A 6-year-old girl and her dog were found wandering alone in Deltona, Florida, leading to the arrest of her mother and her mother's boyfriend on charges of child and animal abandonment, according to People magazine. 

On April 4, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office responded to a report from a resident who observed the child and her dog alone on her property. Deputies arrived to find the girl seated in the resident's carport. She expressed feelings of being hot, thirsty, and hungry, prompting neighbors to provide her with food, water, toys, and clean clothing. Emergency responders evaluated her condition and determined she was unharmed. ​

Body camera footage released by the sheriff's office captures the girl explaining that her mother had dropped her off and did not indicate if she would return. Further investigation revealed that the child was not enrolled in school and had been experiencing homelessness. Authorities contacted the girl's grandparents, who assumed custody. ​

The following morning, the girl's mother and her boyfriend were located and arrested. Both individuals face charges of child desertion and animal abandonment. ​

This incident underscores the critical importance of community vigilance and the swift response of local authorities in safeguarding vulnerable children and animals.​

While exact, global figures on child abandonment are challenging to obtain, it's estimated that over 140 million children worldwide are orphans, with a significant portion being abandoned. In the United States, approximately 7,000 children are abandoned annually.