Bruno the dog has become an iconic resident in Longville, Minnesota, thanks to his daily 4-mile trek into town to meet and greet with the locals.
After residents Debbie and Larry LaVallee lost their dog, a stranger showed up with Bruno saying that he had found their wayward pup. Although he wasn’t the little guy they had been searching for, they couldn’t leave Bruno all alone. Believing him to be abandoned, they took him in as their own. And while Bruno loves his parents, he also loves making the daily 4-mile walk into town. [1]
For 12 years, the town mascot has made his way up Highway 84 just shortly after sunrise. He takes time to stop by local shops and cafes, getting in time with the local populace before he hitches a ride back to Debbie and Larry’s house for the night.
Shannon Rouse, who sees Bruno pass by every day through the window at her office, says of him, “Everybody knows Bruno. You may not know the people, but you’ll know Bruno.” [2]
Sometimes, he stops into offices and shops, sitting a while and visiting with the owners and workers. He’ll spend as much as 2 hours or so with them, where everyone feeds him treats, gives him many pets, and cools him off with water. He even makes a pit stop at the local butcher at the end of the day where he’s rewarded with scraps of meat they’ve saved for him.
Read: Dog Escapes Home to Hang Out with Pals at Doggy Daycare
The LaVallees say that people who are new in town or visitors to the community will often call them to tell them their dog’s gone missing and are often dumbfounded when they reply that he’ll find his way home at the end of the day. Bruno always does.
Because he’s able to dodge traffic so well, some have said they believe he has a guardian angel watching over him. Not once in his 12-year career has he even come close to an accident (at least not witnessed). And since he’s so well known, residents know to look out for him on the road.
The town has appreciated Bruno so much that there’s already a wood carving of him, immortalizing him in a park on the town’s main street. He has been forever dubbed as Longville’s town dog and ambassador.
Sources:
[1] MNN
[2] KARE 11
NY Daily News