Belltown, Seattle: Black Lab Rides Bus Alone Weekly To Meet Owner At Dog Park

A black Labrador rides a city bus in Belltown, Seattle on a daily basis so that she can meet her owner at the dog park. Many commuters have reported seeing the dog riding the bus alone and walking up and down the aisles while taking seats next to strangers. Still, it’s not something unusual as it is what she does every week.

“All the bus drivers know her. She sits here just like a person does,” said commuter Tiona Rainwater, as she rode the bus through downtown Monday. “She makes everybody happy. How could you not love this thing?”

According to Komo News, the dog caught the interest of Seattle radio host Miles Montgomery. He saw her get off the bus completely by herself and he – as most people would – wondered what was up.

The dog’s name is Eclipse, and Montgomery thought she was by herself entirely.

“It doesn’t really appear to have an owner. The dog gets off at the dog park. I just look out the window and I’m like, ‘did that just happen?’ She was most concerned about seeing out the window, and I couldn’t figure out what that was. It was really just about seeing where her stop was.”

Eclipse rides the bus in Belltown, Seattle many times a week so she can head to the dog park. That is where she meets her owner and plays for a while. She doesn’t always ride the bus alone, but when she does, she is well-behaved.

NBC-2 reports that Eclipse and her owner live near a bus stop at W. Mercer Street and 3 Ave W.

It seems as if Eclipse’s first time on a rush hour bus ride home alone came by accident. Her owner, Jeff Young, was finishing a cigarette and the black lab just got anxious to get home so she ran ahead and jumped on the bus.

“We get separated. She gets on the bus without me, and I catch up with her at the dog park. It’s not hard to get on. She gets on in front of her house and she gets off at the dog park, three or four stops later.”

Young says that their tradition of going to the dog park has been happening for the past two years and Eclipse is “urbanized, totally.” She knows her way around and doesn’t mind walking, but likes to take public transit.

Once a week or so, Young says he will get a phone call about Eclipse.

“‘Hi. I have your dog Eclipse here on 3rd and Bell.’ I have to tell them, ‘no. She’s fine.’ She knows what she’s doing.”

The Belltown, Seattle Metro Transit spokesman joked that Eclipse “would be much safer in a world if she had her owner on a leash,” but says the dog appreciates the city bus and they all love her.

Those in Belltown, Seattle, haven’t seemed to have a problem with the city bus-riding black lab, and actually, Young says that “it makes their day.” It works out for Eclipse and everyone else involved.

[Image via Komo News]