“[She] carried the kind of sadness that puts a lump in your throat.”
Published on Sep 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Meet Sadie: a sweet 6-year-old beagle who struggles with self-confidence.
When Sadie arrived at Main Line Animal Rescue (MLAR) in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, shelter staff members were struck by the pup’s sorrowful expression.
“[She] carried the kind of sadness that puts a lump in your throat,” MLAR wrote in a Facebook post.
Sadie was severely overweight and seemed to understand that she looked different from the other dogs. MLAR team members listened with anger as visitors joked about Sadie’s appearance.
“[They’re] almost mocking her for her size, as if she can help it,” MLAR wrote.
Shelter staff knew that Sadie was so much more than her looks. Beneath her adorably chunky exterior lay a heart of gold.
“Sadie is a positively wonderful dog,” a representative from MLAR told The Dodo. “She is gentle, sweet, kind and calm. She loves everyone and is fantastic with other dogs.”
The rescuers posted about Sadie on Facebook, encouraging adopters to take a chance on the anxious girl.
Sometimes the sight of a dog can take your breath away—not because of beauty in the way the world usually measures it,…Posted by Main Line Animal Rescue (MLAR) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025
“Please, let her be seen for who she really is — the sweetest soul in the whole world,” MLAR wrote. “If you can’t adopt, please spread the word for her, and please join us in telling the world how beautiful she is.”
Eventually, Sadie connected with her new family — a couple of dog-lovers who wanted to give Sadie a comfortable home and help her continue her weight-loss plan.
MLAR staff members are thrilled that Sadie is finally where she belongs.
“It is hard being a shelter dog,” the representative said. “We always hope that when our pets get adopted, they never remember any of their struggles and only know the most wonderful lives with their forever families from that moment on!”
To help other dogs like Sadie, you can make a donation to MLAR.
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Woman Catches Her Dog Scaling Backyard Fence — Then Realizes Sweet Reason Why
“I thought I was seeing things.”
A few years ago, Vanessa Marquette was home with her dog, Nola, when she saw something that seemed to defy the laws of physics. While Marquette wasn’t looking, Nola had somehow managed to scale up the 6-foot-tall fence surrounding their yard.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DKf7vrlOpI5/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=810&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedodo.com&rp=%2Fdaily-dodo%2Fshelter-staff-heartbroken-watching-strangers-mock-beagle-for-being-overweight#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A18690.5%2C%22ls%22%3A15714.199999988079%2C%22le%22%3A18112.900000035763%7D
Baffled, Marquette called her husband and explained what she’d witnessed — even though it seemed impossible.
“I thought I was seeing things,” Marquette told The Dodo.
The Marquette family had adopted Nola as a puppy a few years prior. Blind in one eye, she’d been overlooked by people passing through the shelter for months.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DHiwvl9OIAv/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=810&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedodo.com&rp=%2Fdaily-dodo%2Fshelter-staff-heartbroken-watching-strangers-mock-beagle-for-being-overweight#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A18696.600000023842%2C%22ls%22%3A15714.199999988079%2C%22le%22%3A18112.900000035763%7D
Right after the couple adopted Nola, they started getting reports from her dogsitter that she was climbing the fence in their yard. They had trouble believing the sitter’s story, as pups aren’t known for being the best climbers.
Soon after, the family moved to New York, where they got a backyard with an even taller fence. The Marquettes’ new neighbors let them know that they’d spotted Nola sticking her head over the fence and peeking into their backyard.
Again, the couple had trouble believing the story — until they witnessed Nola’s gravity-defying stunt for themselves.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJQDhCkubXi/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=810&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedodo.com&rp=%2Fdaily-dodo%2Fshelter-staff-heartbroken-watching-strangers-mock-beagle-for-being-overweight#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A18700.80000001192%2C%22ls%22%3A15714.199999988079%2C%22le%22%3A18112.900000035763%7D
Over the years, Nola has perfected her climbing technique. She wedges herself between the tree and the fence, shimmies her way up, and then perches on top of the wall, keeping her back leg pressed against the tree for support.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKdcCTCurJM/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=810&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedodo.com&rp=%2Fdaily-dodo%2Fshelter-staff-heartbroken-watching-strangers-mock-beagle-for-being-overweight#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A20359.30000001192%2C%22ls%22%3A15714.199999988079%2C%22le%22%3A18112.900000035763%7D
“She does this about five times a day,” Marquette said.
It turns out that Nola is motivated to climb the fence for the sweetest reason: friendship.
“Sometimes, she says hi to the neighbor’s dog,” Marquette said.
Additionally, she likes to spy on the neighbors. Her busybody ways have earned her the nickname “Nosey Nola.” Thankfully, the neighbors don’t seem to mind and even look forward to Nola’s visits.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIkiQFEumuE/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=810&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedodo.com&rp=%2Fdaily-dodo%2Fshelter-staff-heartbroken-watching-strangers-mock-beagle-for-being-overweight#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A20404.19999998808%2C%22ls%22%3A15714.199999988079%2C%22le%22%3A18112.900000035763%7D
“The first thing Nola does every morning is run outside,” Marquette said. “She literally can’t wait to do it.”
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