Last week, in the early morning hours, an unexpected visitor strolled into the Odessa Police Department in Texas and hopped onto the counter.

A friendly dog appeared eager to alert officers about an ongoing incident—someone had gone missing from home, he himself.

Sergeant Rusty Martin was among the officers who greeted the pup, who seemed unfazed by his “lost dog” status and more interested in having a good time — which he certainly did.

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“We were all excited to have him in the building,” Martin told The Dodo. “We had a tennis ball and threw it in the lobby for a bit. Everyone loved on him.”

Although the officers enjoyed the dog’s unexpected company, they remained focused on the case it had brought to their attention.

Progress stalled when they discovered the dog’s collar was missing its ID tag, prompting them to call animal control to check for a microchip.

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However, events took an unexpected turn before animal control arrived.

Feeling he’d been gone long enough, the dog returned to his family on his own.

Martin shared on Facebook, “He ran out as quickly as he came in. The next day, the owner confirmed it was his dog, who had returned home about a mile from the station.”

Chico the dog had solved his first case—one of his own making.

“I was impressed,” Martin said. “He may just be cut out for this work.”

Also read: After 200 Days of Fear, He Finally Found Joy and the Confidence to Trust in Humans Again

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