Julie Thorton Johnson had quite the unexpected wake-up call this week. Imagine her surprise when she opened her eyes to find a big, snoozing dog cozily nestled beside her in bed. The puzzling part? Neither she nor her husband had ever seen this furry guest before.
The Johnson household is already home to three dogs, who often take their spots in the family bed. So initially, Julie and her husband didn’t think much of an extra furry presence. But as the morning haze faded, they soon realized this snuggler was a stranger.
“My husband asked, ‘Julie, whose dog is this?’” she recalled, chuckling at the memory. “We both just stared at each other for a good ten seconds before I said, ‘That isn’t our dog.’”
Despite the initial confusion, the mysterious pup seemed quite content.
Though a bit bewildered, the Johnsons quickly saw that the dog meant no harm. In fact, she appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the comfort of their pillows and was eager just to cuddle.
“She just lay there, happy as can be,” Julie shared. “She really just wanted some affection.”
Julie, a lover of dogs herself, embraced the chance to snuggle back while simultaneously racking her brain for clues as to how this unexpected guest ended up in their home.
It seemed that a strong storm had passed through their area the night before. The lost dog must have been searching for shelter. As it happened, the couple had left a door open, inviting the cozy lodger in.
“Dogs are incredibly savvy,” Julie said. “She found her way in through our open door.”
Hoping to reunite the pooch with her rightful family, Julie snapped a few pictures of their surprise visitor and shared them on social media. Before long, they received a message from a relieved owner located several miles away. The dog’s name? Nala, who had been out for a walk when the storm hit, leading her astray.
Nala sought refuge with the Johnsons when she couldn’t find her way back home in the storm.
“We must have been the safe place she needed,” Julie added fondly. “Her owners came to get her right away. It was wonderful seeing them back together.”
With Nala returned to her family, the Johnsons found themselves happy for the visit. Their affection for dogs only grew with this little adventure.
“Her owners thought we’d be upset about her unannounced stay, but it was quite the opposite,” Julie remarked. “Everyone was safe and warm, and it turned into a meaningful experience for all of us.”
Nala’s unexpected stay was more than just a curious tale.
The Johnsons have since seen Nala again—this time intentionally—as they organized a play date with their own trio of dogs.
“It was lovely to connect with Nala’s owners,” Julie noted. “We’ve made new friends, and now they know they can rely on us if they ever need someone to dog-sit.”
