In an incident that has touched hearts across Kodagu, a pet dog named Oreo helped reunite a missing two-year-old child with her mother after the toddler wandered off into a dark coffee estate in Kongana village, Virajpet taluk. The girl, who had been missing for nearly two days, was found deep inside the estate after an intensive search operation involving locals, forest personnel and pet dogs.
Child goes missing during play
The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the child, daughter of estate workers Sunil and Nagini, wandered away while playing outside. The family works in the estate owned by Shariganapati, and earlier in the afternoon, Nagini was checking her mobile phone when she momentarily lost sight of the toddler.
By the time the parents realised she had gone missing, daylight had faded, and despite frantic attempts to locate her, there was no sign of the child. Word spread quickly through the village, leading to a large community response.
Search through the night
Local residents, forest department personnel and volunteers joined the search operation through Saturday night. With visibility low and the estate terrain dense and challenging, the first night’s efforts yielded no clues.
Pet dogs were brought in to assist on Sunday morning, as the terrain of the coffee estate — with tall plants, narrow pathways and thick undergrowth — made human search efforts extremely difficult.
Oreo finds the child
It was a pet dog named Oreo, belonging to local resident Anil Kalappa, who ultimately tracked the child down. Following the scent trail, Oreo ventured deep into the estate and located the toddler sitting amidst the coffee plants. Search team members followed Oreo’s lead and quickly reunited the frightened but safe child with her mother.
After spending the entire night in the dark, cold estate, the toddler was visibly shaken but unharmed. Her mother broke down in tears upon seeing her, with villagers describing the moment as profoundly emotional.
Community praises the heroic dog
Oreo’s efforts have received widespread appreciation from villagers and officials alike. Locals said the dog’s instinct and persistence made the crucial difference when human efforts had reached a standstill.
Forest officials lauded the teamwork between community members and search teams, highlighting the importance of timely coordination in such cases. They stated that the incident also serves as a reminder of the need for careful supervision of children in estates with dense vegetation.
A heartening end to a tense search
What began as a tense, frantic search ended in relief and gratitude, with Kongana village celebrating Oreo as the unexpected hero of the hour. The family thanked everyone involved in the search, especially the canine rescuer who made the reunion possible.
Oreo’s act has strengthened community bonds and brought attention to the invaluable role animals can play in rescue efforts, especially in rural terrains like Kodagu’s coffee estates.