Lake County sheriff's dog finds missing Crystal Lake kids

On Sunday, the Lake County sheriff's dog Dax found two missing Crystal Lake juveniles safe after little more than an hour of searching.

Dax and his handler, Deputy John Forlenza, responded to a call for help to find the juveniles at 12:15 a.m. in the area of Mulberry Lane and Holly Drive.

At least one of the juveniles was reported to be under the influence of alcohol, Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.

Dax tracked for about a half of a mile and located one of the juveniles about 1:30 a.m. hiding in a yard on the 1300 block of Mulberry Lane.

She was treated by paramedics and returned to her guardian. The other juvenile also was found.

The 9-year-old Dax is one of 10 Lake County dogs used to track people on at least a weekly basis, Covelli said.

Those being sought range from missing endangered people to fleeing felons, he said.

"They have tremendous success and have saved dozens of lives over the last few years," Covelli said. "Our canine teams are invaluable. Our canines are rewarded with playtime after every job they do. That and a couple of yummy dog treats."