The neighborhood spent three days looking for Randall Harris’ Chihuahua, Peanut, only for a 15-year-old student to discover the beloved dog was trapped underground all along.

Anthony Malagrino was in the right place at the right time when he found the missing dog while walking home from school in Hamilton Township on Friday.

He “heard some desperate cries coming from a sewage drain,” according to his cousin, Jennifer Hornreich. The source of the crying turned out to be Peanut, trapped in a sewer drain.

Without hesitation, Malagrino pulled the sewer cover off and hopped in to rescue the dog, Hornreich said.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “He jumped right into action.”

A thank-you card from Mark Randall Harris to student Anthony Malagrino, who saved Harris' missing 16-year-old dog from a sewer. (Courtesy of Jenn Hornreich)Courtesy of Jenn Hornreich

Peanut, a 16-year-old “deer head” Chihuahua who is blind and has hearing loss, had been reported missing March 17 around 9:30 p.m. near Englewood Boulevard and Petal Way. Harris and other neighbors spent the following days searching the neighborhood and calling out for her, but with no luck.

Harris, a retired commercial pipe-fitter who lives down the street from Malagrino, said he ran out of his house with no shoes as soon as he found out Peanut was rescued. Then he took her straight to the veterinarian.

“I’m proud of that young man,” Harris said. “I can’t praise him enough.”

Please spread the word! Peanut was LOST on March 17, 2019 in Hamilton Township, NJ 08610 Near Englewood Blvd & Petal... Posted by Trenton, NJ - Lost Dogs, Cats & Pets on Monday, March 18, 2019

From what Harris’ veterinarian said, Peanut wouldn’t have had much time left if Malagrino hadn’t found her on his way home. The barks Malagrino heard Friday afternoon may have been her last attempt at a cry for help. Peanut’s organs were shutting down and her body temperature had dropped severely, but she is now slowly recovering, Harris said.

This isn’t the first time Peanut has faced adversity — when Harris first adopted her 16 years ago, he found her tied up with copper wires behind a trailer on a construction site and took her home that afternoon.

Harris sent a card, signed from both himself and Peanut, along with a reward for Malagrino.

“Thanks for having my back and saving me,” a note written on Peanut’s behalf says. “I am glad to be back with my dad.”

Gianluca D’Elia may be reached at gdelia@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @gianluca_delia. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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