A bloodhound named Fred from Tenessee’s Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is being proclaimed a hero after he helped locate a six-year-old girl who has been missing since May. The canine tracked the missing girl last June in a barricaded outbuilding at DeKalb County, one month after her father reportedly abducted her. The girl was last seen by a member of the family last May 26, according to authorities. So investigators sought the help of the canine after they used thermal imaging and drone shots to narrow down the girl’s possible location in her father’s property located in the Pea Ridge Community area.
Based on the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office statement, Fred tracked the girl after sniffing an object they obtained that belonged to her father. They went to the house and released Fred, who followed a footpath and into a burn pile, a truck, and an outbuilding. He sniffed the door and its knob, then sat down, stipulating that he managed to locate the father.
Patrick Ray from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said they found both the child and her father in the area, which had been barricaded and had windows that were covered up in metal. Ray said the outbuilding had no ventilation and air conditioning, and the girl barely had any food or water. It also emitted a strong smell of ammonia where the two of them had been urinating and defecating inside a five-gallon bucket.
Authorities immediately arrested the suspect on one count of child abuse and neglect. He also had existing warrants for failure to appear as well as custodial interference. Meanwhile, they turned over the child to the care and custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. According to Officer Ray, the child had been previously taken from her father’s custody after they were both found camped out under a bridge in March. Authorities also found out that her father drove his Nissan Rogue off the road and into a creek, where it got stuck.
During that time, the man was arrested for child abuse and neglect, and they placed the child into temporary custody with a family member of the Department of Children’s Services. The DCS allowed her father to live in the same house as the child after being released from jail. However, the DCS got in touch with authorities on June 21st after they could not locate the child.
But thanks to Fred’s help, they were able to save the girl just in the nick of time.
Deputy Richard Tidwell from Rutherford County Sheriff and Fred’s handler said that they rewarded the good boy with an array of chicken and pizza crusts for his role in searching for the little girl. He shared that the child gave Fred a big hug, and he returned the favor by licking her face when they met. Aww!
That’s a very good boy! Thank you for saving that girl, Fred! You deserve all the chicken and pizza crusts in the world for your heroic act!
Source: FOX 35 Orlando / Facebook