Dallas K9 Officer Earns Keep Locating Missing Girl

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Police K9 officer Yoll is a 95 pound black German Shephard that typically earns his keep finding those that would rather remain hidden: (read: felons).  But, his handler Senior Corporal Susan Millard knows that no call is routine.

"She was just about ready to go to school," recalls Sr. Crpl. Millard of the call early Tuesday that brought her to West Oak Cliff. "Mom went back to check on her. Window was open. There was a note. She was gone."

The 12-year-old's note indicated that she intended to harm herself; every minute mattered. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death of 10-14 year olds.

"We started from the scent article right on the outside of the window and then went off through the neighborhood, worked through the neighborhood, down into some woods, close to a creek back out around the neighborhood… around a couple of big roads."  Every one of those locations, the officer knew, could've spelled trouble. Meanwhile, throughout the hour and a half search, she says the surrounding neighborhood was absolutely phenomenal.

"Anybody that passed and saw us stopped and asked us who we were looking for, said they would be on the lookout and would call 911 if they saw anything…everyone."

When he heard about the missing girl, Todd Brumback joined the search, saying as a parent he could relate to the worry. "Because I have a daughter," said Bumback, "I'd want someone to look for her."

Soon, Yoll's well-trained nose and persistence paid off.

"I just happened to glance up and I notice a flash! She as wearing red shorts and I spotted them and I said, `that's her'!" And then she added, "it was such a tremendous, tremendous relief to see that she was okay… wow."

It's what the officer concedes is a good day's work, for the both of them.

"So happy! We hugged, we cried... really emotional and very, very happy ending for everyone. Definitely a good day's work."

So who could argue that they both deserved a treat! For Sr. Crpl. Millard, it was a non-fat latte. And she says Yoll hangs his head out of the window for a 'puppicino'—a cup of whipped cream: might as well make it a double.

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