Detroit dog runs a mile to her doggy daycare to raise the alarm after car crash left her 'freaked out'

After a minor car accident, a frightened dog pulled a real-life Lassie and ran a mile to her doggy daycare to get help.

Melissa Fickel, 31, was taking her dog, Ariel, to a park near Detroit to enjoy the balmy weather when another car hit them from behind. 

The four-year-old pit bull-mix jumped out of the open rear window, which surprised the owner because the dog had previously never done anything like it.

No one was injured in the accident, and after quickly looking for Ariel, Fickel saw her sitting on the side of the four-lane road in Clawson, Michigan.

Relieved that her dog had safely made it across the busy road, Fickel called to her Ariel.

Ariel, a four-year-old pit bull-mix, ran to get help after being involved in a car accident

Melissa Fickel, 31, adopted Ariel in 2020, and the two have been inseparable companions ever since

Ariel sprinted away, and her owner was powerless to chase after her because she was standing in the middle of the road.

The pit bull-mix, who likes to solve puzzles with treats in them, took off for her doggy daycare, Hounds Town Metro Detroit, where she has been a regular for about three years.

Ariel traveled a mile to get to her daycare, and when she arrived, she tried to get the staff's attention.

Security camera footage recorded at the daycare showed a distraught Ariel pacing back and forth in front of the door.

She even jumped against the glass door and peered inside. 

Soon, the daycare's employees noticed something was up and went outside and found Ariel.

They petted the anxious dog and comforted her and gave her some water.

Only 20 minutes after the accident, the daycare's owner, Travis Ogden, was calling Fickel to tell her that they had their dog.

Ariel's owner, who had been fretting about her dog's safety, burst into tears. 

Ariel, who loves to solve puzzles with treats in them, ran to the daycare where she's been going for three years

The daycare's owner called Fickel 20 minutes after the accident to tell her that Ariel was with him

Fickel and Ariel have a special relationship; Fickel adopted her in 2020, and they were soon reunited after the accident. 

Ogden told the Washington Post that Ariel probably ran away from the accident because she wanted to find some place safe where she could get help.

'She was running to get the heck out of there and get back to where her friends are, where she could find some help.'

And although Ogden was confused when Ariel showed up at the daycare without Fickel, it made sense to him when he heard about the car accident.

'Dogs are really smart and know their routes,' Ogden said.

'They're constantly looking out the window.'