Dog escapes from shelter, travels miles to find the woman who fed him treats

It was a circumstance where it was both love at first sight and a case of the dog choosing his person. In January 2017, a dog named Ted arrived at the Northwest Territories SPCA in Yellowknife, Canada. There he met a shelter volunteer named Abbey Boyd, and was so taken with her that he went to great lengths to make it clear that she was meant for him.
When Ted arrived at the shelter, he was frightened and stressed. "It's a very terrifying place, first off, for dogs and cats," said Abbey Boyd, SPCA volunteer. "
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When Boyd first met Ted early on in her volunteer shift, she tried to take the timid 2-year-old German Shepherd - Akita mix to go for a walk. "He wouldn't let me take him. Nobody could walk him for a day," Boyd recalled.
In a last attempt to connect with Ted, Boyd gave him some treats. "I fed him cheese-flavoured bacon strips to try to get him to love me," she said. And evidently, the way to Ted's heart was through his stomach!
Boyd made such an impression on Ted that he decided to take his fate into his paws. After Boyd finished her shift, went home, and woke up early to work her job at the airport. When she returned home, she found a dog sitting on her front porch.
At first, she was wary of the dog, but as she got closer and lured the dog into her house, she realized who the dog was: it was Ted! Sure enough, when Boyd contacted the SPCA, she was told that Ted had broken out of his kennel and escaped through a chain-linked fence.
What Boyd was amazed by, however, was how Ted found her home in the first place. Boyd and Ted had only met the previous morning briefly. "It doesn't really make sense, how he would have chosen or found me out of all the smells," said Boyd.
Boyd's home is roughly 3.4 miles away from the shelter, so Ted had a decent trek through unfamiliar territory on his quest to find the woman he loves.
Boyd was so astounded by Ted's actions that she realized she was meant to be his new owner. "It could be a complete coincidence, but I'm from Yellowknife. Everything's a sign when it comes to animals," said Boyd.
"I can't ignore a sign like that. He showed up at my house, out of how many people [that] live here? All the dogs. All the smells. He chose my house. Where I am," she stated.
Ted bonded quickly with Boyd, and his loyalty shines through every day that they are together. On walks, Ted sticks close to his beloved owner's side. "He still stays close enough and is always constantly looking back, staring at me," said Boyd.
Boyd admits that Ted's arrival has put a different trajectory in her life. She is moving into a new home and will bring Ted with her as soon as the sale is finalized. For these two best friends, a new life is just beginning.
Boyd stated, "[I'm going to] build my bond with him that apparently, he senses more than I do. [He's] literally sitting on a platter ready to be loved and taken care of."
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"He's coming with me."
Congratulations to Ted on finding the right person for him and for achieving his dream. We wish many happy years to these newfound friends! Share Ted's amazing story with your family and friends on Facebook.