A 13-year-old with special needs who wandered from his Gastonia home during a Jan. 31 snowstorm was found safe after K-9 officer Bo tracked him through heavy snow using a scent article. Responders from the Gastonia Police Department, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and GEMS had established a secured perimeter; the boy walked back into it and was taken to safety cold but unharmed. Police reported 32 crashes that day and urged residents to stay off roads as crews cleared snow.
Hero K-9 Bo Tracks Missing 13-Year-Old With Special Needs Through Gastonia Snowstorm
Police dog helps rescue North Carolina boy with special needsGastonia Police Department/Facebook
A trained police dog helped locate a missing 13-year-old with special needs who wandered away from his Gastonia home during a severe North Carolina snowstorm on Jan. 31.
The Gastonia Police Department, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and Gastonia Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) responded immediately after the boy left his residence without adequate clothing and was exposed to dangerously cold, snowy conditions. Officers established a secured perimeter around the area while a K-9 unit was deployed to search.
K-9 officer Bo was given a scent article — typically an item of worn clothing from the missing person — and began tracking in the dark through heavy snow. Using his trained nose, Bo guided responders through hazardous conditions as they searched the neighborhood.
Police dog helps rescue North Carolina boy with special needsGastonia Police Department/Facebook
According to police, the boy ultimately wandered back into the secured perimeter and was spotted by GEMS personnel. He was taken to safety and, though chilled from the freezing temperatures, was unharmed.
“This successful outcome was made possible by quick action, strong teamwork, and the dedication of everyone involved — especially a snowy snouted K-9 Bo who performed well in the midst of severe weather,” the Gastonia Police Department wrote on Facebook. “Outstanding work bringing this child home safely.”
Storm Response and Road Hazards
The department emphasized how dangerous conditions were that day: officers responded to 32 crashes on Jan. 31 and urged residents to stay off the roads to allow crews to clear snow. The previous day, police fielded more than 17 traffic-related calls and reported that over 50 vehicles became stranded on highways because of ice and snow.
Officials also shared video of a separate near-miss in which a truck driver jumped from a semi before it was struck by a train near the intersection of Poplar Street and Airline Avenue. The department posted a blunt warning: “THIS IS WHY WE’RE SAYING STAY OFF THE ROADS.” They reminded the public that ice, snow and slick surfaces can turn routine drives into life-threatening situations within seconds and that large vehicles, hills, intersections and railroad crossings are especially hazardous.
Authorities credited fast response, interagency coordination and Bo’s tracking skills with bringing the boy home safely during severe weather.
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