When their 3-year-old autistic son went missing, a Florida family’s worst nightmare came true. Marshal Butler and his two canine companions, Nala and Buckwheat, vanished, leaving his family concerned and worried.
They immediately began coordinating with law enforcement to locate Marshal, but it was not easy. Marshal has difficulty communicating with others and was last seen wearing only a diaper. On the other hand, Marshal was always guarded by two obedient dogs. They contributed to the young boy’s survival.
It was only around an hour when the toddler was last seen, and the family called the police. The authorities arrived as fast as they could. They even sent their K9 teams to help.
Family members, friends, and police enforcement searched for several hours. Marshal’s photos were shared on social media, hoping that someone would recognize him and return him to his family. They also posted a photo of one of the two dogs, implying that the puppies were still by the boy’s side.
Marshal was fortunately located a few hours later by Carol Shelton. Nala and Buckwheat were both by the boy’s side, protecting him at all costs. They seemed to have helped guide him and keep him out of trouble.
Marshal was found in a nearby river about a mile from his home. He was still wearing only a diaper. It’s unknown what he was doing or how he fled during that time, but the fact that he was found was all that mattered.
Marshal and the dogs, thankfully, survived with minor injuries. On the other hand, Marshal was filthy from playing in the dirt, but his family wasn’t startled. His favorite pleasure appears to be digging in the mud.
Marshal’s mother remarked that the dogs were doing their job, which she appreciates. They were both very concerned about the boy, so they understood what they had to do. This event demonstrates how dedicated and compassionate our four-legged friends are. We certainly do not deserve dogs.
All photos courtesy of @WCSOFL/Facebook
