The dog, initially named Petunia, was dropped off about a year ago at the Delta Animal Shelter in Escanaba, Michigan. The dog had been badly abused and her injuries included two broken legs, broken ribs and bits of carpet on her stomach. Petunia’s owner was later convicted of animal abuse.Petunia recovered, was renamed Peanut and adopted out in July. Last Friday morning, one of Peanut’s owners described the dog as “going crazy." She began yelping and barking and running up and down the stairs. Peanut had never behaved like that before.Eventually Peanut made her way to the garage where the woman’s husband was working. The dog continued her unusual behaviour and the man thought the dog wanted to go outside. So he opened the door.As soon as the door was opened, Peanut ran to a ditch in the field behind the family’s home and the husband followed. The dog ran up to where a naked, shivering three-year-old girl was lying all curled up. The temperature at that time was around the freezing mark. There was no doubt if the toddler had not been discovered she would have died.The man took his sweatshirt off, wrapped it around the little girl, brought her inside the house and called 911. All the toddler could say was “doggy.” She was taken to the hospital and although she was cold, she was otherwise uninjured.Officers from the Delta County Sheriff’s Office went door-to-door in the neighbourhood and eventually located the toddler’s residence. Officers described the home as “unsafe” and “unsanitary” and Child Protective Services were notified. CPS took the child into care and removed another young girl from the home. Peanut’s owners said the dog has been a real blessing to them and now to others. They described how lucky they are to have Peanut who they described as “amazing.” The couple also praised the shelter for saving Peanut’s life and without them, the little girl might also have died.Similarly, the shelter praised Peanut and posted they were happy the children were safe. The shelter praised the dog and her wonderful adoptive family.The incident is now being reviewed by the Delta County Prosecutor's Office for possible charges.