According to local police,a stray dog from the neighborhood played a key role in helping Louisville,Kentucky,law enforcement find a missing three-year-old child last month.The entire emotional rescue was captured on recently released body camera footage.

On January 7,more than six officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department were sent to the scene after getting a call about a lost young boy.In a social media update shared this Monday,the department explained that officers immediately began a ground search,while a drone and a helicopter were also sent above to help locate the child.

Despite their best efforts,the search team had little success at first—until an unlikely helper showed up.A dog appeared out of nowhere and began barking directly at one of the officers on duty.

“As I was moving toward the front of the area,something really unusual took place.A dog just showed up,”Officer Josh Thompson recalled.“It kept barking as if it was telling me to follow quickly.It guided me all the way to the backyard.Right then,I had a feeling the boy was somewhere back there.”

Sure enough,the dog led officers directly to a parked car and stayed next to the rear bumper.The little boy was found safe inside the car and was soon returned to his worried family,according to police.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a child so full of joy.He jumped right out of the car,wrapped his arms around my neck tightly,and didn’t want to let go,”Thompson said.

He went on to say,“I have no idea where that dog came from,but that day,it felt like a real gift from above.”

Police stated that they still have not been able to figure out where the dog came from or who its owner is.

The Louisville Metro Police Department praised both the responding officers and their“four-legged companion,”noting that the incident is a gentle reminder that heroes can show up in any shape or size.