Police dog sniffs out missing child in Okanagan backcountry

A missing child who wandered away from home in cold temperatures was found by a keen-eyed police dog with a strong sniffer.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP says on Nov. 2, a youth who experiences developmental delays walked away from a home in the 4600 block of Grandview Flatts Road.

The rural area of Spallumcheen is located between Vernon and Enderby.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Once family members lost sight of the child, they contacted police around 3 p.m.

1:35 RCMP search for break and enter suspect in Spallumcheen

Police officers, along with police canine Jagger, responded and swiftly conducted a search of the area.

With temperatures falling, and darkness approaching, it became paramount to locate the child quickly, said Const. Chris Terleski.

The Police Dog Service team located a track and, led by police canine ‘Jagger’, traced it through a wooded area to a gravel pit where the child was found in good condition,” he said.

The child was returned safely to his family.