Man Finds Dog On Road, Decides To Follow It Deeper Into Woods

By The Side Of The Road

The puppy was laying by the side of the road as he was traveling from town to work. At first, he didn’t give it much thought because he was aware that many people brought their dogs to this side of the woods for some fresh air.’

But he realized he had to intervene when he didn’t see the dog’s owner close by. More than he anticipated was revealed to him.

Curiosity

To help a lost puppy find its way home, Tom had parked his pickup by the road in the Cumberland Mountains.
The idea of such a precious soul being left alone in the woods broke his heart because he himself is an animal lover.

He went outside to assist, learning that all that had occurred that week was because of that moment. His life would change drastically and he just didn’t know it yet.

His Day, His Life

Tom worked as a plumber in the Kentucky town of Berea. He was a thirty-three-year-old father of two who supported himself by traveling the streets looking for plumbing work. Tom received a call from a buddy who was in the mountains that week as he was enjoying time with his children.

He asked Tom if he might assist with the plumbing aspect of the log home his friend was building. They had no idea that doing them a favor would result in Tom making the biggest discovery of his life.

The Best In His Field

Tom was one of Berea’s top plumbers. He didn’t simply like his work; he excelled at it with such fervor that everyone nearby could contact him with any issues.

Tom was more than delighted to assist when his friend informed him that he required his knowledge regarding the cottage. He arrived at the cabin’s location and made preparations to travel there in the morning after some rapid planning.

An Ordinary Day

Tom hopped in his automobile at the crack of dawn. Since the cabin was more away than he had anticipated, he had brought all of his equipment and snacks for the ride.

Tom set everything up and headed for the cabin. The day before, it had rained, and the sky above him was overcast. Although it was still early in the day, night would shortly follow.

Into the Forest of the Mountains

Tom drove for an hour before turning onto the well-traveled mountain trail. He was passing countless branches and black leaves as he travelled for two hours.

The aroma of the woodland was pervasive in the prevailing breeze, which was chilly following the night’s downpour. This was heaven on earth to Tom. although he was enjoying the ride, he suddenly saw an animal further on.

It Was A Dog

As soon as Tom saw the dog, he gently applied the brakes. The dog had a bright blue leash, but he couldn’t see who owned it, which immediately caught his attention.

That image immediately brought back some traumatic memories for Tom. Even though it had happened years ago, he was continually reminded of it.

He Could Remember

On occasion, he may spend weeks without thinking about it. However, on some days, and on some nights, the memories became too strong, too clear, and too terrible.

Tom had adopted a dog from a shelter seven years before. But it didn’t end there. He was going through a particularly trying moment when the pup entered his life.

Splitting Up

He split up with his partner of 10 years, who he had been dating since high school, not long after adopting the puppy. They used to have a strong affection for one another, and she had been the most significant person in Tom’s life.

But sometimes love isn’t enough, and in the end, it didn’t work out. Tom believed that getting the dog would help him deal with his loneliness a little bit.

Hans

And indeed, that is what took place. The dog, Hans, quickly established himself as Tom’s closest companion. They were a match made in heaven, and their companionship helped Tom cope with the loss of his late love.

Every time Tom went for a walk in the woods, he brought Hans along with him, and he even brought the dog when he went to work. But heartbreak was right around the corner.

A Tragic Event

During one of their walks in the forest, Hans got lost. It had never happened before, not even when he was a little pup; the dog never left Tom’s side and followed him everywhere.

But at one moment in the evening, while the pair were relaxing in front of a river, something happened that sent a chill down Tom’s spine.

A Scream

In the middle of the peace and quiet that usually reigned in that forest, a sudden, piercing sound cut the air, making Tom jump back and almost fall to the ground from the rock he was sitting on.

The best way it could be described is as reminiscing of a shriek, a high-pitched, guttural scream that sounded human-like but also eerily distorted. Suddenly, Hans started barking, and Tom stood up, looking around him.

Nothing

There seemed to be nothing or no one around them; the sound came from deep inside the woods. Should they venture inside the forest to see where it came from?

But before Tom could make a decision, Hans began running and disappeared behind the trees and bushes. Tom lost him before he could realize what was happening, but he ran in his direction.

Lost

He wandered around the forest for hours but never saw Hans again. He didn’t hear him bark, nor did he hear the eerie shriek again. Devastated, he went back home when the sun set and told the police about what had happened.

But Hans was never found. That tragic event and the sinister circumstances surrounding it sat deep in Tom’s heart for months after.

He Had To Do Something

Instantly, after seeing the lost dog, he remembered that episode. And as if called by a mysterious, unspeakable force, he felt compelled to do something about it.

Tom parked his truck by the roadside and walked to the dog, calling him. But although the dog jumped to its feet, alert and barking, it didn’t go to him. Tom’s brows furrowed, but then he had an idea. 

