Girl, 9, kept safe in bush by pet dogs

A nine-year-old girl lost in the bush overnight returned home safe and sound thanks to the warmth and protection of her three pet dogs.

“When I started asking her about her night, she indicated that she was there with her three dogs, and that when she laid down all the dogs huddled around her and kept her warm,” said Sgt. Barry Larocque of the Elk Point RCMP, who called this a “heartwarming” end to what was a scary situation.

“I have no doubt that those dogs kept her safe from maybe some animals that might have been in the area, in addition to laying down beside her, keeping her warm.

“It shows me how dogs can be very loyal to their owners and companions.”

The little girl wandered away from her home in the Frog Lake First Nations community with her three large mixed-breed dogs at around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The RCMP were called at 11:14 p.m. after her family and community members had started scouring the dense bush looking for the girl.

The area was searched throughout the night. A neighbour had reported seeing the girl around 8 p.m., but there was no trace of her.

“A sense of panic comes over. She was so young out in the bush where animals and certainly other perils are,” said Larocque.

But just as day broke and officers prepared to call in a helicopter, the girl walked out of the bush. She approached a member of the search party, who took her home.

Though temperatures hovered near zero overnight, the girl was found to be in good health when she was checked at hospital.

Larocque said her parents were relieved to have their daughter home safe, and were grateful for the members of the community who rallied together and searched through the night trying to find her.

Frog Lake is about 250 kilometres east of Edmonton.