When Rachel Howatt’s beloved husky Koda went missing in late December, she spent hours exploring the woods surrounding her house to no avail. But, a few days later, the dependable pooch appeared back at home in Manitoba, Ontario, Canada, as if nothing had happened.

“We absolutely looked for her, but she simply returned,” Howatt told The Dodo. “She’s really smart, so I had no doubt she’d find her way home.”

It wasn’t until a few days later that Howatt realized she should check with her neighbor, who has a trail camera in the woods near their house, to see whether Koda had been seen at all. Sure enough, Koda had been captured on video — and she wasn’t alone.

CREDIT: RACHEL HOWATT
A male deer was huddled up close to her, eating and resting alongside her.

Throughout the evening, Koda is shown playing with and sitting close to the buck, who doesn’t appear concerned by the presence of a dog.

“It was very amazing,” Howatt remarked. “Based on the time they spent on the frame, it appeared like they spent more than 12 hours together. There’s also another shot in which she’s holding two dollars.”

CREDIT: RACHEL HOWATT
This isn’t the first time wild deer have come to help a mischievous animal. When deer gather in the woods, they have been known to take in stray cows and even cats as their own.

While Howatt will do everything she can to dissuade Koda from running away in the future, she believes the dog will want to return to the woods to rejoin with her wild buddy.

CREDIT: RACHEL HOWATT
“Huskies have such a free spirit,” remarked Howatt. “It’s hardly surprising that Koda was eager to find a new companion.”

CREDIT: RACHEL HOWATT