Missing dog that helps care for 4-year-old with brain condition found

A missing dog that helps care for a 4-year-old with a brain condition was found Wednesday morning, after going missing from her Bedford home.

“To have the police take their time and go in the woods with their little flashlights and look for a dog, it’s just incredible,” said Samantha Monaghan, mother of Luc LeBlanc and owner of Marley the Labrador retriever.

Marley, 3, took off while Monaghan was cooking Tuesday evening in her backyard, which is not fenced.

“All of a sudden, I took my eyes off her and she just went,” she said.

Halifax Regional Police searched for the dog, and also posted messages on social media websites about the disappearance; a Facebook post was shared more than 2,000 times.

A nearby neighbour found Marley, took her in and posted about her on Kijiji. Police connected with the individual Wednesday morning.

Monaghan said that while the dog isn’t specifically trained, she acts like a therapy dog for Luc.

The boy cannot talk and needs constant assistance.

Marley wasn’t wearing a collar at the time she took off. Monaghan said she will be more careful from now on and is happy about the reunion.