Late last month, when Don Gregorio Romero went missing from his home in Sonora, Mexico, his family was understandably concerned. Romero, who is 84 years old, is thought to have wandered off in a disoriented state, and was then unable to find his way back.
After his family’s search around town proved fruitless, they reached out to local authorities for help.
But Romero’s hero would soon turn out to be someone with no training at all.
For days on end, search and rescue crews scoured the desert region for any sign of Romero — but all to no avail. Authorities even enlisted the service of skilled tracking dogs, though they too failed to uncover any clues about where Romero may have ended up.
A week after Romero went missing, with hopes of finding him alive fading, rescuers decided to turn to the one who knows him best.
They asked his dog, Palomo, for help.
Palomo was brought to vicinity of where Romero was last seen a week earlier — and, sure enough, the pup was stirred to action.
Evidently having caught his beloved owner’s lingering scent, Palomo began walking into the barren desert, leading rescuers on a lifesaving mission.
For nearly two miles across the inhospitable landscape, the faithful dog followed his nose — and his heart. All the while, hopeful rescuers watched in tow.
“[Palomo] led authorities between hills, roads and ravines, to where Don Gregorio was,” state officials in Sonora wrote.
Romero’s dog had found him, exhausted and dehydrated, but thankfully still alive.
