Four years ago, the Johnson family welcomed a small, scrappy puppy named Sadie into their home.
She had been cruelly abandoned at a Texas gas station with all her littermates, but her luck finally changed when she met her forever family.
Knowing that she finally got a second chance at life, Sadie quickly assigned herself an important role in the household – protector of the backyard.
Big Girl Job
As you can imagine, Sadie takes her job very seriously. While some might consider her just a happy and playful pup, she sees herself as a serious guardian of her home. Rabbits, squirrels, and even the occasional bullfrog don’t stand a chance against her watchful eye.
“She never actually tries to hurt them. If she gets close enough, which is rare, she pounces with her paws instead of biting. I’m quite confident she wouldn’t hurt them, and honestly, the critters don’t seem all that worried about it,” Mike Johnson, Sadie’s dad, told the Dodo.
However, it is important to note that Sadie is more about the chase than the catch, but that doesn’t mean she takes her responsibilities lightly.
The other day, Sadie’s eyes locked onto a little intruder – a squirrel standing right by the fence. Instead of launching into her usual high-energy pursuit, Sadie decided to change tactics: she went into stealth mode. And, this time, she had a partner in crime.
Tucked carefully in her mouth was her beloved stuffed animal, one of the first toys her family had given her when she arrived in their home.
“The stuffed animal was among the toys we bought when we first adopted her, hoping to help her feel a bit less alone after leaving her litter for the first time,” Mike explained.
Four years later, that toy remained by Sadie’s side. Whether she’s taking a nice, warm nap or going on one of her high-stakes backyard missions, her little plush friend is never far from reach.
A Worthy Opponent
Spotting the squirrel, Sadie crept closer, holding her sidekick tight as she made her move.
Unfortunately for her, the squirrel didn’t seem to even flinch. Instead of fleeing at first sight, it decided to hang around, almost taunting her.
“Our squirrels—we call them Chester and Lester—seemingly became less afraid of Sadie. They now allow her to get quite close before they take off,” Mike said.
And, sure enough, just when Sadie thought she had the upper hand, Chester made an incredible escape at the very last second. Sadie stopped, watching the squirrel disappear.
Although one might see the mission as a failure, in Sadie’s mind, it was a victory. Her backyard was momentarily free of intruders, and she had done her duty.
At the end of the day, Sadie isn’t just a guard dog – she’s a beloved part of the Johnson family. Her watch may never truly end, and the little intruders will surely return, but that’s just part of the game.
“She takes her job seriously, even if the squirrels don’t,” Mike said with a chuckle.
I’m pretty sure we can all agree that with her trusty stuffed animal by her side, Sadie is unstoppable.