The search included drones and a helicopter, as well as on foot, to no avail, until an unlikely source on four legs brought a lead.

"As I'm walking to the front, the craziest thing happened. There's a dog," officer Josh Thompson said, in the CBS News report.

"It would bark at me to tell me to hurry up. It led me all the way to the backyard. At that point I'm thinking, OK, this kid's in the backyard."

The dog—which resembled an Australian Shepherd or Sheltie—continued barking at the officer, checking back to make sure he was following. (Screengrab image: via WLKY-CBS)

He led him to the "back bumper" of an SUV parked in the driveway, and there—locked inside the car—was the little boy.

"I don't think I've ever seen a happier kid in my life. He jumped out of the car, bear hugged my neck and wouldn't let go," Thompson said.

Officer Thompson notes, "I don't know where the dog came from, but it was a blessing from God that day."

According to the CBS News video report, Officer Thompson had been patrolling the neighborhood for two years prior to the incident, but had never seen that dog before, or since that day! (Screengrab image: via WLKY-CBS)

The report says the Louisville Metro Police Department gave credit to the unofficial K-9 "four-legged friend, who reminded us that heroes come in all forms."

Update:

In a subsequent video report by WLKY CBS News, the hero dog turned out to be a sort of community fixture affectionately known as "Louisville's Lassie."

A viral video clip from WLKY noted, "According to the neighbors, the dog does have a home, and on warm days he wanders the neighborhood in a place where everyone knows him, and now, no one will forget him." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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