Peanut, an abused dog who was adopted into a loving home paid it forward last week by saving a girl.
A year ago the 2-year-old dog, at the time named Petunia, was rescued by a shelter after being found injured.
“Petunia arrived at the shelter last April with two broken legs, a belly full of carpet, broken ribs…all injuries happened at different times,” a letter posted by the family on the Delta Animal Shelter, the organization that rescued her, Facebook Page stated. “Healed, her former owner recently convicted of animal abuse.”
Adopted by a loving family in Escanaba, Michigan, they gave her a second chance. “She has truly been a blessing to our family and we love having her around. As you know, her background was so heartbreaking and we are so happy that we were able to take her into our home and give her the love and the family she deserves,” the Facebook post stated. “However, I think she still has some ‘sixth sense’”
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She darted towards a ditch, trying to get her owner to follow. Initially, her owner tried to get her away from the ditch, but after he peered down, he noticed a little girl shivering in the freezing 32 degree temperatures. He wrapped his shirt around her, took her back home and called the police.
“By the time the ambulance and police arrived, the little girl could only say one thing — ‘doggie,’” the dog’s owner stated.
She was transported to the local hospital, where she will undergo tests and have time to recover.
Peanut may have saved the little girl beyond just that day. After tracking down the family, the police department decided her situation was not safe.
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“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.”
“Through all of this sad news, give thanks the children are safe,” the Delta Animal Shelter wrote in an update 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 added, “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.”
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