Young Police Dog's Bravery Leads to Rescue of Elderly Man in Mountain Search

A search and rescue operation, lasting over 30 hours, concluded with the successful location of an 80-year-old man who had gone missing in the mountains of Yunnan Province, Southwest China. The man, a resident of Sanjie town, had failed to return after collecting firewood, prompting his family to alert the authorities.

The Chuxiong Public Security Bureau's police dog base responded by deploying an experienced trainer and four police dogs to assist in the search. Among the dogs was Barton, a one-year-old police dog. The challenging conditions included muddy and slippery mountain paths due to days of continuous rainfall, severely limited visibility, and the complex, hazardous terrain of the mountain forest.

During the mission, Barton suffered a foreleg injury from sharp branches while navigating dense underbrush. His trainer, Li Xiaohua, provided immediate medical attention before the search continued. Approximately 35 hours into the operation, Barton's bark led the rescue team to the elderly man, who was found in a deep ravine. Police officers successfully rescued the man, and a preliminary examination confirmed his stable physical condition.

Barton, born on May 20, 2024, began his training at the police dog base in September of the same year. He officially began his duties at the start of 2025 after passing the required assessments. Despite his young age, Barton has already participated in 43 search and rescue missions, successfully rescuing six people.