During one of the year’s more intense heat waves, a San Diego couple found their home briefly occupied by an unexpected guest. Dante Rowley and his fiancée, Stephanie Calderon, were out of town when a man managed to enter their residence through an open upstairs window.
While many might expect a home's canines to deter such an intrusion, the couple's two dogs proved less than traditional guard animals. One dog simply let itself out through a doggy door, leaving the household security to the other, a golden retriever named Nash. Nash, however, had other priorities. According to security footage shared by Rowley, Nash repeatedly approached the intruder with toys in his mouth, tail wagging, seemingly eager to play.
Rowley, describing his dog, simply said, “Our dog tried to play with him.” He elaborated that Nash is “super friendly” and, while he might bark at new visitors initially, once they're inside, “he just thinks it’s time to play.” Video showed Nash remaining calm throughout the incident, despite the unusual circumstances.
The intruder, who police did not identify, didn't appear to be particularly interested in theft. Instead, the footage showed him taking a nap and enjoying some food from the fridge. Rowley speculated on the man’s motive, suggesting, “We just think he was trying to get out of the heat.” The man was captured on video first hopping a fence, then retrieving a ladder to access the open window, before settling in.
Rowley and Calderon watched the entire event unfold in real time on their security cameras while they were traveling back from Chicago. Rowley recalled their reaction, stating, “We were just like, ‘What is going on right now?’” Despite Nash’s persistent attempts to entice him, the man never interacted with the dog.
At one point, as the man moved upstairs, the couple tried to use their security system to encourage Nash to go outside, but the golden retriever stayed put. “We were just concerned about the dog, really,” Rowley later said. “We were just really happy that the dog was safe afterward.”
Police were eventually called to the scene, circling the home, broadcasting calls for the man to exit, and even deploying a drone inside to locate him. The man, who had reportedly been talking to himself for over an hour, was arrested about an hour after officers arrived. Ultimately, nothing was stolen from the home. Rowley reported that only some snacks were eaten and a few outdoor pots were broken during the burglar’s attempted escape, with no other damage to the house.
