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Pit bull protects autistic girl lost in woods
There could have been a very different ending for this little girl had it not been for her dog.
Cheryl Knight
10.03.19

When children go missing, it’s a heart-wrenching time for friends and family. One such case happened in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, when a two-year-old autistic girl, named Charlee Campbell, wandered into the woods near her home and became lost. Luckily, her faithful companion Penny the pit bull was with her the entire time.

Thankfully, Penny stayed with Charlee and helped keep her safe until she was found two days later. Here’s how the inspiring story unfolded.

Charlee goes missing

WDRB
Source:
WDRB

Charlee was staying with her grandparents when she went missing one morning. The home was near a densely wooded area about 30 miles south of Louisville, Kentucky.

Charlee’s grandfather had left for work at 5:30 AM, and at that time, Charlee was asleep in bed. But later in the morning, Charlee’s grandmother, Beth Campbell, had woken up and found the front door wide open. It was at this time that she realized Charlee and Penny were both gone.

The search begins

Twitter/Case Warriors
Source:
Twitter/Case Warriors

A search for Charlee began immediately, with the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department, deputies, and bloodhounds searching the wooded area around the house. In total, about 100 officials and volunteers helped to search for little Charlee.

But, after about two days, neither Charlee nor Penny could be found.

Charlee and Penny are found

Wave 3 News
Source:
Wave 3 News

But there would be a happy ending to this story. About 36 hours after they went missing, Charlee and Penny were found!

Penny the pit bull had stayed with Charlee up until the end, but Penny eventually found her way home just before Charlee was found by a neighbor.

Charlee’s grandma said she was praying in her backyard when she spotted Penny running toward her.

“This is our hero right here. When my dog didn’t come home, and my baby wasn’t home, she was not going to leave that baby until she got here,” according to Charlee’s grandmother.

A neighbor finds Charlee

Courier Journal
Source:
Courier Journal

Just as Penny the pit bull arrived back home, Charlee had approached a neighbor named Wayne Brown.

“Charlee’s amazing survival story continued tonight when she walked up on a porch on Roy Layne Road this evening,” according to the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page.

Facebook/Bullitt County Sheriff's Office
Source:
Facebook/Bullitt County Sheriff's Office

When Brown first saw Charlee, she was covered in dirt and had leaves in her hair. When he tried to talk to her, she didn’t respond.

“I opened the door, and I said, ‘Are you Charlee?’ Brown explained. “And she handed me this bottle. And I said, ‘Are you Charlee?’ She didn’t answer me. She wouldn’t say anything.”

But Brown immediately recognized Charlee and called the police. Thankfully, while Charlee was dehydrated and had tick bites, she went to the hospital and turned out to be OK.

Pit bulls are completely misjudged

Wave 3 News
Source:
Wave 3 News

While pit bulls have been deemed by some as mean and even violent, they are usually loving, loyal, and protective. They can form unbreakable bonds with their owners. Let’s look at some of the other benefits of owning a pit bull, according to Puppies Club.

  • They do well in interacting with children.
  • They don’t need a lot of grooming.
  • They act as fantastic guard dogs.
  • They can be trained more easily than many other dogs.
  • They are super loyal.
  • They get along really well with other pets.
  • They are affectionate pets.
  • They love to exercise.
  • They love to cuddle.
WLKY News Louisville
Source:
WLKY News Louisville

The story above about Charlee and Penny shows how a pit bull can be loyal and loving, as well as fiercely protective.

Watch the video below to see Charlee’s mom interviewed just after she was found.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: WLKY News Louisville

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