The worst thing that can happen to a parent is losing a child. However, it is more common that one might think. For the Leach family, hours of uncertainty and anxiety were about to start, and then an unlikely twist in plot accrued . This is the amazing story of Kaydon Leach & his dog.

They Thought He Was Safe

Read All About The Upcoming Nightmare >>

Kaydon Leach is a well-adjusted kid who lives in the Top of the World community, Tennesee. Despite the fact that he was only six years old at the time, his parents trusted him to play outside his home. He would sometimes go into the adjacent woods but he would always stay close enough. However, on April 23, 2018, everything was about to change. The family dynamic would be altered forever by what would happen that day.

The Nightmare Begins

Kaydon had always been obedient and respectful of the limits set by his mom and dad. That was why they found it so very weird that he had not come back at 6 pm. Kaydon was very devoted to animal care and he treated his pets with a lot of love. Therefore, he could spend hours playing with them and having fun. His family got really worried about what could happen to Kaydon and it was getting darker by the minute. They decided to call the sheriff to see what they could do.

Part Of An Alarming Statistic

Kaydon would be one of the many kids that went missing that year. According to official statistics, it is estimated that the annual number for missing children in the United States is higher than 400,000. Approximately one child goes missing every 40 seconds, which is a very alarming number. Therefore, it was of utmost importance to take action immediately. It’s a good thing the Leach family had called the sheriff as he immediately took over the situation. However, the hours of torture for Kaydon’s family were only getting started as they had no idea about what could’ve possibly happened.

The Experts Intervene

The first 48 hours after a child goes missing can be a determinant of what happens next. The sheriff of Blount County, James Berrong, knew that time was of the essence and he decided to take immediate action. If a child goes missing in the woods, there’s no small amount of things that can happen to him. From wild animals to hypothermia or even something as simple as a slip and fall, any of those could harm him. He immediately contacted other agencies and devised a strategy in order to look for Kaydon efficiently.

Making the case public

In order to create awareness and let the community know, one of the first steps was to release a profile. This was done as soon as the alert was given to the officers. They released a profile in which Kaydon was described in detail, from the color of his hair to his approximate weight and height. This was done with the hopes of people knowing what was going on in case they would come across the child in question. They specified what he was wearing at the time and the approximate hour in which he went missing. This was the first of many steps involved in the search for Kaydon.

A situation that mobilized hundreds

Multiple offices were contacted, not only local ones but also state and federal help was enlisted. In total, over 100 people were looking for Kaydon. This collaboration had the purpose of exploring an area beyond Kaydon’s family property, an area of about 2,000 acres. This was mountain terrain and they had to be extra careful as to how they went about it as night was falling and it started to rain. It became even more imperative to find Kaydon under these adverse circumstances. However, it wasn’t an easy feat to look for him in the dark, with the rain reducing visibility.  Would they stop and resume the search in the morning?

Kaydon Wouldn’t Be Left Behind

The team was formed by members of the Sheriff’s Department, the Fire Department, Search and Rescue teams, and even the FBI. The continued to look despite the late hour and the rain. The life of a child was at stake and they weren’t going to give up. They used the strategies stated in their books but also devised specific plans given the expanse of the area. They looked tirelessly, however, Kaydon wouldn’t be found that night. Top of The World was a very tight community, and they weren’t going to leave this child alone in the night.

A Community That Protects Their Own

Members from the community joined the search, adding to the more than 100 first responders that were already on it. This showed the immense sense of solidarity that the people of Top of the World had. The military got involved in the search and they provided a Black Hawk helicopter in order to look for Kaydon from the air. This might have been one of the biggest events that touched this small town in a huge way. Everyone was involved one way or another, even the use of the phone was focused on helping to find Kaydon.

There’s An App For Everything

People were able to help from their homes while using their cellphone’s technology. Thanks to an app called Next Door, which helps neighbors create a sort of online hub, they could keep each other updated. This immensely helped in spreading the word around and people would head straight to the search after their job. It wasn’t only a way to get more people actively involved but also to include those who couldn’t go to the woods. If Kaydon appeared anywhere in that town, people would be alerted immediately, thanks to this useful app.

Keeping The Energy Up

As the hours went by and it got later and darker, people were bound to get tired. They had spent hours walking in the rain. Seeing this, neighbors took it upon themselves to keep their energy level up. They brought warm beverages as well as food in order to help them continue on their task. This was one more thing that helped to show how tight the community really was. After having coffee and warm chili, the responders continued the search well into the next morning. These neighbors demonstrated that there was always a way to help.

