The lost dog who set the town ablaze received a grand welcome home hosted by Pilot Point Neighborhood Events on May 30.
After inciting altruism from a number of Pilot Pointers, Gunner tail wagged his way through photo ops and a plethora of treats on the Square, surrounded by the community, Kopi Treats, adoption- ready pets from All American Dogs Shelter, and several dinner opportunities.
“It shows that we as people have more in common than what we portray on the internet,” Hannah Rogers said. “We have compassion and morals and we allow politics and stuff to divide us.”
Hannah, Gunner’s owner, offered some background as to how the situation she originally posted about happend.
“I’m currently living in an RV park, and because he’s loud, they kindly asked that I find him a new home,” Hannah said. “Rayna [Rogers, my sister,] was living over here in Pilot Point and said she’d keep him till I closed on my land, but unfortunately her relationship didn’t work out, so the boyfriend, whenever she was moving her stuff out, approached me and asked to keep Gunner.”
She explained the deal was always that, if he wanted to get rid of Gunner, he call her first to come pick him up.
“I guess they got frustrated with him one night, maybe upset with my sister, I’m not sure, but just went and dumped him,” Hannah said. “His roommate honestly had no care, didn’t act phased and said, ‘At the end of the day, it’s just a dog,’ but as you can tell, many people felt like he was more than just a dog and was something that brought a lot of people together.”
She reasoned that the current online climate had something to do with the enhanced response from the community.
“I think that’s one of the reasons, and I also think it’s because Gunner didn’t have an option in the situation,” Hannah said. “He didn’t get out, he was dumped, and at the end of the day, why wouldn’t we let someone who’s done no harm, who’s not involved in politics or hatred, life matter.”
Neighborhood Events member Kate Major mirrored Hannah’s interpretation.
“I think the city needed something that was unifying,” Major said. “They needed something that made it feel like their Pilot Point was a little lost with everything going on.”
She explained what Gunner did incidentally and what the organization strives to do are one and the same, hence Neighborhood Events’ decision to hold the homecoming event.
“Neighborhood Events is known for bringing the community together anyway and when you have something like a lost dog that brings 30 cars and more people out there searching for hours, that’s a bunch of people coming together, so Neighborhood Events wanted to recognize that,” Major said. “We didn’t even have to really ask—they volunteered.”
As the event went on, more and more residents met the bloodhound, many alongside their own pets. Gunner, if his tail and demeaner are to be trusted, was happy to meet each and every one.
“Gunner loves the attention, but the story goes beyond that,” Hannah said. “I hope everyone who hears the story takes something away from it.”
