K-9 hero tracks missing 14-year-old girl through woods to fairview park

Authorities say a police K-9 tracked the missing teenager nearly a mile and a half before she was found safe and returned to her family.

South Fayette Township, PA – A police K-9 helped locate a missing 14-year-old girl Friday evening after she failed to return home from a nearby playground, according to authorities.

South Fayette Police requested assistance around 6:30 p.m. Friday after the girl left her home near Boyce Road and Hunting Ridge Trail earlier in the afternoon and could not be located.

Key Points

• K-9 Ranger helped locate missing 14-year-old in South Fayette Township
• Teen left home around 3 p.m. to visit nearby playground and never returned
• Police dog tracked her nearly 1.5 miles through woods and across a creek

Search began after teen failed to return home

Family members and officers searched the surrounding area after the teenager left her residence around 3 p.m. but were unable to find her.

Authorities then requested assistance from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit to assist in the search.

Drone units were not immediately available due to strong winds exceeding 50 mph in the area.

K-9 tracked scent through neighborhood and woods

K-9 Ranger began tracking from the girl’s home and followed a scent trail through the Hunting Ridge housing development.

The dog continued through wooded terrain, crossed a creek, and tracked into Fairview Park.

After following the trail for nearly a mile and a half, Ranger led officers to an area within the park where the teenager was located.

Teen safely reunited with family

Authorities said the girl was found safe and was returned to her family a short time later.

Officials credited the successful search to the K-9 tracking team that worked through difficult weather conditions during the search.

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