Pub Manager Adopts Dog After Pet Runs into Bar Following Previous Owner's Fatal Car Accident

Rex the Shih Tzu ran into a pub and right into Dan Morris' heart.

Morris, the manager of The Leaping Wolf in Wolverhampton, England, recently told SWNS the bittersweet meet-cute moment that brought Rex into his life.

In September, Morris was managing a full pub watching a soccer match on the establishment's TVs when Rex came tearing into the bar from outside.

"Everyone said there was a dog running around, and we had no idea where he came from," Morris told the outlet.

Related: Puppy Rescued by Michigan Park Employee After Owner Abandons Him in Freezing Porta Potty

Eventually, Morris located the dog in the pub and scooped him up off the ground. Concerned about where the canine's owner could be and what health issues the dog may have, Morris took the pup to a local veterinarian for a check-up.

Upon arriving at the vet and providing the little information he had on Rex, Morris discovered the dog's tragic backstory. Before arriving at the pub, the Shih Tzu had been involved in a car accident with his owner, which led to the pet parent's death. To Morris, the next steps were clear.

"I took him to the vets, who said they could not tell me too much because of data protection but that the owner was now deceased. So we decided to adopt him," he said.

Related: Caged Dog Abandoned Outside During a Blizzard Is Now 'Living Her Best Life' While Waiting for a Home

Today, Rex spends most of his days at the pub with Morris. The little dog has quickly become a favorite among the watering hole's regulars, who make sure Rex never goes long without a belly rub.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"He has been great. All the customers love him and even bring treats to the pub to give him," Rex's new owner says, adding that the dog has also picked up a knack for spotting troublemakers at the pub.

"We don't know how he knows which guests are up to no good, but he's usually right," Morris says of his bouncer dog.

Read the original article on People