POCAHONTA, AR – The most intriguing visitor to the Pocahontas Walmart today had not just two legs, but four.
The dog “Lincoln” found himself in an unexpected adventure Tuesday morning when his collar unexpectedly broke while he was on his morning walk with Mackenzie Hankins in Pocahontas. Mackenzie got the dog in 2018 when he was about a year old. She told the NEA report that Lincoln spotted the cat on a walk and pulled on the leash to get it out of its collar. In typical dog fashion, Lincoln wasted no time in going on an adventure.
“I bought a harness and wondered if I needed to put an extra leash on it,” Mackenzie said. “He knows how to get out of a regular collar. He’s an escape artist.”
Only Lincoln knows where he went next. But his Tuesday adventure ended up at a Walmart Supercenter. Mr. Lincoln walked through the door wearing a sweater, which Mr. McKenzie said was the only item of clothing he could not take off. From there, the dog knew exactly where to go. One customer commented that while he was shopping, his dog ran in front of him trying to get to the pet section.
MacKenzie expressed surprise at Lincoln’s ability to find pet supplies, considering he had never set foot in a Walmart before. She guessed that his keen sense of smell had guided him.
Seeing the child intently staring at the toy he wanted most, Lincoln quickly chose the toy he wanted, a stuffed chicken. Moved by the dog’s enthusiasm, the store manager and employees not only bought the dog a toy, but also ensured the dog’s health until it could be found its owner.
“He’s a sweetheart, but sometimes he’s a turkey,” Mackenzie wrote on Facebook. “He said he got some toys while he was there, so I guess he’s going back for more.”
Lincoln’s owner was found after a Walmart employee posted about the missing dog on Facebook. McKenzie said he discovered the missed call from Walmart after his boss’ wife tagged her in a post.
The furry wanderer was reunited with his owner and everything ended well. However, this was not an entirely new experience for Mackenzie, as Lincoln had experienced similar escapes in the past.
“One time he jumped out of Hoxie during a football game,” McKenzie said. “They had to stop the game, so the resource officer went to remove him from the field.”
During the update, Mackenzie humorously stated that at Lincoln’s current rate, the entire town of Pocahontas would soon know about him.
She also thanked Walmart employees for their care and assistance in ensuring Lincoln’s safe return home.