'Max' stayed by side of missing girl for 16 hours

The pet dog of a three-year-girl who spent 16 hours in the elements has stayed by her side until she was found this morning. 

Three-year-old Aurora reportedly told her mum she was "looking for her" when she took the family dog for a walk from their property at Cherry Gully, south of Warwick, yesterday. 

The alarm was raised after the child couldn't be found about 5pm, sparking a largescale search involving SES crews and two helicopters.

Max, the family dog who is deaf and partially blind, faithfully stayed with the little girl.

Grandmother Leisa Bennett found Aurora this morning and said the dog and young girl slept together in bushes about three kilometres from where she was last seen.

Remarkably, the child's only injuries were scratches and bruises from the rugged terrain.

There were fears the child could have fallen into one of the 17 dams near the property.

Police and the family have thanked volunteers, neighbours and the community for their efforts.

Queensland Police released a photo of Max, which has been liked on Facebook more than 11,000 times in one hour.