Mom receives hilarious photo of naughty puppy at principal’s office after it sneaks into kids’ school — turns bright red when she sees it
Family dogs have instincts that go far beyond playtime and treats. They watch, they wait, and they follow, always making sure the people they love are safe. Sandy had spent his whole life doing just that. But one ordinary school morning in 2020, his protective instincts took him further than anyone expected. It started with a slightly open door, a distracted moment, and a dog determined to be right where he thought he belonged.
As reported by The Dodo, Sandy had been with his family since he was a puppy, and he had grown into a loyal and watchful companion. Karen Manthey, Sandy's owner, explained that her dog simply couldn’t stand being left behind. “He wants to be involved with everything we do,” she said. “He's bummed every day that anyone in our family leaves his care.”
Whether it was camping trips, daily walks, or kids heading out for school, Sandy always wanted to follow. Sometimes he even managed to slip out before anyone noticed, though he had never gotten very far, until that day. “On camping trips, if the family is separated (i.e., half the family is at the lake, .5 mile away, and the other at the campsite), he'll spend all his time running back and forth to check on each group to make sure everyone is safe.”
On that particular morning, the kids were rushing out the door, and Sandy seized his chance. Before anyone realized it, the determined dog trotted down the street and followed them all the way to school. When he arrived, the students and staff couldn’t help but laugh. The sight of a happy golden dog proudly tagging along with the kids was impossible to ignore. Sandy was promptly escorted to the principal’s office, where he sat waiting to be picked up like a student who had broken a rule.
When the school couldn’t reach Manthey, one of her kids was allowed to walk him home. “I didn't realize he was missing until my daughter showed up at home with Sandy,” Manthey said. “The school had tried calling me, but my phone was turned off, my neighbor, who was at the school, snapped the infamous picture of him to ask if he was mine.” The hilarious picture captured her happy pup poking his face through a twisted, broken mess of blinds.
At home, Sandy showed no hint of shame. “When he showed up at home, he was thrilled with the day's adventures,” Manthey recalled. Far from feeling guilty, the dog looked proud of himself for completing what he saw as an important mission. Manthey went to the school to apologize for the unplanned visit, but no one was upset. In fact, the whole situation had become a bit of a highlight. “They laughed pretty hard,” she said. “I showed up over there to apologize and pay for the blinds, but their cool school janitor had already replaced them. Instead, they just asked me to email them the picture. The office ladies wanted it.” Sandy might not have followed the rules that day, but he had made his love for his family crystal clear. “He's actually quite obedient,” Manthey said. “His heart just sometimes overtakes his obedience training.”