Neighbor Returns Runaway Dog And Leaves Note

Looking At The Footage

It had been a long week with the dog leaving the house in the morning and returning late at night. His owner was working on his laptop when he thought about checking the footage.

He thought he’d see the neighborhood in front of his house with his dog playing with the neighbor’s dogs. But he saw something very different that made him lunge for the door.

The Alberts

Elena Alberts and her husband Greg always wanted to expand their family. They weren’t quite ready for a baby, but they decided to adopt a dog. It was something they really felt they wanted.

They adopted their dog from a shelter and named the golden retriever Milly. They loved her from the moment they saw her. But things wouldn’t always be so happy.

The Perfect Life

Now that they had been married, they had a child, and Elena was even pregnant with their second. They loved having a big family.

Greg always wanted to have a perfect life with his wife and family. He wanted lots of children and pets. He was glad his wife felt the same way, but soon they’d figure out how easily things could go awry.

Another Puppy

After having their second child, the couple now felt ready to have another dog. They wanted each child to have a protector in the form of a dog.

Soon they found themselves in North Carolina, the same place they had adopted Milly. But they had no idea how their lives would change.

A Companion For Life

Dogs have been man’s best friend for centuries. Soon Milly would stop being their only pet and would become a part of a much bigger family.

The entire Alberts family adored Milly, but soon they would learn something that would make everyone feel a lot worse about their loyal companion.

A Secret

Unknown to the Alberts, Milly had been grappling with noise anxiety or misophonia for most of her life. They only found out one night during a thunderstorm when the pup bolted to hide under the table.

Greg thought Milly had a phobia of thunder, seeing it as harmless. He should’ve known how big the problem was.

Everything Changes

Life felt incredible for the family until things changed drastically. Milly started doing things that she had never done before, like running away every morning and returning in the evening.

The family was a wreck the first time it had happened. They were so worried about their fur ball. But then they noticed she’d come back every evening. Everything would be good, but why was she doing it?

Strange Behavior

Even though she had developed this strange habit, they were just happy she was returning. Life went back to normal in the evening. Greg just assumed that she was playing with the neighborhood animals during the day.

Greg was just happy that his dog felt comfortable enough to explore the neighborhood. But if he knew what she was actually doing, he would have been more careful.

What Was Really Going On

It had been a long week with the Milly leaving the house in the morning and returning late at night. His owner was working on his laptop when he thought about checking the footage.

He thought he’d see the neighborhood in front of his house with his dog playing with the neighbor’s dogs. But he saw something very different that made him lunge for the door.

The Man

Milly wasn’t playing with the neighborhood pets as he expected. He saw a man hugging his dog. Greg had to stop him right then and there.

Greg shot to his feet, still trying to make sense of everything. Was the man trying to steal his dog? The dad sped for the garage door, stepping into the afternoon sun. He would get Milly back if it were the last thing he did. He didn’t want his dog taken away from him in broad daylight.

He Was Distracted

For the past week, Greg had been running some minor renovations in the house. He hadn’t been paying attention to who Milly was interacting with outside the house. He was glad he checked the camera when he did.

“Excuse me, sir,” he called out mid-sprint, only realizing that the man before him was a foot taller and seemingly made entirely out of muscles. Greg took a shaky step back.

Stepping Up To Him

“That’s my dog you have there,” Greg said, his chin held up. The man turned to face him fully, but the rigidness in his body suddenly melted away, and his face split into a warm smile.

“I know she is,” he said in a smooth voice, a proper contrast to what Greg expected him to sound like. “You’ve been renovating your house over the past week, correct?” What he’d say next would leave Greg speechless.

The Full Truth

“We have,” Greg concurred. “We’re changing some things in the kitchen, Mr?” “Jackson,” said the man. “Mr. Jackson.” He hurried over and shook Greg’s hand.

“I am just moved here. I’m the new resident veterinarian.” He petted Milly’s head and said, “She’s been coming over to hang out in my yard for a few days now. Did you know she has severe misophonia?”

Noise Anxiety

Greg’s lips parted. “Noise anxiety?” he asked with a tremor in his voice, recalling Milly’s ordeal during the rainy season. “Yes,” Mr. Jackson answered. “I’m guessing the house renovations have been getting to her.”

Greg took another step back before hurrying forward and asking if he could hold Milly, who was happy to jump into his arms. How could he have missed this?

The Next Step

“Is there something we can do about it?” he asked, petting Milly soothingly. “A few coping strategies should help her live a more comfortable life,” Mr. Jackson said with his unwavering smile.

“Creating some noise-free zones in the house, music therapy, or simple noise avoidance.” He booked Greg and Milly an appointment where they explored all the possible treatment options for the adorable puppy.

Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.