Went On For Too Long
Bruce had let this go on for too long. Once again, he watched as his loyal companion slipped out the door, vanishing into the world beyond.
At first, it never bothered him. He admired his dog's independent nature, enjoying the way he roamed freely without a care. Some even joked that the pup had more in common with a cat than a dog.
Wandering Off
Bruce never worried about where his dog wandered off during the day. As long as he returned home for dinner, that was all that mattered. But one afternoon, everything changed when Bruce received an unexpected phone call.
While sitting at his desk, his phone rang. The caller explained that they had found his dog and had dialed the number on his tag. At first, Bruce was ready to dismiss the call, assuming it was just another routine adventure. But before he could brush it off, the caller said something that made him stop in his tracks.
A Wave Of Alarm
Bruce was ready to tell the caller that his dog could roam wherever he pleased. But the moment he heard where his dog had ended up, a wave of alarm washed over him.
His mind raced with questions. How had his loyal companion managed to travel such a distance? And more importantly, what had drawn him so far from home?
Could Not Ignore The Mystery
Bruce couldn’t ignore the mystery—how had his dog ended up nearly 20 miles from home and still managed to return before he did? The thought gnawed at him, pushing him to dig deeper into the strange occurrence.
The more he investigated, the clearer it became that his furry companion had a past he knew nothing about. With every clue he uncovered, Bruce realized that he didn’t truly know his dog at all.
Small Pet Camera
Bruce attached a small pet camera to his dog's collar, ensuring it was both discreet and lightweight. It was the perfect way to uncover the truth without causing any discomfort to his furry companion.
However, when he finally reviewed the footage, his expression shifted to sheer horror. What he saw changed everything—his life would never be the same again.
Happiness In Life’s Simple Pleasures
Bruce William found happiness in life’s simple pleasures. Living in a quiet Yellowstone town, he felt fortunate to be surrounded by lush woodlands that brought him a deep sense of peace. The towering trees and fresh air were all he needed to feel at home.
But solitude wasn’t something he embraced entirely. His golden retriever, Max, was more than just a pet—he was Bruce’s constant companion. Without him, life would have felt much lonelier. Yet, even Max had secrets of his own.
Before That Moment
Before that moment, he had always preferred solitude, finding little joy in the company of others. His days revolved around his work at the lumber yard, where he poured all his energy and focus. Socializing had never been a priority.
But one evening, after a long shift, he spotted a scruffy, abandoned dog on the side of the road. Something about the way they looked tugged at him. On a whim, he let out a whistle. Without hesitation, the dog leaped into his truck, as if they had been waiting for him all along.
Stray Golden Retriever
Bruce vividly recalled the moment he named the stray golden retriever. That morning, he had some leftover breakfast sitting in his car when he spotted the hungry dog. Feeling sorry for them, he offered the food without hesitation.
The dog eagerly devoured the Waffle, and at that moment, the perfect name came to him—Max. The name felt just right, so he had a tag made and secured a collar around their neck, making the bond official.
Over The Following Months
Over the following months, Bruce realized his new companion was far from an ordinary dog. Instead of curling up on the couch or in a cozy corner, the dog insisted on staying beneath his desk, as if seeking refuge in the confined space. Bruce figured it was a comfort thing—perhaps a sense of security the dog had long been missing.
What stood out most, however, was the dog's unusual independence. Unlike other pets that craved constant attention, this one seemed entirely self-sufficient. Bruce never gave it much thought, but maybe he should have.
Far From A Typical Dog
Max was far from the typical house dog. Having lived as a stray, he thrived on the freedom to roam wherever the wind carried him.
Bruce thought Max was simply exploring the yard, passing time until his owner returned from work. However, he soon realized that the dog's wandering was driven by something much more profound than mere curiosity.
Always The Same
Like clockwork, Max would come out of the front door at the same time as Bruce did. While Bruce climbed into his truck and headed for work, he watched the canine in his rearview mirror making his way into the woodland.
It never concerned Bruce since he was always back in time for dinner when he got back from work. But someone was about to give him a reason for concern.
His Phone Buzzed
Bruce was cataloging the newest lumber haul and making sure they were all loaded into the trucks at his work to go to their warehouses. That's when he got a phone call, something that didn't happen very often.
He didn't recognize the number and had half a mind to ignore it. But he felt a gut feeling telling him to answer it.
Regarding His Dog
He heard the sound of a man on the other side of the phone. They told him that they had found his dog and called the number on his tag. Bruce was about to tell him to leave him alone, but then he told him something unexpected.
He thought that they would say they were a mile away from his home at the most. But the truth was going to make them question his dog's behavior.
Feeling Concerned
Bruce was going to tell the man on the phone that his dog could go where he pleased. But when the man told him where his dog had ended up, alarm bells went off in his head.
Concern immediately shot through his system as he wondered how it was even possible for his loyal canine to end up that far away and why he even wanted to go that far.
