'Fantastic job': Internet lauds K-9 Midnight after he safely locates missing 3-year-old child in Florida

DELAND, FLORIDA: A K-9 dog from the DeLand Police Department located and safely returned a missing child to his family.

The 3-year-old boy was reported missing to the police at around 11.30 am, on March 29, as stated by the department in a Facebook post.

After the toddler was reported missing, "all available assets and resources were deployed immediately as officers conducted a massive search, focusing on a wooded area behind the boy's home," said the police department.

The authorities further shared, "Using the boy's blanket, K-9 Midnight and his handler Corporal Clark searched through the woods." 

How did K-9 Midnight locate the missing child?

The canine, who specializes in searches concerning narcotics and missing people, picked up the toddler's scent on a trail in a forested area and led authorities to him, per the social media post.

"He was dragging me through the woods, like he was just he wasn't gonna stop," Clark told local NBC affiliate WESH.

The police dog and his handler were on the ground for about 45 minutes, the corporal told the Florida outlet, adding that it "feels like hours and hours and hours when you're being dragged behind the dog through the woods."

While Midnight combed through the "very thick" forested area without hesitation, Clark noted that he suffered some cuts and scrapes during the search.

"The dog was able to get to him much quicker than I was because I'm getting caught up in vines, and trees, and shrubbery and stuff like that," he told WESH.

K-9 Midnight licked the missing boy's face on finding him in the woods

Midnight located the boy, and by the time Clark caught up, the pup was "licking the little boy's face, and he's all over the little boy," the corporal said. "And he's looking back at me like, 'Hey, I got it. Here it is,'" he added.

The toddler was returned to his family safe and unharmed, and police officers gifted him a teddy bear, which he can be seen holding in a photo shared by the department.

Alongside the picture of the boy with his family and a picture of the police dog, the department wrote, "Good work to all teams involved! This is the outcome we hope for in these situations, a safe return!"

K-9 Midnight has been with the Florida police department since 2022

Police dog Midnight has been with the Florida police department since 2022, and when he isn't on duty, he is a sweet pup who "loves to play ball", Clark told WESH.

"I'm the dumb end of the leash. So he does all the work," the handler said. "My job is just to read him, read his body language ... and understand what he's telling me because he can't talk."

Internet praises K-9 Midnight 

The Internet also praised Midnight for safely locating the missing child.

One user commented, "Best outcome! Midnight is gorgeous and smart - hope he got a double cheeseburger reward:)"

"Fantastic job Corporal Clark & good boy, Midnight!!" penned another. 

"I told you always bring your dogs. They have senses that human beings don’t…Thank you so much to the K-9 team," remarked one.

"When it comes to accountability and transparency, this department has zero tolerance," praised another person.

"Great job K-9 Midnight, and all involved. Love the happy ending," said one.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.