Social Media’s Intervention

Social Media is used for many things every day. From brands showing ads looking to get more money, to celebrities maintaining their followers updated. However, it can also be used for situations like this one. The Tennessee Endangered Child Alert posted Kaydon’s profile on Facebook. It went viral almost immediately as the community tried to spread the news as far as it could go. Thanks to this, more people got involved and became aware of what was going on. They were hoping to find Kaydon soon as the clock kept ticking.

The Dangers Of The Weather

The rain wasn’t only an obstacle for their search but also a health hazard for Kaydon. According to his mom and dad, he was wearing light clothing when they last saw him. After all, he had only been playing with his pets in the afternoon. However, night had fallen and with it, the cold had come. Furthermore, the rain only made it more likely for Kaydon to become sick if he was alone in the woods. He would be exposed to the elements, without the proper protection. This could prove life-threatening for a six-year-old.

A New Day & Still No Kaydon

Unfortunately, the night search had not been fruitful and Kaydon hadn’t been found. They renewed the search the next day with two main goals. One was to focus on the area surrounding the immediate area of the Leach home. The second one was to expand even further the rural area they had searched. His mom and dad were in deep anxiety. Only yesterday they had been spending time with their happy and healthy son. Now, they had no idea where he was. They knew they needed to find him as soon as possible and they weren’t the only ones unwilling to give up.

A Community Steps Up

The Black Hawk was set to be back later, but from the morning, Kaydon’s dedicated neighbors were there. They continued to provide assistance during this second day of search in every way they could - from providing snacks to the first responders to looking in other areas. Those who couldn’t leave their homes kept everyone updated from their phones. No one remained apathetic to the plight of this family. A kid was most likely alone in the woods and they were going to continue helping out until he was found. The media coverage had also increased during this second day and the search was caught on camera.

Making The Most Of Precious Hours

Now that it was daylight, the search could be more efficient. They would be able to see better and also to look in new places. These hours were precious though and as the morning passed, the pressure increased. Kaydon had been missing for more than 12 hours, possibly alone, scared, and without any food. Their only hope was to find him before night arrived again. They intensified the reach of the search and the woods were the main focus. However, Kaydon couldn’t still be found. They decided to head somewhere where they actually hoped they wouldn’t find him.

The Dangers Of The Lake

They decided to head to the lake nearest to Kaydon’s house to see if by any chance he was there. Hopefully, they would find him on the shore in any case. However, some thought the worse and considered that he might have drowned by accident. It must be taken into account that kids under 14 years old have the highest chance of drowning. Therefore, it wasn’t unreasonable to think so. Furthermore, according to the rankings of unintentional injury death, drowning ranks 5th in the United States. Fortunately, they didn’t find Kaydon in the lake. But the question remained…where could he possibly be?

Thinking The Worst

If Kaydon couldn’t be found then, what could this mean? Top of the World was considered a very safe town where the crime was at its lowest. However, thoughts of kidnapping started to be considered. Of the over 400,000 kids that go missing every year, about 1,500 are kidnapped. Could Kaydon have become a victim? Was the police questioning anyone or putting someone under arrest? These were bleak thoughts, but something to consider. Nevertheless, the search continued into the afternoon. Soon, the Leach family would have answers but for now, their angst continued to grow.

Thinking Like A 6-year-old

In order to find Kaydon, the officers had to try and think like a kid. What could he have found interesting that would draw him away from his home? An abandoned building? Something deep into the woods? They opted to explore areas and places they normally would’ve skipped. After all, kids tend to be terribly curious and don’t think about the consequences something could have for their well-being. As they deepened their search, they could only hope that Kaydon would be found that day. After another rainy night, his chances would not look very good.

Back To The Woods

Another search in the woods was made. They knew the most likely thing would be that Kaydon had gotten deeper into the woods than usual. Afterward, he might have gotten lost and, for a kid that small, it might have felt as if the woods extended forever. It was already approaching 3 pm and the thought of Kaydon spending another night alone in the woods was unthinkable. This would be detrimental for him and his mental health. He would be terrified. However, as these considerations started playing in their minds, they heard something that gave them a lead.

The Growl That Changed It All

They heard an animal growling and it seemed to be approaching them! Now, there could be any number of animals in the woods but they decided to investigate anyway. The growling seemed to be getting closer and louder, as whatever animal it was, it was sure trying to reach them. What they would see next was something that they weren’t expecting at all but that would interest a certain animal care lover for life. The creature that was approaching them was a dog and it wasn’t alone! Can you guess who was with it?

