A Miraculous Rescue in the Cold
A German Shepherd named Freyja is being hailed as a hero after finding a missing 2-year-old girl who wandered away from her home in Dorchester, New Hampshire, and got lost in the freezing woods.
Authorities received a 911 call from the toddler’s mother on the afternoon of October 10, according to The Washington Post. The panicked mother reported that her daughter had slipped out of their fenced backyard after the family’s two dogs pushed through and created an opening.
The little girl was wearing only thin leggings and a light sweater, despite temperatures already in the low 40s, expected to drop into the 20s overnight.
Dozens Join the Search
Police quickly called for backup, and more than 90 volunteers arrived to help search the dense, heavily wooded area near the family’s home.
“Everybody dropped what they were doing and came over extremely quickly, knowing the temperature was dropping”, said Sgt. Christopher McKee of New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Among the volunteers was Jeremy Corson, an experienced search-and-rescue volunteer from Concord, and his 7-year-old German Shepherd, Freyja. Jeremy has been with New England K9 Search and Rescue for 13 years, and Freyja is a certified tracking dog.
The Search That Saved a Life
Jeremy and Freyja immediately began searching the woods upon arrival.
“Time is of the essence with a 2-year-old”, Jeremy said. “They can cover more ground than people think, and the longer it takes, the colder they get.”
Around 8 p.m., nearly five hours after the child went missing, Freyja picked up a scent.
“She’s nose-down, that’s how I know she’s tracking”, Jeremy recalled. “The woods were so thick you couldn’t see more than a couple of feet ahead.”
Following the scent trail, they soon heard a faint response when Jeremy called the girl’s name.
“She was in a really rough part of the woods. I could tell she was cold and scared.” he said.
Jeremy carried the toddler back through the darkness to safety.
A Family’s Emotional Reunion
When they arrived back home, the girl’s family rushed to embrace her.
“Everyone was absolutely ecstatic”, Jeremy shared. “Mom was very happy, very emotional, she broke down crying.”
The child, who reportedly told rescuers she was “ready for a bath and bedtime”, was taken to a local hospital for a precautionary check-up. Thankfully, she was unharmed.
Freyja, the Four-Legged Hero
Jeremy said he couldn’t be prouder of his canine partner.
“Freyja did an incredible job”, he said, “I’m extremely proud of her.”
The heroic dog received plenty of praise, along with a new ball and lots of extra pets, for her life-saving work.
“She truly is incredible”, Jeremy said.