[News] Family dog points searchers to missing Bullitt Co. toddler

[blackwidow]

When 3-year-old Abigail Arnwine went missing late Monday night, more than 60 people, several tracking dogs and even a helicopter searched for her as temperatures dipped into the 30s.

But after seven hours, it was Murphy, the family's Yorkshire terrier, who helped lead them to the toddler. Abigail was cold, but safe, about a half mile from her house.

"This is the happiest this little hollow's ever been," said Jack Lach, the boyfriend of Abigail's mother who lives with the family.

It all began just before midnight when Abigail, wearing just pajamas with feet, left her Bullitt County home and wandered into the woods at the edge of Bernheim Forest.

Shortly after 7 a.m. yesterday, searchers found Abigail. She was taken to Jewish Hospital Medical Center South and treated for minor frostbite on her feet, a hospital spokesman said.

"It's a miracle she's OK and in pretty good health," said Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell. "I can't imagine what she went through last night."

'A habit of wandering'

Abigail's mother, Angie Arnwine, told police she had left the toddler at their house on South Valley View Drive with instructions to stay with Lach, who was asleep.

"Angie told her to climb into bed with me until she got back," said Lach. "She kissed her goodbye and then saw her start toward the bedroom."

Arnwine then left to help her 17-year-old son, who had run out of gas on a nearby road.

But the little girl walked out of the house instead, Lach said.

"We're not sure how she got out," he said.

Lach said Abigail has "a habit of wandering" but has never left in the middle of the night nor been missing for very long.

One afternoon two months ago, Lach said he found the girl in the middle of a blackberry patch near their home. Two of the family's dogs were with her.

"There was one on either side of her, just watching out," Lach said. "She wasn't gone more than a bit. It's hard to break her of the habit. She'll climb fences and everything but not at night normally."

The search

When Arnwine and her older son, Cody, returned home Monday night, they found Abigail missing and called police, Tinnell said. The call came in about 12:15 a.m., and the search began.

Five or six Bullitt County volunteer fire departments along with search dogs scoured about 2,000 feet into the woods near the home, Tinnell said.

A community member who runs a helicopter service also helped by flying over the area, he said.

Tinnell said he also had notified the Louisville Metro dive team because he was afraid the little girl might have fallen into a pond on the property.

"You try to be positive but in the wee hours of the morning, when they start talking about dredging the pond it gets real hard to be hopeful," Lach said, getting teary-eyed. "That part's still kinda hard to talk about."

Murphy to the rescue

At 3 a.m., the family realized their year-old Yorkshire terrier, Murphy, also was missing, Tinnell said.

"At that point, the girl's brother said that maybe the dog had followed her out," he said.

About 7 a.m., a volunteer firefighter spotted Murphy running near the road at a neighbor's house. Searchers decided to look in the area where the dog had been.

"Sure enough, the little girl was right over the hill, huddled against a tree in her yellow pajamas," Tinnell said.

No one is being charged with anything in the incident.

"It was just one of those things that happen," Tinnell said. "We're all just tickled she's OK."

Lach said the family is going to talk about how they can prevent Abigail from wandering.

"And I imagine we'll be rewarding Murphy," he said. "The little guy definitely deserves a warm bath and some good food, too."

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...19/1008/NEWS01

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by blackwidow

When 3-year-old Abigail Arnwine went missing late Monday night, more than 60 people, several tracking dogs and even a helicopter searched for her as temperatures dipped into the 30s.

But after seven hours, it was Murphy, the family's Yorkshire terrier, who helped lead them to the toddler. Abigail was cold, but safe, about a half mile from her house.

"This is the happiest this little hollow's ever been," said Jack Lach, the boyfriend of Abigail's mother who lives with the family.

It all began just before midnight when Abigail, wearing just pajamas with feet, left her Bullitt County home and wandered into the woods at the edge of Bernheim Forest.

Shortly after 7 a.m. yesterday, searchers found Abigail. She was taken to Jewish Hospital Medical Center South and treated for minor frostbite on her feet, a hospital spokesman said.

"It's a miracle she's OK and in pretty good health," said Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell. "I can't imagine what she went through last night."

'A habit of wandering'

Abigail's mother, Angie Arnwine, told police she had left the toddler at their house on South Valley View Drive with instructions to stay with Lach, who was asleep.

