Late one night in Odessa, Texas, officers at the local police station got an unexpected visitor — and it wasn’t someone coming to file a complaint.
A cheerful dog strolled right through the station doors, tail wagging, and hopped up onto the front counter as if he had official business to discuss.
It didn’t take long for the officers to realize what was going on. Their new friend wasn’t there to report a crime — he was there to report himself missing.
Sergeant Rusty Martin was one of the officers on duty that night, and he couldn’t help but laugh at the situation.
“We were all excited to have him in the building,” Martin told The Dodo. “We had a tennis ball and threw it in the lobby for a bit. Everyone loved on him.”
The dog, who seemed totally at ease, enjoyed his impromptu visit — getting plenty of attention, scratches, and playtime from his new police friends.
He was wearing a collar, but his ID tag had fallen off, so officers called animal control to check for a microchip. Before they could arrive, though, the clever pup decided his work there was done.
“He ran out just as quick as he came in,” Martin said.
The next day, the mystery was solved when Chico’s owner contacted the department. Turns out Chico lived just a mile away — and had simply gone on a little solo adventure.
Chico’s case was officially closed, but he left quite an impression on the officers who got to meet him.
“I was impressed,” Martin said. “He may just be cut out for this work.”
