Puppies keep lost boy warm and safe!

Courtesy of New York Daily News

This story is from awhile back, but I thought about it this week after talking to one of the parents of a child with autism I worked with last year. In Alabama, Kyle Camp, a 10 year old boy, wandered off from his house following the family's puppies. The boy had been missing for 18 hours until he was found about a half mile from the house with the puppies on top of him keeping him warm through the night. This story is so heartwarming and shows how animals can truly show compassion and love towards their family members. Thank goodness the little boy was safe and sound! I can not even imagine the worry and guilt that this little boy's parents were experiencing. I currently work with two poodles at my internship and day to day I have the opportunity to see how animals have such a positive effect on children. There have been times when the kids really open up because the dogs are present to help distract them and make them feel safe. I feel like this story probably had some similarities in keeping the child warm and safe through the night as he was probably frightened that he was away from his family.  This story also shows how children with Down syndrome can be easily distracted or frightened and may not have the ability to make it back to their house if they get lost. Although this family was extremely lucky, I am sure they now keep their guard up trying to monitor their child even more than they did before.

Check the article out here!