How three year old Victoria Bensch managed to wander off from her home in Cordes Lakes, Arizona is beyond me but this little girl did manage to get herself lost while she was playing outside with her dog “Blue” Thursday.

I can only imagine how her parents were feeling as search parties worked all night looking for Victoria especially since the temperatures dipped below 30 degrees. Helicopters were used in the search in the mountain areas of the valley they live in.

Victoria was finally spotted 15 hours by a helicopter pilot on Friday. Surprisingly she was found with “Blue” lying next to her. Spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Dwight D’Evelyn told the Arizona Republic, “The dog kept her alert, warm and gave her companionship throughout a very cold night.”

They found the Victoria and “Blue” in a dry creek bed and they landed the helicopter nearby. The pilot, Matthew Uhl said, “She wasn’t moving when we first came upon her. She was kind of just looking face-down on the ground.”

Apparently at first “Blue” was pretty protective of the little girl he seemed to be devoted to protect while she was gone but when he sensed that she wasn’t scared of the men who were rescuing her he seemed to relax with them helping her.

“I think once the dog realized we were there to help them out he was very excited,” said Uhl. “He ran around while the medic tended to the little girl and when it was time to go he jumped right into the helicopter and was ready to go.

Victoria was checked out and treated for frostbite at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The doctors say that despite what she has been through little Victoria was a healthy little girl.

“We have to give a lot of credit to Blue, the dog,” said Victoria’s aunt, Kim Rayfield. “He pretty much stayed with her all night and I’m hoping that’s what kept her warm and safe.”

So I guess in a case such as this it is true that a Dog is man’s best friend. I would be surprised if this Dog doesn’t receive special treatment by this family for the rest of his life because he rightfully would deserve it. I only wish that all the missing child cases that I write about would end this way. It would sure be a blessing and answers to a lot of prayers. I thank God for keeping Blue with Victoria to help protect her.

Jan Barrett