Puppy Saves Toddler's Life
Categories: Safety, In The News
That's what happened to 2-year-old Nathaniel Teafatiller; he and his 4-month-old puppy, Stanley, slipped out of the family's rural Washington state home and wandered off into the woods. Nathaniel's dad woke up from a nap and found the front door open and his son and the dog missing.
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Fortunately, none of those things happened. Searchers using heat-seeking devices found Nathaniel and Stanley huddled together some six hours after they first went missing. The boy, who was wearing only a shirt and pair of socks, was wet and scratched up but otherwise unharmed.
"A two-year-old in that area is dangerous... you've got cougars, coyotes, dogs that can pull a child down like that, which has happened before," said Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield. The sheriff added that in this particular area, southeast of Chehalis, Wash., there are other dangers, like drowning in a creek or tumbling down a cliff.
It appears that Stanley was crucial to the rescue in two ways: He kept little Nathaniel warm in the cold temperatures, and his body heat was what attracted the search team's attention. Either way, this puppy is a hero. Mom Ashley Teafatiller agrees: "It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
gonzo1 4-17-2009 @ 2:53PM
and some people wonder why dog lovers put their companions in such high esteem. way to go stanley !!!! you are a hero !!!! finally ; a happy ending where a kid is concerned .
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Tanya Needham 4-17-2009 @ 2:54PM
Wow - haven't these parents heard of installing a chain lock high up on the door to prevent two year olds from escaping?! That's the first thing that went up on my door when the grandkids started walking!
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michelle 4-17-2009 @ 3:27PM
Of course you know better as a GRANDPARENT, but how much did you know when you first became a PARENT?
Tanya Needham 4-17-2009 @ 3:39PM
LOL - SHUT UP!! Although, 32 years ago, things weren't quite as scary as they are now. But, yes, I totally see your point. :-)
TonyaToo...LOL!! 4-17-2009 @ 3:55PM
Since forever, I think...we have always had two locks, the bottom and the top. The top lock we keep locked when we are IN the house. It has always kept the smaller kids and then the grandkids in because they cannot reach it, and nowadays it keeps the grown kids out when the visit unexpectedly (phone first, kids) and Dad has taken the day off work to be with me, LOL.
terr 4-17-2009 @ 6:54PM
My 2 year old son the youngest of 3(meaning I had experience with 2 yr old boys) Got up one morning after Daddy left for work unlocked the front door and walked out luckily Daddy was warming the car aN nd saw him. We then installed a chain lock towards the top of the door. Two days later i caught this 2year old pulling his high chair up to the door reaching up and unlocking the chain, have no idea where he learned this. We then installed a chain lock on the bedroom door. I was not about to get up every morning at 5:00 to stand watch, but it can happen in a heartbeat!
Tanya Needham 4-17-2009 @ 7:19PM
OMG I'd have a heart attack. I never had kids or grandkids head out the door - I guess that's why I thought this was a "duh" moment. The worst I had was when my daughter (who's now 31, but we won't discuss that because it makes me feel old) was about 3, she "wallpapered" my guest bathroom with peel and stick PANTY LINERS!!! And how did I find this out? Why, when my guest walked into the bathroom and started screaming in laughter. God I hate kids......or maybe it's just the grey hair they've all given me.
Tanya Needham 4-17-2009 @ 7:21PM
I didn't even NEED the chains at the top of the door with the first 2 grandkids - it's the LAST ONE.....that child is really something. I've got chains ALL OVER the place.
John 4-17-2009 @ 2:59PM
Is the glass half full, or half empty? Had the dog not been with the kid there's a chance he could have died of exposure. It was the dog's heat that led them to the boy. Shoot if you wanted the dog to block the door then your probably pissed he didn't pounce on the phone and call 911. Better yet write note for the Dad?
Good story. Great ending. The dog was a huge factor in things turning out as well as they did. Maybe not a hero to you, but certainly a hero to the people that counted the most.
