West Michigan Dog Saves Toddler From Drowning

There are endless reasons to love your family pets-- they're cute and cuddly, loyal, and as it turns out, can be life-savers.

In  Marcellus, Michigan on Sunday, Patricia Drauch was out in her backyard doing some gardening with her 14 month old, Stanley, at her side. She walked into her garage to get a shovel, when suddenly realized Stanley missing.

Frantically, she began to search all over the yard, and found Stanley in the pool.

"It was scary. His lips were blue. His eyes were rolled back," Drauch told WOOD TV 8. "It was the scariest feeling and the image stays in your head for a long time."

At first, Stanley appeared to be floating, but then she saw her son wasn't under the water. The family's black Labrador Retriever, Bear, was in the pool, underneath Stanley, holding him out of the water on his back.

"[Bear] wouldn't move in the pool," she said. "He didn't bark. He didn't move. It was like he was afraid to move at all until I got Stanley up out of the pool and that's when [Bear] came up out of the pool with me."

At first Stanley, was unresponsive. Drauch attempted to contact 911, but was unable to get through. She started to  drive to the Marcellus Fire Department, which is near her house.

On the way, Stanley regained consciousness.

He was checked out by emergency personnel at the department, then taken to Three Rivers Hospital and soon released, alert and in good condition.

X-rays showed there wasn't any water in Stanley's lungs. Drauch believes that's because of Bear.

"If Bear wasn't out, I don't think Stanley would have made it," said Drauch."He proved that he's got enough love for the kids he's more than just our hunting dog."

Cass County Undersheriff Rick Behnke told WOOD TV8, "From the information we have, it seems to pan out. It's an amazing story. The dog is a lifesaver. That's all I can say."

The family is planning to put up fencing around the pool to prevent any future incidents.