A little dog named Pete proved he knows exactly where to go when life gets scary.
The 1-year-old beagle mix was out for a walk in New York City on May 14 when his leash suddenly broke, according to Pooch Play and Stay in Brooklyn. In an instant, Pete was separated from his owner and alone in one of the busiest cities in the world.
But instead of panicking in a city of more than 8 million people, Pete apparently came up with a plan.
He ran straight to daycare.
Somehow, the clever pup made his way about one mile to Pooch Play and Stay, his favorite doggy daycare, where staff members were stunned to see him show up at the front door without his owner.
Video from the facility shows Pete racing up to the glass entrance and pacing outside until someone noticed him. A staff member quickly opened the door and brought him inside to safety.
The daycare later shared the clip on social media, writing that Pete looked “so happy and proud of himself” after his impressive solo adventure.
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Grace Bodkin, the admin manager at Pooch Play and Stay, said the day had been going normally until Pete suddenly appeared outside.
“We were going about the day as usual, cleaning and bringing other dogs into the back for daycare,” Bodkin told PEOPLE. “I looked up and saw something whiz past the door, and then I saw Pete run by again!”
Bodkin said Pete was eager to get inside, leaving staff and other dog parents completely confused.
Once workers got him inside, however, they realized something was wrong. Pete was alone, and he was dirty.
“Once we brought him in, we knew something was wrong; he was pretty dirty!” Bodkin said. “I immediately tried calling his parents and started giving him a bath right after.”
The daycare was able to reach Pete’s owners, who were relieved to learn he had safely found his way there after his frightening escape.
Pete’s family picked him up the same day and took him to the vet to make sure he was okay. Thankfully, the adventurous little dog only had a few scratches and was cleared to return to daycare.
And return he did.
“He came back the next day,” Bodkin said. “He was unfazed and happy to be there!”
The staff at Pooch Play and Stay were especially impressed because Pete is still new to the city and is usually nervous around loud outdoor noises. But when he needed a safe place, he remembered exactly where to go.
“We are so happy our smart boy knew his way to us,” the daycare wrote on Instagram.
Bodkin said Pete is a different dog once he gets inside the daycare doors.
“Pete is new to the city and has some fears around loud noises,” she said. “Inside the doors of Pooch, he is so happy, extroverted, and playful!”
The daycare said it was proud to be a place where Pete felt safe enough to run when he was scared.
To celebrate his incredible journey, Pooch Play and Stay named Pete its Dog of the Week.
“After his iconic solo mile run to daycare, it only felt right to officially give this determined little legend the Pooch of the Week crown,” the daycare wrote.
For Pete, getting lost in New York City could have turned into a nightmare. Instead, the brave little beagle mix followed his instincts, found his favorite place, and walked in like he had just booked himself an extra day of playtime.