Pets are oftentimes life changing. They add so much companionship and joy to our lives.

Like most people do, I got my dog from our local shelter. But, once in a while, an animal just knows it’s needed and picks their own new home.

And for one Michigan nursing home, it just so happened their newest staff member chose them.

Scout, a stray mutt, was living across from the Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in the Antrim County Animal Shelter. Until he decided to start breaking out of his shelter.

“He climbed the chain-linked kennel,” said Heather Belknap, the shelter director, explaining that Scout — who weighs about 65 pounds — was indoors, and scaled a fence to get outside. “There’s a six-foot solid vinyl fence around the dog kennels. He jumped over that fence.”

Scout visits with one of Meadow Brook’s residents. Photo by Ryan Garza

The staff knew that Scout had been abused. His jaw had BB gun pellets in it, and he had a fear of strangers.

Somebody obviously abused him,” Belknap said. “When he ended up in the shelter, he ended up in the right place.”

During his first break-in, he jumped over two fences, crossed a busy highway and then walked in through the nursing home’s automatic doors. He immediately made himself home on a couch in the lobby.

Over the span of three nights, Scout, whose age is estimated between 8 to 10 years, kept coming back.

“He was pretty relentless in his pursuit to be here,” said Stephanie Elsey, a clinical care coordinator at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility. “He found his home.”

So the staff rallied together and adopted Scout.

“He’s ours. He chose us in the beginning,” said Rhonda Tomzack, an administrative assistant at the facility.

Well-fed and with his own bed, Scout often spends his nights sleeping next to residents, especially the staff said, ones in the most need of comfort.

Shirley Sawyer, 82, spending time with Scout on her bed. Photo courtesy of Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility

“He senses that,” said Jenny Martinek, the facility’s household coordinator.

He feels that he’s protecting everybody. He’s always on duty.”

And Scout himself sometimes needs protecting, she said, especially if there is a storm. Then Scout seeks out a resident to keep the pup safe as well.

Shirley Sawyer, 82, who has lived in the nursing home for about a year, said Scout makes the days brighter.

“He’s just a perfect dog,” she said. “You can pet him; you can talk to him. He comes in and lays down with you.”

Plus, Sawyer said, “he doesn’t do a lot of barking.”

“He does have favorites,” Martinek said, naturally visiting the ones with treats more often.

But, Elsey said, he never skips out on supporting sick residents.

“He is pretty intuitive. He knows when our residents are not doing well and getting ready to pass,” Elsey said. “He’ll go in and stay in their room with them and give them comfort.”

After a life of being abused and abandoned, Scout now has an abundance of love that he gives, as well as receives.

“We couldn’t imagine this place without him,” Elsey said.

Watch Scout in action, below!

Sources: Detroit Free Press | Washington Post