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It’s always uplifting to share stories that highlight the positive impact of our nation’s first responders, especially when it involves the dedicated K-9 units. These specialized teams often face budgetary constraints, which can affect not only the care and maintenance of the animals but also limit opportunities for training, expansion, and acquiring essential protective gear and equipment. Despite these challenges, their work remains crucial, particularly in smaller towns and cities where collaboration among police departments is vital for solving cases like finding missing individuals.
This week’s Feel-Good Friday celebrates the heroic efforts of both human and canine officers. In Fort Pierce, Florida, a 13-year-old boy with autism, who regularly frequented a gym for his workouts, disappeared from the parking lot after his session. Physical activity is highly beneficial for children with autism, as noted by Autism Speaks, enhancing not just their physical and mental health, but also aiding in socialization. The boy’s family felt reassured knowing he was in a safe environment, and the gym owner, who was keeping an eye on him, immediately noticed when the boy vanished.
Stories like these remind us of the indispensable role that K-9 units and their human partners play in our communities. Their swift action and teamwork demonstrate why continued support for these units is essential, ensuring they have the resources they need to protect and serve effectively.
Two- and four-legged heroes are the subject of this week’s Feel-Good Friday.
A 13-year-old autistic boy in Fort Pierce, FL, was getting his workout on at a local gym. Once he was done, he normally went to the parking lot to wait to be picked up; but this time he walked outside and then quickly disappeared.
Autism Speaks talks about the benefits of children with autism incorporating physical activity into their day to help with not only mental and physical well-being, but improved socialization. It was apparently working for this young boy, as he was a regular at the gym; his family trusted that he would be looked after. And he was. It was because the owner of the gym was observing the boy as he waited in the parking lot that he noticed when the boy disappeared so suddenly.
Fort Pierce Police say the boy was reported missing at about 5:20 p.m. Monday.
The Fort Pierce Police Department received a report of a missing child at a gym on March 2. The boy had just completed a workout at Live Well Fitness Center, Hometown Gym, 2732 South U.S. Highway 1 and had walked out to the car and he was waiting for a family member to come to the car when the gym owner said the boy ran off.
“He had walked out of the door, normally, as he always does and in seconds, he was gone,” said Nicholas Burgos, owner, Live Well Fitness Center, Hometown Gym.
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Here is where coordination became critical. The Fort Pierce Police did a foot search, and used drones to sweep the area. When these were unsuccessful in finding the boy, they asked the neighboring Port Saint Lucie Police to employ their K-9 unit. A bloodhound named Hoot was put on the trail of the boy.
“They are picking up that odor, that scent, whether it’s sweat, things of that nature,” said Officer Brittany McNally. “They have a much better keen sense of smell than humans do.
After the boy’s scent was detected, Hoot led the officers to him, who was found about a mile from the gym in the woods alongside the railroad tracks.
“It’s absolutely incredible, I mean, who doesn’t love a good K-9 story with a great outcome and reuniting that family with that child? This is just a great, great outcome,” said McNally.
K-9 Hoot is a local hero in Port St. Lucie. She has helped locate and save four missing children in just two years.
WATCH:
K-9 Hoot followed a scent through streets and railroad tracks to help find a missing 13-year-old boy with autism near Port St. Lucie. The pup has now helped find four missing children in just two years. pic.twitter.com/eVdTYcR1SU
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) March 6, 2026
Editor’s Note: At RedState, it’s not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what’s good in the world, with columns like “Feel-Good Friday,” “Start Your Weekend Right,” and “Hoge’s Heroes.”
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