Faithful Dog's Bark Brings Searchers to Missing Toddler

Oxford, N.C. — A toddler who went missing Friday night was found alive more than 24 hours later, the family dog at his side.

Connor Cummings, one week shy of his second birthday, had a few scrapes but was in good condition when a searcher found the boy sitting on a stump about one mile from his house Saturday evening.

"It's a prayer answered. It really is," his mother, Teresa Cummings, said Saturday evening as she held the toddler and he guzzled from a bottle, seemingly unconcerned by the whole affair.

Connor and his family's golden retriever, Sandy, wandered away from home and went missing about 6:30 p.m. Friday. A massive search ensued.

Steven Brewer was searching on horseback when Sandy barked once and he found Connor and the dog near Highway 96 and Gos hen Road.

About 250 people had searched a wooded area near Connor's home in the Gos hen community Saturday. They used horses and all-terrain vehicles as well as fanning out on foot.

The boy was outside with his mother to feed their dogs Friday, authorities said. The mother realized he and the dog were missing a short time later and searched for them for about two hours before calling the Granville County Sheriff's Office for help.

Crews searched the woods near the home on Jack Haycock Road Friday night, and additional search crews from as far away as Asheville arrived Saturday morning to assist. The North Carolina Wing of the Civil Air Patrol was also called to assist.

Connor celebrates his second birthday next Friday.

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Latest Comments

ladyblue, when I am cleaning the kitchen the twins are in their playpen or in their highchair... When they are sleeping I get up in the night and check on them. Children are too precious to let them out of your sight especially outside. And any mother with common sense would know not to let a 23 month old loose like that. If she as near him like she should have been he wouldn't have gone far. If all parents did what she has done, we would have dead toddler all over the world. I remember a case where the toddler got out of the house while the mother was sleeping and she was put in jail for neglect. And this was neglectful for the mother to wait 2 hours to call the police.. It was neglectful for her to let a 23 month old out of her sight. I am sure she was not there with me in eye sight the entire time.

readyforgodswilltobedone
July 2, 2007 10:01 p.m.

thank god everything is ok!

dont_preach
July 2, 2007 9:15 p.m.

SpunkySouthernGirl-

I disagree. It takes more than a few seconds for a toddler to get a mile away from his home. NCTeacher

Read my statement again. I said that it only takes a few seconds for a child to get in trouble, not wander far from home! :-)

SpunkyGrits The One and Only
July 2, 2007 6:46 p.m.

If it was black mother they would be stating neglect.... sowhat

Here we go....let's stir the pot, please.

SpunkyGrits The One and Only
July 2, 2007 6:43 p.m.

Well, then. Now THIS is a story that makes my heart sing. Although, I have one problem (and I am not one to ask why very often): why did ya wait two hours to call for help? Me, being a mother of four, and being ever aware of the threat of pedophilia, would have called for help after two minutes...