For ages, dogs have been referred to as a man’s best friend. With their loyalty and unmatched company, it’s hard not to befriend a fellow dog. If you’re lucky, on almost any stroll you take on outdoors, there is an opportunity to be in contact with a dog that is out and about for a walk. For a couple that set out on a hike, little did they know that they would come across a new and beloved companion.
Scott Brown and his wife had been preparing to head out on a snowy trek in one of the most popular waterfalls in Washington state when they noticed something attracting their attention in the distance. They were in the Teneriffe Falls near North Bend, Washington, when a figure in the distance appeared near the empty parking lot by the trail entrance. Brown told The Dodo: “I made a joke to my wife that it was a bear.” Thank goodness it wasn’t, as this curious wanderer would decide they were up for the challenge of today’s hike and joined them. It was a black dog that was out on its own, and after it had stuck around for a few hundred yards, Brown had laughed and said: “Well, I guess he’s coming with us.”
The 7-mile hike ahead of them seemed like a good idea for the dog and he even decided to take on the role of the leader, and be the hiking guide. “He took the lead anywhere from a couple feet to way out in front, out of sight,” Brown said. The dog was also very understanding, adding: “He would sit and wait for us as we took photos and then continue on when we did.”
Upon arriving at the falls, Brown decided to capture some photos with his new buddy, and his friend had decided to check on the dog’s tags, where they discovered two messages. On the front of the tag, the words “Hi, I’m Smokey. I live nearby so don’t take me. I like to follow hikers sometimes.” It all made sense. Then, the back of the tag read: “Don’t worry, I’ll go home when I get tired. My people love me a lot. Thanks for being nice!” At first, they thought it must’ve been a joke, and had to read it over to be sure. Today was their lucky day, as the hiking dog chose them to accompany on their journey that day.
Brown stated that Smokey the dog was well-behaved, and had only barked while climbing down the embankment across the half-frozen creek. According to Brown, the dog was very protective of someone it had just met. After their time at the falls, they all decided to proceed back to where they started, where Smokey once again led the way. He escorted the hikers all the way back to the parking lot until everyone had changed out of their hiking gear.
When they had finished changing, Brown said: “He calmly walked across the road and back into the neighborhood” before turning back and letting out a bark at them before continuing back home. The dog had acknowledged his newest friends and made sure that he got them back safe and sound after their journey, before sending them off with a proper farewell.
In the great outdoors, there is so much opportunity to come across a special new friend, and for this particular couple, they hit the lottery on their hike that day. Accompanied by a brave little hiker, they made new memories and shared moments together that they captured on camera, and won’t soon forget. You never know who you’ll befriend on your journeys!
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