Fireworks on July 4th spooked Rajah the dog who took off after hearing the sounds from her backyard in her South Carolina home.
But after deciding it was safe to return, Rajah showed up back on the porch and even rang the doorbell to be let in.
Owner Mary Lynn had posted signs saying MISSING with a description of her 18-month old dog and organized a search in the neighbourhood.
But just 10 hours after going AWOL, Rajah returned, video cam captured the moment.
“She was in the backyard with our other dog and our neighbour started shooting off fireworks and I knew she’d be scared. I went to the backyard – and she was gone,” said Lynn.
Before Rajah returned home, Lynn and her husband had already recruited people to carry out a search.
“My husband came home and was driving around looking for her. We were ready to call all the shelters and she just showed up and rang the doorbell,” she said.
“I don’t even know how she knew how to do that, I’ve never shown her how. She doesn’t go out in the front yard, except to the car, so she’s never seen us use the doorbell,” Lynn added.
When Rajah returned, she was afraid she’d be in trouble, but the family was just happy to have their hound back.
“She thought she was in so much trouble, and she was sad and sulking, but we were like ‘we’re just happy you’re back,'” Lynn said. “It was hilarious, and we couldn’t stop laughing.”
Lynn and her husband have no idea where Rajah went, but after showing up at 3 a.m. with thorns and covered in something gross, they have a pretty good idea that the dog had a good time.
