MARCELLUS, MI --

Patricia Drauch has always told her dog, Bear, to watch out for Drauch's four children.

It turns out the black Labrador retriever was listening.

"I've always told him that they (Drauch's children) are his babies," Drauch said. "And he is watching over them."

The near drowning occurred when Drauch was with Stanley in the garage while she was getting a shovel to do yardwork. She then realized Stanley was no longer with her.

Drauch went looking for him and was in a panic when she saw her son in the pool.

But she soon noticed Bear had Stanley on his back and was keeping the toddler above water. Drauch pulled the boy out of the water and it didn't look good.

"His eyes were rolled back and his lips were fully blue," she said. "He was unresponsive. I was afraid."

She had her older son Kyle get her cell phone, but she didn't have service. So she got in her car and drove to the Marcellus Fire Department. On the way, she regained phone service and called Cass County Central Dispatch.

Stanley regained consciousness shortly before police arrived.

"He started screaming," she said. "I was never so happy to hear him cry."

The boy was treated at Three Rivers Health and has fully recovered. He was smiling and playing with Bear on Monday night.

Drauch said Bear knew what he was doing when he was keeping Stanley above water.

"If it wasn't for Bear, Stanley wouldn't be here," Drauch said. "Bear's always been part of the family. But he really confirmed it."

Drauch said she and her husband, Steve, are planning to put up a more secure fence around their pool.

"I'm going to be more careful with Stanley being in the back yard," she said.

The Drauch family is counting their blessings after the incident.

Maybe her son Kyle said it best when asked how much he loves Bear.

"Like a zillion," he said with a smile.