Toddler Found Shivering In Ditch Thanks To Heroic Shelter Dog

A formerly abused rescue dog is now the one doing the saving.

A year ago, 4-month-old mixed breed puppy with broken legs, ribs and a belly full of carpet was brought into the Delta Animal Shelter in Escanaba, Michigan.

Once healed, a loving family adopted the pup and named her Peanut.

On March 17, Peanut went bonkers. She began running up and down the stairs, barking and yelping until her owner let her out, according to a post on the shelter’s Facebook page.

Once outside in the 32-degree weather, Peanut darted into a nearby field. She finally stopped at a ditch, and when her owner caught up with her and peered inside, he was shocked to discover a naked, shivering, 3-year-old girl curled up in a ball.

The man wrapped the girl up in his sweatshirt, brought her home and called 911.

“By the time the ambulance and police arrived, the little girl could only say one thing – ‘doggie,’”ambulance and police arrived, the little girl could only say one thing – ‘doggie,’” the owner told the shelter.

On March 20, the Delta County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the story in a statement.

It also notes that deputies went door to door in order to track down the girl’s parents, who were eventually found at a nearby home.

“Further investigation unveiled unsafe and unsanitary living conditions at the residence,” the sheriff’s office said in the post. “Child Protective Services was contacted and the found girl along with another young female were eventually removed from the residence.” Police said the case has been sent to the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Peanut’s family, however, is just happy that their heroic dog — who they believe has a “sixth sense” carried over from her former life — was rescued by Delta Animal Shelter in the first place.

“She is a part of our family now and thanks to wonderful people like you at the shelter, she is alive,” they wrote in a Facebook post. “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.”