Eclipse, the dog famed for her solo bus trips in Seattle, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, as announced on her owner’s Facebook page. She was 10.
Owner Jeff Young told USA TODAY that the red bus with three doors was a regular part of Eclipse’s life for years. Though several buses stopped near Young’s home, Eclipse always knew to board the red one to reach the Belltown dog park, a route she’d taken “a million times,” according to Young, who adopted Eclipse at 10 weeks old.
In 2015, the black lab-bullmastiff mix started riding the bus alone two or three times a week after she hopped on while Young was smoking. Eclipse, looking out the window, knew where to disembark, Young explained. She’d then “fly” to the dog park, about a block and a half away.
Eclipse, famous for her independent bus travels, was seen riding the bus in October 2021.
“She would break off whatever conversation she was having or whatever interaction, jump down, go to the back door and start banging on the glass,” Young recalled.
Following that initial solo ride in 2015, Young had to monitor Eclipse more closely.
“The celebrity kind of got out of hand,” Young said.
Young described Eclipse as his “best friend” for the past 11 years.
“Missing her doesn’t even cover it,” he said.
Credit goes to the respective owner.