A dog’s persistent barking turned into a saving grace as he protected the house and led to the police department arresting a suspect.
The owners of a 5-month-old German shepherd, Velly, found it unusual one night when the dog wouldn’t stop barking from his crate. They shared a March 12 Instagram post under the account @vellythewolfdog, that the dog’s bark sounded urgent. However, they thought he only wanted attention. But worry settled in when Velly’s barks continued, and nothing would stop him.
One of the owners then took him outside on the leash, thinking perhaps he needed to go to the bathroom. They were still crate training him after all. But as it turned out, that decision led Velly to sniff out a person hiding under their deck. Once he spotted the person, he started “barking furiously.”
Panicked, the owner screamed to her husband and brother inside that someone was in their yard. They rushed to the door and called 911 immediately. The officers quickly arrived and arrested the person, all thanks to Velly’s barks.
Despite the curtains closed and the family winding down that night, Velly’s protective instincts kicked into high gear. He sniffed out that something was wrong and took action.
@vellythewolfdog/Instagram
His intuitiveness, especially at such a young age, stunned his owners. Part of the caption reads: “At just five months old, he had already proven his incredible instincts and loyalty.”
Newsweek reached out to @vellythewolf dog via Instagram and email for comment.
The Instagram video had amassed over 1.2 million views as of Monday, with people flooding the comment section to praise Velly and hope he received proper compensation, including treats and steaks. However, many viewers weren’t too surprised by him stepping up to save the day, considering his dog breed.
Originally bred as herding dogs, German shepherds earned the reputation of being affectionate, courageous and incredibly loyal. These dogs quickly learn commands and are always willing to put their life on the line to defend their loved ones, according to the American Kennel Club.
“German Shepherds are such a wonderful breed! So loyal, so smart and so protective of their families,” an Instagram user commented on the video.
A commenter wrote: “Always check it out when your Gsd signals…they’re way ahead of us humans!”
Another commenter said, “Proof that German Shepherds are built different. Velly was on it before anyone else!”
Someone else jokingly warned the owners that the police department might recruit Velly to assist in future cases.