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Nonverbal 6-Year-Old Found Wandering Alone On Road, Reunited With Family By Police Dog

July 24, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Monroe, North Carolina.

A young boy found wandering along a North Carolina road was safely reunited with his family thanks to the quick thinking and dedication of the Union County Sheriff's Office and their trusty K-9 partner.

Union County Sheriff's Office, Monroe, NC

Over the weekend, a concerned local resident called 911 after spotting a child walking alone along Waxhaw Indian Trail Road. Deputies promptly arrived at the scene and began their efforts to locate the boy's home. However, their task was complicated by the fact that the child was both autistic and non-verbal, making communication nearly impossible.

Enter Deputy B. Belk and his bloodhound, Remi.

The dynamic duo decided to attempt a "reverse K-9 track", a method where the dog traces a path back to the starting point in hopes of finding the child's home. Bloodhounds, known for their exceptional tracking abilities, rely on scent articles to follow trails. Deputy Belk used a piece of sterile gauze to collect the boy's scent from his forearms and the back of his neck. Armed with this scent article, Remi set off on the reverse track.

In about 15 minutes, Remi was able to lead the child back home, about a half mile away in a nearby neighborhood.

When deputies arrived, the home’s garage door was open and they determined the boy, approximately six years old, left “in a secretive manner that would not have alerted his parents.”

Sheriff Cathey praised the Union County Sheriff's Office personnel for their dedication and hard work in reuniting the child with his family.

"Sheriff Cathey would like to especially recognize Deputy Belk and bloodhound Remi for successfully completing a difficult and uncommon type of K-9 track," the sheriff's office said.