A clever dog who went missing on a walk handed herself over to police to be reunited with her worried owner. A CCTV camera captured the astonishing moment Rosie the 10-year-old border collie wandered through the automatic doors of Loughborough police station and waited to be seen.
Owner Steve Harper, 68, had taken Rosie for a stroll in Loughborough, Leicestershire, on November 3, when she suddenly got spooked by fireworks and ran off. Steve desperately searched for her then panicked when Rosie didn't return home. He said: "She's very frightened of fireworks. She ran away and went under the hedge.
"I thought I'd find her cowering under it and be able to soothe her but she had gone into the council offices and when I got there, she had left and was nowhere to be seen."
The CCTV video shows Rosie walking around the entrance of the police station before lying down near the doors.
Stunned officers checked her collar, which had her owner's name and number on it, then called Steve to let him know that Rosie was safe.
While the black and white pooch waited for a lift home, she had a quick drink of water and lapped up all the cuddles from staff.
Steve's wife Julie, 62, said: "I was so pleased and so happy she was safe and so proud of her that she was clever enough to find her way to the police station.
"Steve takes her down to Southfields Park that's enclosed but not enclosed enough. She loves to chase a ball and squirrels.
"Border collies need a good run, they're working dogs and they can run miles.
"He takes Rosie down to the local park with our other dog Laser, she doesn't like loud noises but someone let a firework off and she was off.
"Steve was upset, he thought he lost her. He was searching but couldn't see her.
"The police phoned and asked if we had a black and white collie and that she had handed herself in.
"Steve was distraught when I phoned but I told him the police had her.
"It's thunderstorms, fireworks and even the Mastermind music that has her diving behind the settee.
"It's just a bit different for her when she ran away but she was pleased to see Steve."
Grandparents Steve and Julie got Rosie eight years ago after she was rescued.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: "Thankfully she was wearing a collar, so a lead was available to contact Rosie's owner, who was delighted she had been found safe and well.
"Rosie was being walked nearby with a second dog when she managed to wander off. What a lovely, clever dog.
"Our staff fetched some water for Rosie, and made fast friends with plenty of fuss."
The CCTV footage was shared on Facebook, where it attracted thousands of views from gobsmacked animal lovers.
"She clearly followed signs for the nearest lost and hound," one person joked, and another said: "Obviously wants to be part of the K-9 unit and become a police dog."
Rosie isn't the first dog to be captured on camera doing something amazing - greyhound Polly left her owners stunned when she rearranged the living room furniture to make a double bed.
Yvonne and David Gallop heard noises downstairs one evening after putting greyhound Polly to bed, and the following morning, they saw what all the commotion was.
After checking CCTV, the family realised the smart pup had decided one dog bed wasn't enough, and she made space for two.
The footage shows seven-year-old Polly, from Northampton, East Midlands, dragging two beds together from opposite sides of the room.
At first, she jumps on one bed, before working out how to drag it over to the middle of the room.
Then she perfectly aligns them together and curls up on her new big bed for a snooze.
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