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patricia 4-17-2009 @ 3:55PM
Some people just can't stand happy endimgs, Granted other issues need to be addressed but why take the goodness out of a happy ending. Thank God the child is safe thats the main thing.
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b22647 4-17-2009 @ 3:09PM
Why can't you just enjoy the story?
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Chrissy 4-17-2009 @ 3:18PM
Good for the dog but why was the father sleeping while his baby was awake? I really hope CPS is keeping an eye on this family for a while.
If the father had been up watching his child like he should have been his child would have never of wondered out the door. This story could have been alot worse, he could have died of exposure or someone could have snatched him.
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michelle 4-17-2009 @ 3:27PM
perhaps dad laid down to nap after putting the child down for his nap (being a parent is very tiring). the boy woke up and wanted to go outside. two year olds don't always remember to ask permission. the dad/parents also may not have realized that the boy had learned how to unlock/open the door (especially if this is their first child). no one is perfect. fortunately this story is a happy ending and not a hard lesson.
michelle 4-17-2009 @ 3:28PM
The puppy following the boy and staying with him definitely saved his life. I'm sure you know the EXACT MOMENT when your kids learned how to open the door to get out of the house. So sorry every other parent in this world isn't as perfect as you.
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Gwen 4-17-2009 @ 3:38PM
It's obvious you don't know anything about today's kids, Tanya. Kids now-a-days are very cunning and smart. Locks are no problem for any kid, especially little boys. Most little boys will wonder away if given the opportunity. You must ALWAYS be vigilant and NEVER fall asleep with a toddler in the house unless you know they are safe and secure.
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Val 4-17-2009 @ 3:38PM
Yes it's a heart 'warming' story with a happy ending. Now what if the poor little puppy had died out in the cold? Would anyone have cared half as much? If I was the little boy's mother I would have smacked my husband upside the head for #1 - Taking a nap while being the primary caregiver to a toddler, (notice I didn't say babysitting - a father doesn't babysit his own child!) and #2 - For not locking the doors! They should invest in an alarm system like the one I have; the door automatically gives a loud beep when anyone goes in or out of the house even when the system isn't armed.
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basketpam 4-17-2009 @ 3:40PM
It's so sad you're such a mean, miserable, pathethic, angry individual. For your information, not every puppy WOULD have stayed with a child, many would have wandered off to have their own fun and good time so it was unusual this puppy stayed with this child. And just because a father took a nap does NOT make him a bad parent. If you've ever been a parent of a two year old you would know ANY parent can use a good nap. We don't have the details here (which are none of our business anyway) but when this father fell asleep the child and dog may have very well been sound asleep with him right in the same room. After all, the outside door apparently had been closed and often we are shocked by what these toddlers can learn overnight. They may have very well not even known the child could get the door open. I think it's a wonderful and lovely story with FINALLY a happy ending considering all the horrible and sad ones we hear and I personally feel very sorry for you that your life is so sad and miserable that you can't be happy for this family for 5 minutes out of your unhappy life.
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clemsonfairy2006 4-17-2009 @ 3:44PM
thankfully the boy was okay and the dog was with him.. the dad probably laid down for a nap after he put the boy down and the by woke up.. not all kids make noises when they get up.. hes probably a first time daddy, mistakes happen and nobody is perfect...
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Susan Stephens 4-17-2009 @ 3:47PM
you can buy a battery-operated DOOR ALARM and a CHAIN LOCK
at the one-dollar store. Install them at adult's eye height on all outer doors and the child's bedroom door. Also HIDE a NURSERY MONITOR in the child's bedroom and keep the receiver with you. Turn it to full volume, if you are napping, so you'll be awakened when your child wakes. It's not rocket science people!
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Crystal 4-17-2009 @ 3:48PM
I lived in a rural area and was new parent and I knew better then doing what this guy did so let's not try to sugar coat the fact that it wouldn't have even been a story if "dad" was being a responsible parent, new or not. There are so many stories out there like this...it's ridiculous that you practically need a license to do anything in life but any idiot can be a parent! I do want to say kuddos to man's best friend for staying with the boy and keeping him warm!!!
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