DOGS FROM `HEAVEN' KEEP BOY FROM FREEZIN'

A stray dog that helped keep a lost, mentally disabled boy warm for three nights during record cold has been adopted by the boy's family, and a reward was posted for a second lifesaving mutt.

"Those dogs are God's angels," said Lynn Coffey, stepfather of 10-year-old Josh Carlisle, who was lost about 70 hours last week in deep woods around his home in this southwest Missouri town.Josh, who has Down syndrome, wandered away from home Wednesday - possibly following the stray dogs out of his yard.

Hundreds of volunteers looked for the boy. On Saturday, searcher Oscar Nell encountered barking dogs and followed them to Josh, about 1 1/2 miles from the boy's home.

Two dogs were with him. But Josh, who suffered severely frostbitten toes, has told officials that as many as four dogs may have curled up with him at night as temperatures fell to as low as 2 above zero.

When Nell took Josh to a nearby house to call police, they were followed by the smaller of the two dogs, a brown and tan dachshund mix.

The dog also briefly chased the ambulance that took Josh to a hospital in Springfield. Josh was listed in fair condition Monday at Cox Medical Center South, said spokeswoman Laurie Glenn.

That dog has since been adopted by Josh's family. Details of how they retrieved the dog weren't available Monday; the family was at the hospital and didn't want to be interviewed, Glenn said.

Springfield businessman Tom Seabaugh offered a $100 reward for anyone who can find the second dog, described as gray and white, and give it to Josh.

"We just feel like those little guys need to be rewarded," Sea-baugh said today.