Photo: DeLand Police Department
A police dog is being hailed as a hero after locating a missing toddler in Florida. The DeLand Police Department received a report that a three-year-old child was missing.
Officers immediately launched a massive search, focusing on a wooded area behind the boy's home. They were aided in their search by Midnight and his handler, DeLand Police Corporal Damon Clark.
After sniffing the boy's blanket, Midnight bolted into the woods and quickly picked up his scent.
"He was dragging me through the woods, like he was just he wasn't gonna stop," Clark told WESH.
Clark said he was just along for the ride as Midnight dragged him through the heavily wooded area.
After about 45 minutes of searching, Midnight bolted ahead of Clark and found the missing boy.
"The dog was able to get to him much quicker than I was because I'm getting caught up in vines, and trees, and shrubbery and stuff like that," Clark explained.
"By the time I got back there, he's licking the little boy's face, and he's all over the little boy," said Clark. "And he's looking back at me like, 'Hey, I got it. Here it is.'"
The boy was unharmed and was brought back to his grateful family.
"Good work to all teams involved! This is the outcome we hope for in these situations, a safe return!" the DeLand Police Department wrote on Facebook.