Owner Realizes Newfoundland Has Escaped When Neighbor Rings Doorbell

TikTok users are praising a neighbor who returned a dog after he escaped from his home.

A TikTok video, posted by the user @psway44 on April 14, shows someone walking up to a front door with a Newfoundland. The dog doesn’t hesitate. He goes right up to the door with his tail wagging, a sign he is comfortable, which makes sense because it turns out to be his house.

The dog, named Beetle, had escaped from his home without his owner realizing it. Luckily, a neighbor was able to catch him and bring him right back. A doorbell camera captured the moment the neighbor brought Beetle home and showed how amused she was by the situation.

The neighbor smiled throughout the video, as though Beetle coming over was the highlight of her day. When the owner thanked her for bringing Beetle home, the neighbor said, “Oh, honey, I’m so glad I could catch him.”

Newsweek has contacted TikTok user @psway44 for comment via email.

How Viewers Reacted

The TikTok clip has become a hit, receiving more than 7.5 million views, 1.1 million likes and 4,000 comments. Viewers were delighted by the neighbor, Beetle and the owner’s other dog, Dinosaur, who makes a brief appearance in the video.

“I think she loves Beetle and she probably doesn’t even mind getting him because it gives her a reason to get out and play with him,” one user wrote.

“You know Beetle is a good dog because an older woman had no issues walking him! So sweet,” another added.

A commenter said: “Beetle’s just like, ‘Mom my friend has me!!! I found my friend!!!!'”

“Dinosaur is so grateful for returning Beetle,” another wrote.

How to Deter Dogs From Escaping

No matter how much you spoil your dogs, sometimes they like to venture outside their home and yards to see if the grass is greener on the other side. Because dogs can often slip out without notice, the American Kennel Club has shared tips to help keep them in their yards.

First and foremost, it is recommended that owners take their dogs on a daily walk. While they may get fresh air in a fenced-in yard, walking gives them additional physical and mental exercise. It also helps keep them from getting bored in the yard and uses up some of their energy.

For dogs that tend to jump or climb over fences, owners can try extending their fences or tilting them inward to deter their dogs. Walk around the yard to remove climbing aids, such as garbage cans or wood piles, or add landscaping inside the fence to make it more difficult for dogs to jump over.

Owners with dogs that like to dig may want to consider adding a footer, such as chicken wire, hardware cloth or a piece of chain-link fence, to stop them from escaping. Some even put down concrete.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.