Eight years ago, in the dead of night, a mysterious intruder broke into a Michigan nursing home. While the residents of Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility were sound asleep, the staff members found a dog they didn’t recognize curled up on the lobby’s couch.
Presumably, the dog had just walked through the building’s automatic doors. But they couldn’t figure out where he’d come from or why he’d curled up on their couch.
The assisted living facility staff members called the local sheriff, who pieced together that the dog had escaped from the animal shelter across the street. They returned the dog to the shelter, thinking that was the last they’d ever see of him.
But they were mistaken. The dog felt so drawn to their cozy home that shortly after, he returned.
“A couple evenings later, again, this black dog [was] found sleeping on the couch,” Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility wrote on Facebook.
Once again, they returned the pup to the shelter. But they couldn’t help but notice that the dog seemed to fit right in at the senior living community.
The third time the dog broke into the lobby, the staff members realized that maybe he was just meant to stay there. One of the facility’s administrators decided to adopt the dog and name him Scout.
Scout was deemed the senior home’s official mascot. The staff allowed him to roam around freely, getting to know the residents. In no time at all, it was like he’d always been there.
“He quickly made this household his [own],” Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility wrote.
As Scout got more comfortable, some retirees started noticing that he had a knack for opening doors to sneak into their rooms for treats.
“We soon found out that Scout can open doors and later learned that he could climb fences,” Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility wrote. “Which would explain how he kept escaping the animal shelter.”
In addition to serving as the care facility’s mascot, Scout also quickly stepped into the role of security guard.
“Scout definitely protects his household and is always the first to get to the door when the door bell rings,” Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility wrote.
Most importantly, though, everyone has fallen in love with Scout’s sweet, loving personality. He brightens the days of everyone who passes through the facility, and for the eight years he’s now lived there, he’s been an integral part of the community.
“Scout truly brings joy to our residents, staff and visitors,” Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility wrote. “This is his home. He chose us.”