Thinking It Through

Tom hurried into his truck and took out his snack box, fishing out a chicken sandwich. As he did, he thought that maybe the dog was lost and needed a ride back to town. He’d be more than happy to help. 

He hurried back to the pup and presented the food, but the dog didn’t follow him. Tom took out his phone and recorded the incident to post on Social Media. He hoped the owner would see the video and come for the dog. With the video in hand, Tom did the unexpected.

He Leaves

Tom said goodbye to the dog and hopped back into his truck to drive off. But as he turned on the engine, the dog barked in a frenzy as if begging him to stay. Tom turned off the engine and came out. 

“What is it, boy?” he asked. The dog barked once and then raced into the thick foliage. He stopped and barked at Tom again, telling him to follow. Could he answer such a call?

Following The Dog

Tom hurried after the dog, who sped deeper into the forest. They wended through many trees and bushes, finally coming to a deep dark trench. 

The dog barked again, and out of nowhere, a different bark came from the darkness of the trench. Knowing another dog was stuck inside the trench, Tom quickly got to work to rescue it. He didn’t know how wrong he was.

Going To Help

Tom ran back to his truck and took out some climbing equipment he always kept in the trunk. He rushed back, climbing down with a flashlight and first aid kit in hand.

His feet touched the ground after some minutes of descending into the trench. The dog inside the darkness barked, and Tom called to him, giving his word that he was there to help. He turned on his light, and that’s when he saw it. 

A New Find

A human leg awash in dried blood and dirt was on the mossy floor. Tom flashed his light toward it, and it moved. “Hello,” he called as he rushed to it, seeing a man recoil from his flashlight. 

Beside the man was the second dog, snarling at Tom as he neared. “Easy, boy,” Tom raised his hands. “I’m here to help,” he added. As he approached the man and his dog, he noticed something that made his lips part. 

Stepping Into Action

The man was dirty as if he’d spent more than a day inside the trench. A broken bone was sticking out of his calf, which he’d tried to bandage. 

Tom quickly set his flashlight aside and reached for his water canteen, placing it against the man’s barely moving lips. He also offered the dog some before calling 911. Could he help them?

Calling For Reinforcements 

Tom used the remaining water to clean the man’s leg before dressing it with his first aid kit. He called his friend and explained what was happening, promising he’d be by his cabin later than expected. 

His friend told him he was on his way as soon as Tom broke the news. He managed to arrive well before first responders made it to the scene. What he did, left Tom speechless. 

A Good Deed

Tom’s friend went out of his way to help Tom help the injured man out of the trench. First responders arrived as the two were assisting the man in eating some energy bars Tom’s friend brought.

The man was taken to the hospital, and soon afterward, his family reached out to Tom to thank him. They revealed that the man had been lost for two days. 

One Question Left

As they talked, Tom smiled, glad he’d listened to the dog at the side of the road. Only God knew what would have happened to that man if he and his friend hadn’t stepped in. 

However, there was still one question in the air. How did the man get there? And most importantly: what happened to him?

Something Was Wrong

When Tom found him and before he was carried to the hospital, the man was not in the right state to answer any questions or tell his story; he was very dehydrated and seemed very distressed.

The natural explanation would be that he just fell inside the trench and injured himself. However, Tom could feel that wasn’t all. He could sense that there was more to that incident than met the eye.

What Happened?

So Tom did what his instincts were telling him to: he asked the man’s relatives over the phone if they knew what had happened to him. A few seconds of silence followed his question.

Then, the man’s wife finally answered with a shaky voice, as if doubting whether she should tell Tom about it. What she said to him instantly activated Tom’s alarms.

He Told Them Something

“Well… He told us something, but we couldn’t make much sense of it. He has said very strange things. The doctors said he was probably under the psychological effects of the accident, very distressed, and so on.”

“So we don’t know if we should take it seriously for now. The doctors say he’ll be better soon, though,” the woman said.

But What?

“But what did he say?” Tom asked. “What was so strange about it?” Realizing that he may be starting to sound weird and nosy, he added “I’m sorry if I’m being intrusive here. You don’t have to reply if you don’t want to.”

The woman hesitated for a few seconds. Then, she answered Tom’s question, still with a hint of doubt in her voice:

A Shriek

“Well… I don’t see why I shouldn’t tell you. If it turns out to be serious and he keeps talking about this after going back to normal, we’ll tell the police as well, but we haven’t yet,” she said.

“So… He said he was walking around the forest when he heard a shriek coming from deep inside the woods.”

It Could Have Been Him

“He said it sounded like a human scream. Like there was someone in danger,” the woman said. Tom was speechless. “But I don’t know. He’s still very affected by the accident, so take that with a grain of salt,” the woman added.

Tom thanked him, hung up, and sat down to reflect on what he had just heard. Could it be the same scream he had heard years before? Could it have been him who ended up in the man’s situation? Could it have turned out much worse?

In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.