Australian dog receives police honours for keeping lost child safe

SYDNEY: A deaf and partially blind dog that kept a lost three-year-old girl safe in Australian bushland overnight was awarded police honours Saturday after leading rescuers to the child. Emergency services began a search on foot and from the air for Aurora Friday after the young girl wandered off into bushland on a rural property in Queensland state. Seventeen-year-old blue heeler Max stayed with the child through a rainy night before leading family and rescuers to her Saturday morning after more than 15 hours in the wild. “Leisa (the child´s grandmother) heard Aurora´s voice, found Max first, and then Max led her to Aurora,” Leisa´s partner Kelly Benston said, adding the dog was partially blind and deaf. Police were quick to make the hero pooch one of their own.

“SUCH A GOOD BOY, MAX!,” Queensland Police posted on Facebook. “For keeping her safe until she was found, you´re now an honorary police dog!,” police posted alongside a picture of family pet. To the relief of her distraught family the three-year-old was in good health, rescuers said, suffering just minor scratches. She was found on the property about two kilometres (more than a mile) from the family home.