Body camera footage captured the moment troopers reached a lost little boy. His loyal dog was right beside him.
A Walk That Went Too Far
A 4-year-old boy in Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey, walked away from his home with the family’s black Labrador. When his parents couldn’t find him, they called New Jersey State Police, who sent troopers to the house.
The officers were told the child had left with the dog and nobody knew where they had gone. Troopers and the family searched the area, and a nearby resident then reported hearing a child calling for help from the woods.
Following the Cries
The search, which lasted a little more than an hour, ended when Trooper Ian Emmi and the boy’s mother heard him crying in the distance. Body camera video shows them running into the woods toward the sound. “I got ya, come here, you’re OK,” Emmi can be heard saying as he reaches the boy.
The footage shows the sobbing child holding up his arms and repeatedly saying he had lost his shoe. A female trooper picks him up and carries him out of the woods. The boy was found about a half mile from his home, safe and in good health.
The Dog Who Never Left
What touched viewers most was the dog. The Labrador was standing beside the boy when troopers arrived, and the video shows him wagging his tail and walking along as the child was carried to safety. State police said the boy was found with his dog by his side.
New Jersey State Police released the 46-second clip on social media, and it drew an outpouring of praise for the troopers, the mother and the dog. “Somebody needs to tell that dog he was a good boy,” one commenter wrote.
If a Child Goes Missing
Rescues like this one end well because people act quickly. Safety experts recommend these steps:
- Call 911 immediately. Don’t wait to see whether the child returns on their own.
- Check nearby hazards first. Look at water, roads and wooded areas near your home.
- Gather information. Have a recent photo and a description of what the child was wearing ready for officers.
- Teach children to stay put. Search-and-rescue groups advise children who are lost to stay in one place and make noise.
Keeping Kids and Pets Safe
A few simple tools and services can add an extra layer of protection for families who live near woods, water or busy roads:
- Tracking. Compare GPS trackers for kids, GPS dog collars and family safety apps.
- Home safety. Look at door alarms, child safety gates and home security systems.
- Pet protection. Consider pet insurance, dog training courses and microchip registration services.
- Outdoor gear. Browse kids’ hiking gear, whistles and identification bracelets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the incident happen? In Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey.
How long was the boy missing? A little more than an hour, according to New Jersey State Police.
Who found him? Trooper Ian Emmi and the boy’s mother heard his cries and ran to him, about a half mile from his home.
Was he hurt? No. Police said he was found safe and in good health, though he was upset about losing a shoe.
What role did the dog play? The family’s black Labrador stayed by the boy’s side the whole time he was missing, according to the body camera footage.
Sources: FOX 29, Fox News, CNN, ABC7 New York, KSAT, and PIX11, all covering the rescue of a missing 4-year-old and his Labrador in Buena Vista Township, New Jersey, as shown in New Jersey State Police body camera footage.
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