We all know dogs are intelligent. But just how smart are they?
This story shows that dogs are most likely more intelligent than we think.
While research tells us that dogs have mental abilities similar to a child who’s two to two-and-a-half years old, stories like this make us believe that they are even smarter than a toddler.
Bailey was the longest resident at the Animal Rescue League of El Paso in Texas.
She was well-loved by the staff and volunteers, but it was hard finding her forever home.
“Bailey’s always been kind of a character. She likes to hug. She’s super friendly, lovey, cuddly kind of dog, but she’s big. Our big dogs don’t get adopted as quickly as our little dogs do,” Loretta Hyde, founder of Animal Rescue League Director, told NBC News.
Finally, she was adopted and left the shelter.
However, after a month with her new owner, Hyde got a call informing her that Bailey was missing.
Her new owner was testing a new harness with Bailey.
The dog got spooked and ran off. Unfortunately, her owner couldn’t keep up and lost sight of Bailey.
The Animal Rescue League posted Bailey’s photo on their social media accounts, hoping that someone saw her and would return her.
Over the next days, the shelter received reports of Bailey sightings around the area. Amazingly, they were getting closer and closer to the Animal Rescue League of El Paso, which was ten miles from where she disappeared.
“For whatever reason, it felt to me that she was on her way here. I said, ‘She’s coming back to the shelter.’” Hyde told the Dodo.
After two days, the shelter’s staff members received a notification from their Ring camera at around 1:30 a.m. They turned on the camera’s microphone and called, “Bailey!”
The dog jumped up to the center of the camera when she heard her name.
Shelter employees rushed to her in the middle of the night to let her in and take care of her.
Bailey was exhausted from traveling for two days to get to her original home. The staff provided her with food, water, and a place to rest.
Hyde clarified that Bailey loves her new dad, and they make a great pair. While she was gone, he was constantly looking for her.
However, because she spent more time at the shelter than with her new owner, it must have still felt like home.
The following day, the shelter called him to tell him they had Bailey, and he came over as soon as possible.
Today, Bailey is back at her new home with her new dad. Hyde hopes that everyone who hears about Bailey’s experience remembers that there are many other dogs and cats who are in need of homes themselves.
We’re so happy that Bailey made it to the shelter when she was feeling lost and is now back in her forever home.
If you are considering buying a pet, we urge you to check rescue shelters near you instead.
Watch the video of Bailey walking 10 miles to go back to her original home below!
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