dog. And probably one of the things that saved her.”
At first, Blue seemed weary of the rescuers and protective of Victoria. But after he saw the toddler smiling he became less guarded.
Pilot Uhl said:
“I think once the dog realized we were there to help them out, he was very excited. He ran around while the medic tended to the little girl, and when it was time to go, he jumped right into the helicopter and was ready to go.”
Victoria was taken to the hospital where she received treatment for a small case of frostbite on her swollen feet, The Arizona Republic reported. Despite having some scratches too, she was thankfully okay.
Not all stories turn out this way though. It was truly a miracle.
The family of Victoria couldn’t be more grateful of everyone who searched for her. They are also appreciative of their dog Blue who acted as the girl’s guardian angel.
Victoria’s aunt, Kim Rayfield, told reporters:
“…that dog stayed with her, and I believe that they will have a relationship, probably for a very long time.”
People on the internet also see Blue as one of the biggest heroes of the story.
One YouTube commenter wrote:
“Not only would the dog keep her warm it would also protect her from predators. The dog should get a medal..”
Another person simply stated:
“There’s a reason god is dog backwards”
You can see more on this story in the video below. Good boy, Blue!
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