Andrea Rosebrock 
Mother’s Day was a very special day for one Missouri mother as she welcomed her 3-year old toddler, Joshua Childers, home from the hospital after his harrowing ordeal. Missing for 52 hours, 2 nights and 3 days, 40 degree temps and rain, it was amazing the little boy survived but his survival is being credited to the family dog, a 120-pound Great Pyrenees.
“One of our initial concerns was how could a 35-pound child could stay alive in forty degree weather in the rain for two nights and three days,” said Steven Crawford, Childer’s doctor. “That may be the answer, and he was telling about being with the dog at night.”
Than family dog also disappeared about the same time and Joshua talked about being with the dog.
The little boy decided to do a little adventuring last week while his father was sleeping from working all night and his mom was on the phone for about 5 minutes. By Wednesday morning, the family was beginning to lose hope after searchers had no luck for several days, especially with the poor weather, rain and cold.
Then one searcher who was separated from his party practically stumbled across the little boy when he saw a couple of dogs sniffing a certain area.
“I think (the boy) was laying there asleep,” Donnie Halpin, a construction worker in Fredericktown, said. “I said, ‘Hey, buddy,’ and he just sat up. I said, ‘You want to go home?’ And he said, ‘Yeah.’ And I just reached down and picked him up and just put his arms around me and we hiked on down the mountain.”
So, a couple days in the hospital, slightly dehydrated, covered in scratches and bug bites, Joshua is now at home safe and sound. When asked what he was doing, Joshua said he was going to visit his grandmother.
Josh’s dad said that they were going to keep a much better eye on the little guy and joked, “I think somebody mentioned low-jack for a kid.”
So it looks like finding and saving the boy can be all chalked up to the dogs, the family dog that stayed with him and help him warm and the two dogs that led the rescuer to him. Gotta love it!
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I’m happy that the little boy was found but … what happened to the dog and was is his/her name? It seems that the parents are not much grateful that their son was saved by their dog?!?
To me it is “somewhat” ungrateful on their part!
Can anyone, please let me (I’m positive that thera are lots of people out there that would love to have news of the dog).
Thank you.
Gina R.
This is heartwarming story. Wish all dog stories were as happy as this one.
It says he talked about being with the dog – was the dog with him when he was found? I hope the dog didn’t disappear…
To be honest Debbie, very little was even said about the dog, not even a name. There was a mention that the dog was not with the boy when he was found but no follow-up beyond that. If I come across something today, I’ll update.
D.
I don’t know if you’ve updated this or not, but they have info about the dog HERE
It says that his parents say that the dog disappeared shortly after the boy and then reappeared shortly after the boy returned. The Dr says the dog might have been with him all night, that the boy talked about the dog at night. However, when rescuers found the boy, there were two different dogs with him. His parents said the new dogs probably scared away their dog. Must be a very gentle Pyranees to get scared by other dogs! Anyway, nice story.
Ain’t dogs grand?
Was there every a question Jessie?
Gotta love’em!
D.