Dog Rescues Little Girl

A faithful dog kept a 3-year-old girl warm in freezing temperatures when she was lost overnight, authorities said.

Kim Rayfield, the little girl’s aunt says, “I don’t even like animals and I hugged that dog so hard.”

Victoria Bensch wandered away from her home at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday; on Friday morning, a medic in a Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter spotted her and her Queensland healer, Blue, about half a mile away from the house.

“As soon as (the helicopter) got here … they spotted her,” said Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jeff Newnum. “They saw movement — she (was) with the dog as we had hoped. She (was) huddled up with the dog and was keeping warm.”

The medic who spotted the little girl, Eric Tarr says,”I think the dog was initially apprehensive of me I was a little concerned he might bite me when I first walked up, but as I just walked right past the dog the dog realized I was there to help…you could see the dog’s expression almost turn to a smile it came right up to the helicopter and jumped right in no problem at all.”

Victoria was OK — authorities said they were only concerned about frostbite. She and her mother were airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for an examination.

About 70 rescue personnel from various agencies searched her neighborhood and checked cars leaving the town for any sign of Victoria on Thursday night, deputies said.

She was dressed only in a T-shirt, pants and tennis shoes for her 14-hour ordeal, authorities said.

“That dog stayed with her,” Newnum said. “She was able to stay warm with the dog. It’s probably what saved her life — it was extremely cold out here.

“God watched over her last night, obviously.”

Victoria’s father, Ernest Bensch, said he was grateful for the searchers.

“I’d really like to thank them all in person,” he said. “(Invite them) over and have a barbecue or something — that’d be great.”

As for Victoria, her dad is just happy to have her safe and sound.

“She’s all smiles right now and she’s talking very good and very happy.”

Her aunt Kim can’t be more thrilled, “she’s our angel..she’s the first the little girl everybody has boys so she’s our little princess.”

Bond With Dog Helped Victoria Survive

As a professional dog trainer, Keith Coddington isn’t surprised that Victoria’s beloved dog, Blue, stayed by her side the entire 14 hours the girl was missing.

“This was a deeper connection the dog had with the child,” Coddington said. “Otherwise, if that connection wasn’t there, it might not have happened the way it did.”

Coddington said huddling together to stay warm is typical dog pack behavior. She said Blue considered Victoria as a fellow member of the pack for which the dog is responsible.

“If the same thing happened tonight, the dog would do the same thing,” Coddington said.

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When the DPS chopper first spotted the pair from the air, it was Blue’s movement that alerted them. Once on the ground, the paramedic said initially the dog was defensive and was concerned he might bite.

“Once the dog realized we were there to help, you could see the dog’s expression almost turn to a smile,” said paramedic Eric Tarr. “It came right to the helicopter and jumped right in, no problems at all.”

Back at the command post, Blue leaped out of the chopper to greet Victoria’s mother, but ran back once he realized he’d left Victoria behind.

While Victoria’s mother reunited with her precious daughter, other family members praised their favorite canine.

“She cuddled with the dog, she was happy about that,” said Ernest Bensch. “She loves that dog.”

Filed Under: Animal & Plant Life