Dogs are clever and intuitive, and Rosie is a perfect example of how incredible our pooches are. Lost during a walk, she didn’t wait for her owner to start a search party. Instead, she walked into a police station to hand herself in. But some people think she wanted to join the police's K-9 unit.
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Scared by a firework
Rosie, the border collie, ran away from her owner Steve Harper after becoming scared by a firework while on a walk in Leicestershire, England. But instead of going astray and getting even more lost, the clever animal managed to stroll into Loughborough Police Station to hand herself in.
CCTV captured the moment Rosie wandered through the automatic doors and had a little sniff, before settling down in the corner to patiently wait.
Surprised police officers checked her collar which had her owner’s name and number on it.
Surprise and disbelief
Loughborough Police posted the footage to their Facebook page and an hour later, Rosie was reunited with her owner.
Their spokesperson said:
Thankfully she was wearing a collar, so a lead was available to contact Rosie’s owner, who was delighted she had been found safe and well. Rosie was being walked nearby with a second dog when she managed to wander off. What a lovely, clever dog.
According to the force, their staff fetched some water for Rosie after she made an appearance, and ‘made fast friends with plenty of fuss.’
Here is how to protect your dog from getting lost
Based on reported figures, 'at least five dogs go missing in the UK each day’, while the actual number may be even higher. Some may have been stolen, others may have run away, with 10% of dog owners admitting they have been through this heartbreaking experience.
Microchipping is one of the best ways to keep your dog safe. It is also one of the quickest and most effective ways to ensure your dog is reunited with you if they get lost. Make sure your dog is microchipped and that your contact details are kept up to date – out-of-date contact details will render your dog’s microchip useless.
It is also a legal obligation for dog owners to ensure their dogs are wearing an ID tag with their owner’s name and address on the tag. A phone number is also a useful piece of information to include, to enable anyone who picks up your dog to contact you as quickly as possible.
Many lost dogs have slipped out of harnesses and collars unexpectedly, particularly when scared, so a well-fitted harness is a great way to ensure our dogs are secure.
Sources used:
- Metro: 'Dog hands herself into police station after going missing on walk'
- Best Behaviour Dog Training: 'What to do if your dog goes missing?'
