Dog’s barking miraculously leads rescuers to missing woman with dementia

A dog who barked has miraculously led rescuers to a missing woman with dementia.

Sherry Noppe, 63, went missing after she never returned home from a walk with her black Labrador Max last week.

Police in Houston, US, had been searching for Ms Noppe for three days without any luck.

But after hearing Max’s bark, authorities were finally able to track her down in George Bush Park, a vast 8,000-acre area next to her house.

Speaking after she was found, Ms Noppe’s brother, Justin Noppe told KHOU: “As they got closer to her, I think that’s what caused him to bark because he was protecting her.

“So I do think his barking is what led those people to hear him and go in that area and find her.

"So yes, I do believe he saved her life.

“When they actually found her, they heard him growling and barking."

Constable Ted Heap of Harris County precinct 5 said that Ms Noppe was “was located at approximately 3am on Friday by a group of tireless volunteers and deputies who were alerted by the sound of her dog, Max, barking in the woods”.

While Ms Noppe’s daughter, Courtney added: “She’s doing surprisingly well for how long she’s been out there and the conditions that we were expecting: the heat, the rain.

“We’re very grateful.