Amidst the hustle and bustle of Clawson, Michigan, a comical yet heartwarming incident unfolded when a minor car mishap sent a beloved pup on a run to seek safety. It seems that even this dog knew just where to go in case of an emergency.

Melissa Fickel, 31, was driving to a park near Detroit with her trusty sidekick, Aries, when another car tapped her vehicle from behind, catching both her and her furry friend off guard. In the aftermath of the accident, Fickel recounted the startling moment when Aries, her 4-year-old pit bull lab mix, leaped out of the open rear window.

4-year-old Aries. Photo by Melissa Fickel

“I was surprised when she jumped out because she’d never done anything like that before,” she said. Despite the shock, Fickel managed to spot Aries sitting on the side of the bustling Rochester Road. But Aries, spooked by the commotion, didn’t stick around. “As soon as she saw me, she turned and took off,” Fickel said. Despite her efforts to call out to her furry friend, Aries disappeared from sight, leaving Fickel distraught.

As Fickel grappled with the aftermath of the accident and coordinated with police and her insurance company, an unexpected glimmer of hope emerged. Travis Ogden, the owner of Hounds Town Metro Detroit, reached out with astonishing news: Aries was safe and sound at her doggy daycare, just a mile away from the accident scene.

I started crying,” Fickel said.

Ogden described the heartwarming moment when Aries arrived at the daycare, seeking refuge. “I love that dog and knew immediately it was her,” he said, noting that Aries has been a regular at Hounds Town for about three years. “She’s a really social dog who is always ready to play and have fun with the other pups.” 

Melissa Fickel and her 4-year-old dog, Aries. Photo courtesy of Melissa Fickel

“She’d run straight to her safe spot and was trying to attract their attention,” Fickel said. Ogden agreed, saying that the dog was smart and had a good instinct after the accident. “She just knew where her safe place was after being so panicked from the car accident,” he said. Until Fickel arrived, Aries was given some water after her sprint, and staffers played with her in the lobby.

As for how Aries found the daycare on her own, Ogden said that part was simple.  “Dogs are really smart and know their routes,” said Ogden, who has about 45 dogs at a time at the daycare. “They’re constantly looking out the window.”

For Fickel, the reunion with Aries brought immense relief and gratitude. “I was really thankful to learn she was safe in a place she loves,” she said. The entire experience, Fickel said, made her aware of how to keep her dog safer during future car rides.

As the crazy day came to an end, Fickel said she was cherishing the simple joy of being reunited with Aries. “I petted her a lot and told her she was a good dog,” she said, smiling. Watch below for a look at this extra smart pup and her arrival at the safest place she knew to go.

Sources: Washington Post | NBC Chicago