“She’s got a naughty streak to her” 😅
Christmastime at Sailer’s Greenhouse in Minnesota is always a festive affair. The family-owned nursery, known for its beautiful holiday floral arrangements, hosts an annual Santa meet-and-greet and toy drive that brings together families, kids, and pets from the local community. This year, however, their holiday party welcomed a very unexpected guest.
As the event buzzed with excitement, Nikki Sailer, one of the greenhouse staff, noticed a particularly cheerful attendee—a yellow Labrador joyfully weaving through the crowd with a big stick in her mouth.
“I was making rounds, checking in on everyone, when I saw her,” Sailer said. “She was bouncing around the greenhouse, completely at ease.”
Initially, Sailer assumed the dog was there with one of the families, especially since many attendees had brought their pets. While most of the dogs were leashed, the Lab’s carefree nature didn’t seem unusual.
“I figured she belonged to a customer,” Sailer said.
But after observing the dog for a while and asking around, Sailer grew curious. No one claimed her, yet the pup seemed utterly delighted to be there, playfully engaging with other dogs and wagging her tail at every passerby.
Soon, a regular customer approached Sailer with a concerned expression.
“She said, ‘Nikki, I think this dog might be lost,’” Sailer recalled. The customer explained she’d seen the Lab wandering alone down the street before disappearing into the greenhouse.
Realizing the dog might not have an owner present, Sailer acted quickly. She grabbed a leash and gently guided the pup away from the crowd, ensuring her safety. Then, she shared a post on Facebook, hoping to locate the dog’s family.
As the day went on, the spirited Lab remained the life of the party. While assisting with hosting duties, Sailer took the pup around the event—and even let her pose for a photo with Santa.
“She was so well-behaved,” Sailer said. “She walked around with us like she belonged there.”
The Facebook post soon caught the attention of Katie Dee Huth, a local resident and frequent customer. Huth had already reported her dog missing to the authorities and was relieved to see the post confirming her Lab, Rylee, had been found safe and sound.
When Huth arrived to reunite with Rylee, Sailer couldn’t help but laugh.
“We’d often talked about our dogs because Katie has a Lab, and we have Labs at the greenhouse,” Sailer said. “She always said, ‘Rylee’s wonderful but has a bit of a naughty streak.’ So, of course, it made sense that she’d run off to visit Santa.”
The team at Sailer’s Greenhouse was thrilled to reconnect Rylee with her owner, though they admitted they’d miss her.
“She was such a sweetheart,” Sailer said. “We joked that if no one came for her, we wouldn’t mind keeping her ourselves!”
Back at home, Rylee settled in after her adventure, undoubtedly dreaming of her day filled with new friends and holiday cheer.
Though the greenhouse staff hasn’t seen Rylee since the party, they look forward to her next visit—this time, with her family close behind.
“She’ll be back,” Sailer said with a smile. “And we can’t wait to see her again.”