Aries is a clever three-year-old Pitbull mix who proved just how smart she is after a frightening crash with her owner. When the accident left her scared and confused, Aries knew exactly where to run for safety.
Melissa Fickel, from Detroit, adopted Aries more than three years ago after fostering animals for a long time. She finally decided it was time for a forever companion of her own, and Aries quickly became that special friend.
Since then, Melissa and Aries have been inseparable, spending nearly every moment together. But one afternoon, on their way to the park, everything changed when another car collided with Melissa’s.
Clever Aries Runs For Help
Luckily, no one was hurt and the accident wasn’t too serious, but the loud impact terrified Aries. She immediately leapt out of the window and bolted.
“I had the windows down because Aries likes to hang her head out and as soon as there was that smack, as soon as I felt and heard it, almost instantaneously, she was out of the window,” Melissa told local television station WXYZ Detroit.
Melissa had to stay behind to handle the police and insurance, but her mind was on Aries. “I can’t really think about it because so many things could’ve happened,” Melissa said.
Her dog could have darted into traffic or wandered into danger. Instead, Aries relied on instinct and ran somewhere familiar.
Just about a mile away was a place Aries visited often, a spot where she always felt secure.
She ran straight to Hounds Town – Detroit Metro doggy daycare. The owner, Travis Ogden, instantly recognized her and made sure she was safe inside.
A Safe Place
Aries showed up right around lunchtime, just as the staff was taking a short break in the lobby. Out of the corner of their eye, they noticed a black blur racing toward the door.
Surveillance cameras captured Aries running straight up to the entrance, jumping up in a panic, and trying to get inside.
When an employee stepped outside, they found the nervous dog waiting. She was panting, clearly shaken, but she knew exactly where she wanted to be.
Fortunately, the owner recognized Aries. “She was like, ‘this is where I go and this is where I stay.’ She just seemed like she knew what to do,” Ogden told WXYZ.
Aries probably picked up the building’s scent and ran there because she felt safe at her daycare.
At first Aries was anxious, but she soon began to calm down. Meanwhile, Melissa was still at the accident scene, worrying about her missing pup.
Then the phone rang.
“Luckily then he called me and said ‘she’s here’, and I literally sank to the ground,” Melissa said, evidently relieved that her companion was safe and sound.
So many things could have gone wrong, but Aries proved just how clever she is.
The two were reunited shortly after, and Melissa says Aries is once again enjoying her favorite activity: car rides.