A toddler was found in the woods with her faithful pets after the little one was declared missing by her family.
Thea Chase, a two-year-old from Michigan, was found hours after she had wandered off from her home in the Faithorn area of Menominee County sleeping on one of the family's pet pups.
State troopers from the Iron Mountain post in the Upper Peninsula were called to the home on Wednesday around 8PM after Thea walked out of her house with no trace as to where she had gone with two of the family's dogs.
A search party, which included drones and K-9s as well as citizens from both Michigan and the Wisconsin area, assisted with looking for the toddler and thankfully, she was found at approximately midnight.
A fellow searcher riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) discovered Thea about three miles away sleeping in a wooded area using the smaller dog as a pillow.
On Thursday, State Police Lieutenant Mark Giannunzio described the incident as "remarkable."
"She laid down and used one of the dogs as a pillow, and the other dog laid right next to her and kept her safe," he said. "It’s a really remarkable story."
Lieutenant Giannunzio also told CNN that when the force receives a call of that nature, "everything else stops."
Speaking to WJMN-TV, Thea’s mom, Brooke Chase said that the family started their own search for their missing daughter before calling the authorities for backup.
"I realized she was missing and I’m telling her uncle, and I said, 'Where is she?'", Brooke told the outlet. "We’re searching all around the yard, up and down the roads, screaming at the top of our lungs her name, calling for the dogs because the dogs were missing, too."
She continued: "It’s completely wooded. Deep, thick woods around here. There’s a swamp over there, so of course we’re, like, freaking out. And after about 15 minutes of searching for her with our friends and family, I called the cops.
"I was in such a fog and in such a shock that she was literally gone, in a split second," Brooke added.
Four hours after police were initially notified of Thea's disappearance, a family friend searching for Thea came across the Chase family’s Rottweiler, Buddy, who started barking as he approached.
Hartley, the family’s English Springer was too busy providing a place for the little one's to rest her head to notice the sudden intrusion.
"She has those dogs wrapped around her finger," the mom said.
When Thea was returned home on the back of the ATV, the toddler was reportedly giggling and saying: "Hi Mommy," Brooke told CNN, and of course, the family were all relieved to be reunited once again.
After careful medical examinations, it was confirmed that Thea remained unharmed and appeared to be in good health, as per Lieutenant Giannunzio. The outdoor temperature was about 60 degrees when the toddler was found, reported CNN.
We're glad Thea and her faithful friends are all back home safe and sound.
