Seminole County Sheriff's Office's new K-9 finds missing boy in woods

Amber from 'Name our Puppy' contest finds special needs boy who wandered from home

SANFORD, Fla. – Seminole County Sheriff's Office says its newest bloodhound, Amber, tracked and found a missing 9-year-old boy in the woods.

[Pics: Meet SCSO's puppy | VIDEO: Scroll below to watch rescue ]

Deputies said they were called to a Sanford residence Saturday after the boy, who has special needs, wandered away.

The boy had been missing for one hour when Amber tracked him 1 1/2 miles through the woods and found him walking, according to deputies.

"She tracked for 1.5 miles with the GPS and it was like one hour where she came up and frightened the little boy," said John Locklan, K9 handler for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

"I pretty much broke down at first. I just kept hugging everybody," said Stephanie Spears, the mother of 9-year-old Vincentio Spears.

Vincento Spears was reunited with his family.

"Just to watch (Amber) stay with him all after that -- it was like, you know, her prized possession, her buddy. She didn't want to lose him," said Locklan.

Amber is SCSO's newest bloodhound and was named after a Facebook contest, in which residents chose her name.

"She's been in charge for three months and she did awesome this weekend. It's been a great week for her," said Locklan

She is 2 1/2 years old and just finished her tracking training, deputies said.

"We're going to cook a big meal, hang out with family and open presents and just enjoy the fact that everybody's here together," said Spears.

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