Hero dog stayed with lost 3-year-old until she was rescued

When 3-year-old Aurora wandered away from her grandmother’s Queensland, Australia home on Friday, her family was understandably distraught. Luckily, a real-life Lassie was there to save the day.

Max, a 17-year-old Australian cattle dog, found the little girl on the family’s mountainous property and stayed with her throughout the night. He led her closer back to her grandmother’s house, where they could then hear the girl’s voice in the distance. That’s when Max led them to Aurora, just like Lassie!

Max is partially blind and totally deaf, making his rescue mission even more remarkable. Despite spending the night in the bushland, Max and Aurora were thankfully unharmed.

“With the weather last night it’s quite lucky she is well because it was … cold and raining,” rescuer Ian Phipps told Australia’s ABC News. “She’s a very hardy young lass to survive that without any ill effects and everyone, all the volunteers, are extremely happy.”

One hundred police, emergency workers and volunteers helped search for Aurora, who sustained only minor cuts and scratches from her adventure.

Max has been declared an honorary police dog thanks to his good deed.

For her part, Aurora’s grandmother, Leisa Bennett, is extremely grateful that this faithful dog was there to protect her young granddaughter.

“I think [Aurora] was a bit overwhelmed by the tears and the howling, but I explained to her how happy those tears were,” she said. “It could have gone any of 100 ways, but she’s here, she’s alive, she’s well and it’s a great outcome for our family.”

We’re so glad these two are safe!