Kaydon’s Disappearance Is Resolved

As it turned out, Kaydon was with his pet dog Chula, and she was the one that had been growling! As the rescuers got closer to Kaydon, she tried to protect him from them. This was just a sign of how good a protector she was. The Leach family was probably going to break the bank spoiling her! People were extremely relieved to have found Kaydon. He was after all within half a mile from his home! It was believed that he probably got lost and was unable to find his way back. Thankfully, he had not been alone.

Chula, The Tiniest Guard Dog

Chula was only a small black-and-white terrier but she had defended and comforted her master. Kaydon wasn’t alone for a single second during the 22 hours he had been missing. Of course, you expect loyalty when you buy a puppy or when you adopt it. But Chula had gone above and beyond his 'duty' and this was a touching realization for everyone. The entire community had banded together and they quickly learned about Chula’s involvement. However, there were some things that Chula couldn’t provide for Kaydon during those long hours in the woods.

Looking Worse For The Wear

Both Kaydon and Chula were going to need some help. By the time Kaydon was found, he claimed to be cold and he was even looking a bit purple. Chula also looked a little worse for the wear. Kaydon told the rescuers his address, but first, he had to be taken to the hospital. They would need to ensure that there was no pneumonia or any other respiratory infection setting in. Kaydon had been wearing only sweatpants and a t-shirt and the night had been cold and rainy. Would they be okay?

A Couple Of Warriors

Kaydon was taken to Blount Memorial where they would proceed to make sure that everything was alright with him. Chula would have to be taken to the veterinarian, but she looked in better shape than her owner at least. They were reunited with the Leach family and the whole family couldn’t be happier to be together again. It had been some grueling 22 hours but everything had been resolved with no great damages. The medical team found Kaydon in good shape despite his ordeal. Both he and Chula were a pair of brave survivors despite their small sizes.

An Invaluable Gift

Kaydon’s family let the entire community know that he had been found while he was being tended to by the doctor. They were very thankful to all of their generous neighbors who had taken the time to help them out. Not everyone would’ve been out there all night, trying to make sure that Kaydon had a safe return home. No amount of money could ever repay the immense gift the community had given to this family. They realized that they could always count on each other. Their support had been fundamental to get through those stressful hours.

Viral Joy

With the huge online involvement, this was almost as if celebrity news had been released. Everyone quickly learned about Kaydon being found. People were ecstatic and they let their enthusiasm be known in their social networks. Facebook was filled with congratulations and expressions of joy. Kaydon’s disappearance had touched everyone’s heart and they felt it as something very personal. When the family was given the news that Kaydon would be okay, they also let everyone know. This was something that would make history in this small town. Without a doubt, it became an inspirational story about coming together.

Creating New Bonds

The family got support even from people they didn’t know. This showed how much empathy the case had evoked. After all, this was a small rural community and kids had the freedom to play around. It could’ve happened to anyone and they all felt it that way. What if it had been their own son, nephew or grandson? This just made Kaydon’s parents create even closer bonds with their neighbors and former acquaintances. Everyone had stepped up. One of the leaders of the community was especially touched by how everything had turned out.

Making Their Sheriff Proud

When he was interviewed, the sheriff couldn’t help but get emotional. He had to give thanks to everyone who had been involved. After only a phone call, local, state, federal, and military forces had all stepped up in order to find this little boy. Never stopping and never giving up, they went to great lengths in order to find Kaydon. The sheriff must have also been very proud of his community and the way they had all banded together. He had led a grueling search on irregular rural terrain and everyone had collaborated in any way they could. He also had special words for Kaydon’s furry protector.

Movie Material

Chula’s actions were really the stuff of movies. More than one full movie has been made showing the incredible nature of dogs. Chula earned her spot as the princess of the Leach house after protecting her owner and keeping him warm. Kaydon and Chula supported each other during those scary times and it probably made things easier for both of them. She was taken care of by the Chief Deputy and he made sure that she was okay. After all, Chula was now the town’s hero and with good reason. This event brought out the best in everyone.

A Living Lesson

The Top of the World community in Tennessee was definitely feeling on top of the world when Kaydon was found on that frantic Tuesday afternoon. Everything took a 180-degree turn from the moment he was found in the woods. These kinds of things are never easy, but when you have a community filled with kind and caring people who are ready to help, it certainly makes everything easier to deal with. We are all delighted that Kaydon made it home safely. And to those who have furry friends in the household, Kaydon's story just shows how a special bond between a master and his pet can make a whole lot of difference.