"Angie told her to climb into bed with me until she got back," said Lach. "She kissed her goodbye and then saw her start toward the bedroom."

Arnwine then left to help her 17-year-old son, who had run out of gas on a nearby road.

But the little girl walked out of the house instead, Lach said.

"We're not sure how she got out," he said.

Lach said Abigail has "a habit of wandering" but has never left in the middle of the night nor been missing for very long.

One afternoon two months ago, Lach said he found the girl in the middle of a blackberry patch near their home. Two of the family's dogs were with her.

"There was one on either side of her, just watching out," Lach said. "She wasn't gone more than a bit. It's hard to break her of the habit. She'll climb fences and everything but not at night normally."

The search

When Arnwine and her older son, Cody, returned home Monday night, they found Abigail missing and called police, Tinnell said. The call came in about 12:15 a.m., and the search began.

Five or six Bullitt County volunteer fire departments along with search dogs scoured about 2,000 feet into the woods near the home, Tinnell said.

A community member who runs a helicopter service also helped by flying over the area, he said.

Tinnell said he also had notified the Louisville Metro dive team because he was afraid the little girl might have fallen into a pond on the property.

"You try to be positive but in the wee hours of the morning, when they start talking about dredging the pond it gets real hard to be hopeful," Lach said, getting teary-eyed. "That part's still kinda hard to talk about."

Murphy to the rescue

At 3 a.m., the family realized their year-old Yorkshire terrier, Murphy, also was missing, Tinnell said.

"At that point, the girl's brother said that maybe the dog had followed her out," he said.

About 7 a.m., a volunteer firefighter spotted Murphy running near the road at a neighbor's house. Searchers decided to look in the area where the dog had been.

"Sure enough, the little girl was right over the hill, huddled against a tree in her yellow pajamas," Tinnell said.

No one is being charged with anything in the incident.

"It was just one of those things that happen," Tinnell said. "We're all just tickled she's OK."

Lach said the family is going to talk about how they can prevent Abigail from wandering.

"And I imagine we'll be rewarding Murphy," he said. "The little guy definitely deserves a warm bath and some good food, too."

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...19/1008/NEWS01

i live two counties over from where this happened and watched it all day on the news. Smart little dog there.

[Kelz]

what a good story!! i'm glad the little girl is okay!

[sexiixtc]

wow! I'm glad she was ok.. but how can the boyfriend just go back to sleep?! If he heard the mother telling her to go in bed with him.. why didn't he get up to see where she was if she didn't come within five minutes?! it's a 3 year old!!

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

aww...i am so glad she is ok...and the family yorkie must be her guardian angel sent to watch over her...i am lost for words...this is truly amazing!

[Heart'sOlivia]

Murphy......What a true devoted loving family pet! God Bless You 4 watching over precious Abigail!

Love 2 U both!

[Anna Banana]

Originally Posted by sexiixtc

wow! I'm glad she was ok.. but how can the boyfriend just go back to sleep?! If he heard the mother telling her to go in bed with him.. why didn't he get up to see where she was if she didn't come within five minutes?! it's a 3 year old!!

Thats what I was thinking! Thank God the dog is smarter and more responsible than the Boyfriend!

[stephluvsangel6]

omg wow thats an amazing story!
i was like omg i usually dont read the news on the front and today i was skimming through cause they were different than usual and so i read this and i was like wow
smart dog and the bredd is excellent for wathcing out for kids, at least mine is. frankie will follow us and them everywhere and at bed time he will go and sit on their bed while i tuck them in and he licks their faces and then he will jump down and follow me out whenever i have kissed them and im walking out, but thats just great i love this story and i think im going to pass it on to everyone who teases me and calls my franks a little mutt

[Yorkiedaze]

Murphy needs a porterhouse steak and a medal. That little girl is not dressed in PJ's as you can see. They said she was wearing footed pjs, and this is a summer dress she is wearing. I think someone needs to watch this little girl more carefully.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Thats what I was thinking! Thank God the dog is smarter and more responsible than the Boyfriend!

Ditto!! That little Yorkie may have very well saved that girls life. I'm glad she's ok.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

Murphy needs a porterhouse steak and a medal. That little girl is not dressed in PJ's as you can see. They said she was wearing footed pjs, and this is a summer dress she is wearing. I think someone needs to watch this little girl more carefully.

[TinyBit]

Thank goodness the little one is safe. Good for the YT.!!!!!!!!!