A specially trained canine deputy played a key role in finding three children who became lost while camping near Buena Vista, Colorado, on Saturday.
Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Canine Deputy Archie, known as Arch, was deployed after deputies received a report of three missing children on the Midland Bike Trail east of Buena Vista at approximately 11am on September 26th.
Canine Deputy Arch Picks Up Children’s Scent
The children, one 9-year-old and two 6-year-olds, had wandered away from a large family camping group from the Denver area at approximately 9am. Family members searched for roughly two hours before contacting law enforcement.
Chaffee County Search and Rescue was called in to assist, with multiple drones and a helicopter deployed alongside teams conducting grid searches on foot. Arch was brought into the search near the family’s campsite and almost immediately picked up a scent. The canine began leading searchers away from camp and into the surrounding wilderness.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Arch appeared to pinpoint the direction the children had traveled. Search and Rescue foot teams followed the same general direction and eventually spotted the children from a higher location.
Children Found Safe After Traveling 1.5 Miles
The children had traveled approximately 1.5 miles from their campsite after becoming lost. They were located at approximately 2pm and were quickly reunited with their family.
All three children were found uninjured and in good health.
“The teams worked amazingly quick and effective to bring these kids back to their worried families. I can only imagine the panic they must have felt. We are so fortunate in Chaffee County to have such a highly trained and dedicated search and rescue team of volunteers for these terrifying moments. Now adding our buddy Arch to the team, as a tool, I would match this team against any other in the state. I am very proud of them all.” – Sheriff Andy Rohrich