Nine-year-old Zero is a much-loved family dog but not designed to be a guard dog. According to his owner, Whitney King Cahoon, he's "scared of almost everything.” But he tossed his fears to the wind when he spied the crook hot-footing it down the garden path with a freshly delivered package.
The lights are off, but Zero is home
The Calhoon family had ordered a dimmer switch, which had recently been delivered and left on the doorstep.
As security footage shows, the thief jogged up the front garden path to the parcel from the Calhoon’s porch, checking over his shoulders. He grabs the parcel and then makes it back down the path just as a car pulls up for him to jump into. They likely had been scouting the neighbourhood for any parcels left on doorsteps.
The car did not stop moving as the thief jumped in. But he could not close the door before Zero galloped down the path after him, barking all the way. Possibly nervous by the approaching dog and unsure what Zero would do if he caught up with them, the thief threw the parcel out of the car, and they quickly escaped.
All in a day’s bark
The whole incident was caught on security camera.
Astonishingly, despite leaving his safety zone to make a rare outing as a guard dog, Zero kept his cool, trotting calmly back to the garden after his efforts and is seen re-marking his territory in the traditional canine way.
Meanwhile, locals hope the crooks have learned their lesson from the vigilant Labrador.
“I didn’t expect him to go after them, but I am proud of him for scaring them off,” Cahoon concludes. “He earned his keep.”
