Dog Escapes Norman Shelter, Travels 5 Miles Back Home

A dog, dropped off by his owners at the Norman Animal Welfare Center, managed to escape the shelter and find his way back home.

Dirk, a Bernese Mountain Dog mix, is about three years old. According to Facebook group "Friends of the Animals of Norman," Dirk's owners told the shelter that Dirk didn't get along with their other dogs, so they decided to bring him to the Norman Animal Welfare Center.

Shelter officials say Dirk is very smart, but is not handling the shelter life very well. He is calmer and happier outside of the kennel, so staff members have been letting him outside in an exercise pen during the day.

On Friday, January 17, Dirk managed to open up not one, but two gates. Staff members could not catch him as he circled the shelter several times, and got away.

On Monday, January 21, shelter officials say Dirk showed up at his owners' home, which is located five miles away from the animal shelter. Officials believe he found his way home after traveling down Highway 9. He was not injured during his travel.

However, this did not change his owners' mind, and they brought him back to shelter, according to "Friends of the Animals of Norman."

The good news is, on Saturday, Dirk has been adopted and will be living at a large ranch in southern Oklahoma.

If you would like to adopt other animals at the Norman Animal Welfare Center, contact the center at (405)-292-9736. It's located at 3428 S. Jenkins Ave. in Norman.

See a list of animals available for adoption at the Norman Animal Welfare Center.

"Friends of the Animals of Norman" is a new volunteer organization whose aim is to support the Norman animal shelter as advocates for animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Learn more.