… it was a rescue-trained golden retriever named Scout, whose sharp nose and unwavering focus led searchers through the flooded terrain to a patch of high ground where Janie had taken shelter beneath an overturned canoe.
The storm had turned the serene Texas Hill Country camp into a maze of debris and rushing water. Helicopters circled overhead. Volunteers combed the woods. But it was Scout, part of a K-9 search and rescue team deployed from Austin, who picked up Janie’s scent in the early hours of the second day.
When rescuers found her — soaked, shivering, but alive — Janie whispered just one word through cracked lips: “Doggie.”
What saved her wasn’t just luck — it was training, teamwork, and the unshakable bond between humans and their four-legged partners.
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Absolutely — here’s a news-style feature article built from the story of Janie Hunt and Scout:
“Doggie.” How a Search Dog Found a Missing Girl Amid Texas Flood Chaos
By [Your Name] — August 1, 2025
KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — As floodwaters roared through the Texas Hill Country last week, washing out roads and submerging entire acres of forest near Camp Mystic, a 9-year-old girl disappeared. For 36 agonizing hours, Janie Hunt was lost — swept away from her cabin, separated from her counselors, and alone in a storm-shattered wilderness.
What ultimately saved her wasn’t just luck. It was 65 pounds of golden fur, a working nose, and a heart that wouldn’t quit.
Scout, a 4-year-old golden retriever trained in wilderness search and rescue, picked up Janie’s scent nearly two miles from camp, threading through flood debris, unstable ground, and heavy underbrush. By mid-morning on day two, Scout led rescuers to a half-submerged canoe on a patch of high ground where Janie had taken shelter.
“She was cold, dehydrated, and scared, but she was alive,” said Kendall Reyes, Scout’s handler and a volunteer with the Central Texas K-9 Search Unit. “The moment Scout started pulling — I knew we were close.”
When they reached her, Janie whispered just one word: “Doggie.”
A Vanishing in the Flood
Janie was one of 120 children attending a summer week at Camp Mystic when the Guadalupe River swelled suddenly, fed by torrential rain upstream. Around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, a portion of the riverbank collapsed, triggering emergency evacuations.
In the scramble, Janie — a first-time camper from San Antonio — became separated from her bunkmates. Counselors noticed her missing during a headcount minutes later.
By sunrise, the camp was a staging area for helicopters, drones, and swift-water rescue teams. Her parents, Lauren and Chris Hunt, arrived by noon.
“It was every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Lauren, her voice cracking. “But we never gave up hope.”
The Nose That Knew
Search crews combed the camp and nearby terrain, but thick woods and rising water slowed progress. Just after midnight on Wednesday, the K-9 team arrived. Scout was deployed at dawn.
Reyes said the dog caught Janie’s scent along a debris line where a tangle of tree limbs marked the edge of the flood’s reach. From there, Scout tracked through dense forest for nearly 45 minutes before stopping abruptly — barking, tail high, alert.
Janie was huddled under the canoe, her legs scratched but intact. She’d climbed inside after being carried downstream and then scrambling uphill.
“She stayed put. That probably saved her life,” said one responder.
Recovery and Gratitude
Janie spent two nights in Hill Country Memorial Hospital for observation and was released Friday afternoon. She’s expected to make a full recovery — though her mother says she still talks in her sleep about “the big dog with the soft ears.”
As for Scout? He’s back at home, enjoying a well-earned break — and a few extra treats.
“I’ve worked with a lot of dogs,” Reyes said. “But Scout has something special. He doesn’t just follow scent — he finds people.”
The Hunts plan to visit the K-9 unit this fall, with one special goal in mind: letting Janie officially say thank you to her four-legged hero.
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Great — here are all three formats based on the story of Janie Hunt and Scout, tailored for social media, print magazine, and TV news. You can use whichever suits your needs best — or all of them.
📱 Social Media Version (Instagram/Facebook/X/Threads)
Post Copy (with photo of Scout or Janie hugging Scout):
🚨 36 hours. One missing girl. One heroic dog. 🐾
When 9-year-old Janie Hunt vanished during flash floods at Camp Mystic, hope was fading fast. Then came Scout — a golden retriever with a gift for finding the lost.
Through mud, debris, and rising water, Scout sniffed out Janie’s trail and led rescuers to her makeshift shelter under a canoe. Cold. Alone. But alive.
Her first word when found?
👉 “Doggie.”
This is more than a rescue story — it’s a reminder of the powerful bond between humans and their four-legged heroes.
#SearchAndRescue #TexasFloods #DogHeroes #ScoutTheRescueDog #MiracleInTheHills
📰 Print Magazine Version (Feature Lead)
Title: “Doggie.” The Golden Retriever Who Found Janie Hunt
Byline: By [Your Name]
Section: Life / Human Interest
Word count: ~750 words
Pull Quote:
“She was cold, dehydrated, and scared — but alive. Scout found her like he was born to do it.” – Kendall Reyes, K-9 handler
Opening Paragraph:
As floodwaters ravaged the banks of the Guadalupe River and panic spread across Camp Mystic, 9-year-old Janie Hunt vanished. What followed was a desperate search across a rain-soaked wilderness, helicopters overhead and hope dwindling — until a golden retriever named Scout changed everything.
(Continue with the story from the earlier article.)
Include sidebar:
“What Makes a Good Search Dog?” with Scout’s bio, stats, and training facts.
📺 TV News Script (Anchor + Field Reporter)
[OPENING GRAPHIC]
ANCHOR:
Tonight — a missing 9-year-old girl swept away during deadly Texas flooding — found safe thanks to a four-legged hero. KXTX’s Morgan Vance has the heart-stopping story.
[CUT TO FIELD REPORTER – OUTSIDE CAMP MYSTIC]
REPORTER:
It’s a story that begins with chaos — and ends in something close to a miracle. Tuesday’s flash floods near Camp Mystic left dozens stranded. But for one family, it was the disappearance of 9-year-old Janie Hunt that triggered a full-scale rescue.
[Video: flood footage, search crews]
Rescuers searched day and night — until a golden retriever named Scout, trained in search and rescue, picked up a scent.
[B-ROLL: Scout with handler, wooded search area]
Scout’s handler, Kendall Reyes, says the moment the dog started pulling, he knew they were close.
Just before noon Wednesday, Scout led rescuers to Janie — alive, huddled under a canoe.
KENDALL REYES (SOT):
“She was scratched up, cold, but alert. And the first thing she said? ‘Doggie.’ That’s all she could get out.”
[CUT TO PHOTO: Janie hugging Scout at the hospital]
Tonight, Janie is back with her family — and Scout is back home, chewing on a well-earned bone.
[BACK TO REPORTER]:
In a storm full of fear and loss, this dog gave a family back their little girl — and maybe gave us all a little hope.
Morgan Vance, KXTX News, Kerr County.
