Shelter Dog Saves Toddlers Life

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About 12 months ago, a 2-year-old dog with broken legs, ribs and a belly full of carpet was saved by an animal shelter and adopted by a loving family.

Now – the dog is the one doing the rescuing.

Peanut is a medium-sized mixed-breed who suddenly started barking uncontrollably while inside her home in Escanaba, Michigan. This was unusual for the ordinarily shy pup.

Peanut ran up and down the stairs, barking until her owner finally let her outside the house. Once the door opened, the dog ran into an open field behind the house. The owner followed closely and eventually the dog stopped in front of a ditch.

The dog looked at its owner and at first, the man pulled on the dog’s collar to turn back. He then took a closer look and saw a naked little girl curled up into a ball, shivering uncontrollably.

Quickly, he hopped into the ditch and wrapped the child in his shirt, running back home with Peanut closely behind. The family called 911 as they covered the girl in blankets to warm her up.

“By the time the ambulance and police arrived, the little girl could only say one thing — ‘doggie,’ the dog’s owner explained, “Thanks to Peanut, a little girl’s life was saved.”
Michigan’s Delta County Sherrif’s Office confirmed the story in a news statement on Monday, where the dog was praised for alerting his owner to the child’s presence.

The little girl was not hurt and was transported to a nearby hospital for tests. The girl’s parents were eventually located at a house nearby.

“Further investigation unveiled unsafe and unsanitary living conditions at the residence,” the sheriff’s office reported. “Child Protective Services was contacted and the found girl along with another young female were eventually removed from the residence.”

The case has now been sent to the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

“Through all of this sad news, give thanks the children are safe,” the Delta Animal Shelter wrote in a post on Tuesday. “The good in this heartbreaking story is the heroism of this former abused shelter dog Peanut and her wonderful adoptive family.”

The family agreed with this sentiment, praising Peanut for her “sixth sense.”

Peanut’s owner said: “Without her, not only would she have been gone from this world, but the life of this little girl might have been taken as well,”