FAITHORN, Mich. — In a heartwarming and miraculous turn of events, a 2-year-old girl who had wandered away from her home in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, accompanied by two loyal family dogs, was discovered in the woods several hours later, fast asleep with one of the dogs serving as her furry pillow, according to the Michigan State Police.
Lt. Mark Giannunzio shared the remarkable story, saying, "She laid down and used one of the dogs as a pillow, and the other dog laid right next to her and kept her safe."
The heartwarming reunion followed a frantic search effort that involved troopers using drones and police dogs, with the assistance of local police and concerned citizens from both Michigan and neighboring Wisconsin. The remote wooded area where the girl had gone missing presented significant challenges during the search.
The Michigan State Police's Iron Mountain post had received a call around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, alerting them to the girl's disappearance from a home in the Faithorn area of Menominee County.
Remarkably, around midnight, a citizen riding an ATV discovered the girl approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away from her residence.
Giannunzio confirmed that medical staff evaluated the girl's condition, and she appeared to be in good health.
Faithorn is an unincorporated village situated just east of the Wisconsin state line, approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Marquette, Michigan.