20 Miles Away
Bruce decided that this was worth looking into. How did his dog end up nearly 20 miles away from his home and then make it back by the time Bruce got back from work?
Still, Bruce told the man to leave his dog where he found him. He wanted to see something. If he had to, he'd go looking for the dog, but he trusted his gut.
Making It Back Home
Bruce headed home after his shift finished and wondered if he was right or not. But once he drove up his long driveway to his home, he saw what he thought he would - Max.
The dog had managed to make it home before he got there despite being 20 miles away just a few hours prior. What was he doing so far away? How did he even manage such a feat?
Looking Into It
But the closer Bruce looked into the strange phenomenon, the more he realized that his dog had a history that he wasn't aware of. He didn't really know his dog at all.
He decided there was only one way he would really understand what his dog was doing every day. He had a small GoPro lying around. It would be perfect for what he wanted to use it for.
Setting It Up
Bruce decided to set up a small pet camera on his dog's collar. It was concealed well enough and wasn't heavy enough to cause any problems. This was the way he'd find out the truth.
Max didn't seem to even notice the camera was hanging from his neck. This was exactly what Bruce wanted. Now he'd just have to be patient and see what he got up to the next day.
Patience
Bruce went to work again the next day, but his mind was lingering on what his dog was doing. He would find out soon; he just had to make it home and check the memory card inside the camera.
Finally, his shift ended, and he made his way home. But when he decided to check the footage on the camera, his face turned to horror as he understood nothing would ever be the same in his life again.
The Footage
Bruce found Max waiting for him at home when he got back. He fed him his dinner and took the memory card from the camera to his laptop. He navigates to the recording and hit play.
He watched his dog walking through the woodlands, then starting to pick up the pace as he started making a beeline for the road. He walked alongside it for miles until a familiar place came into view.
A Gas Station
Bruce watched as his dog headed to a gas station 20 miles away from his home. But the closer he got, the more familiar it was. Then it clicked. He knew which gas station that was.
This was the very road that he had found Max a few months ago. He seemed to walk confidently to the small convenience store that was attached to the building.
A Double Life
Max waltzed into the gas station and started walking down the aisles. Bruce felt like he was watching some kind of fictional movie; what was going on? Then Max made his way to the counter.
Bruce expected the clerk to tell the dog to get lost, but he was glad he had sound recording too. He heard, "There you are, Max! How's your new owner treating you?"
Getting A Treat
The cheerful clerk seemed to know Max. He took a stick of jerky from the counter and gave it to Max. He stroked the dog like he had done it before.
Bruce knew that he had to make his way down there if he wanted to find out what was really going on when he was at work. He grabbed his coat and led Max into his truck. They were going for a ride.
Figuring Things Out
Bruce drove twenty miles to the gas station from the GoPro; he knew the place relatively well and even got gas there a number of times over the years.
But he'd never gone into the store. It was the first time he walked through the automatic doors and looked the clerk in the eyes. But it was his dog that had the biggest reaction.
The Clerk
The clerk's eyes lit up when he saw the dog by Bruce's side. It was the same one from the footage and would be able to explain everything that was going on.
"Hi. I believe you know my dog?" He said to the clerk. He seemed ecstatic to see the animal; there was no hiding the truth from Bruce. He decided to admit everything to him on the spot.
A Long Relationship
"Max, or Losty before you adopted him, has been coming here for years. He just arrived one day begging for food. I decided to give him something, and that was that. "
The clerk continued, "Ever since then, he's come to my store for his daily snack. But one day, I noticed something very strange. But I was so glad when I saw it."
A Collar
"I affectionately called him Losty since that's all he was ever after when he came here. But one day, I noticed something. His fur was clean and washed, and more importantly, he had a tag on his collar."
"I was so happy because that meant someone had finally taken him off the street, he’d been waiting around here for 4 years before you finally took him in. Afterward, I was still surprised to see him coming here, but I guess he got attached to me too!" The clerk said with a smile.
Understanding It All
Bruce looked at his pooch, who was wagging his tail in excitement. He must have been expecting a treat since he was in the store. Bruce watched as a new interaction unfolded.
The clerk smiled and said, "You already got your treat today!" Before staring back at Bruce, "I really shouldn't feed him anymore since now he has a warm home, but I just can't help it."
One, Please!
Bruce stared at the two, and his heart warmed. "I'll take a stick of jerk, please," He asked the clerk. He seemed to understand what he was doing and smiled and gave him the stick.
Bruce paid with cash and gave the jerky to Max, who wolfed it down. The clerk and Bruce laughed together at the loveable pooch that had unexpectedly come into their lives.
A New Bond Is Grown
Bruce felt a lot better now that he understood where his dog was going every day. As a cherry on top, it was good to know that Max had friends outside of his relationship with him.
Furthermore, as more time passed, a bond between the clerk and Bruce developed. He learned that his name was Fred, and he even invited him back to his house for a beer and to play with Max while he wasn't working.