Every day, this dog walks 4 miles into town. The townspeople respond in the most amazing way

You've heard the saying that a dog is man's best friend, but what about a dog as a town's best friend? That's the case in the long-term relationship between the town of Longville, Minnesota, and Bruno, a Chesapeake-Lab-mix who travels four miles every day to visit his friends there.
Bruno was dumped in a box at the end of a driveway twelve years ago. A man who found the puppy brought the dog up to the house belonging to Larry and Debbie Lavalle. When the man told Lavalle he had found his dog, Larry replied, "Well, he ain't my dog." But the Lavalles had recently lost their dog, so they took the puppy and named him Bruno. They were determined to give him a loving home.
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But Bruno turned out to be a wandering spirit. Lavalle tried to collar him and tie him up to stop him from leaving the property, but he was afraid that Bruno would hurt himself trying to get away. So Lavalle let Bruno roam, and once the dog found nearby Highway 84, he let his paws do the walking all the way into Longville.
For twelve years, Bruno has walked to Longville to visit the citizens of this small town. He has become a celebrity and a friend to residents and visitors alike. Bruno has specific rounds that he makes during his day, starting in the morning at the back door of the local deli. Bruno socializes and happily accepts treats, bowls of water, and lots of petting as he trots around town.
Bruno is often mistaken for a stray, and the Longville townspeople are more than happy to explain to strangers that Bruno is just a wanderer at heart.
On his daily sojourn, Bruno poses for pictures, visits the ice cream shop for a cool treat, and stops by city hall and the library for social visits. He even has his own Facebook page!
"Everybody knows Bruno," says resident Sharon Rouse. "[You] may not know the people, but you'll know Bruno."
“He’s our buddy, we kind of watch out for him the best way we can,” says Patrick Moran, who owns a local real estate office. “Last week he came in stayed about an hour and a half or two hours.
“He’s not just a dog. He’s a spirit.”
The Pine Cone Press-Citizen stated that “In the Longville community, Bruno is an Ambassador, Wonder Dog, Town Mascot, etc., etc., and, above all, a living creature enjoyed by all.”
The relationship between town and dog is so incredibly special that Longville decided to commemorate it by commissioning a statue of Bruno a few years ago. Named as Longville's "Town Dog and Ambassador," Bruno has left an indelible mark on this town forever.
Bruno is older now, and his achy, stiff body doesn't move as fast as it used to. Sometimes he stops for a rest along the side of the road, but after a short while, he's up and moving again, headed to visit his friends in Longville.
Watch Bruno's video below and marvel at the wonderful interactions between citizens and their beloved mascot. Share this beautiful story of love and friendship with your family and friends on Facebook!
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