Golden Retriever 'Covered in Evidence' Can't Hide the Crime She Committed

While some dogs may hide after getting into trouble around the house, that's not the case for Stella the golden retriever, who is more than happy to show off her hard work right in front of her owner.

Dog owner Mike LaBianca filmed the incredible moment he walked outside to see that his once immaculate lawn had been dug up and there were clumps of dirt all over the patio. But the Californian didn't have to look too far to work out who was at fault, as his 4-year-old pooch, Stella, was still "covered in evidence."

Despite the carnage she'd caused in a short space of time, LaBianca couldn't even be mad with Stella as he told Newsweek that he "had to laugh when [he] saw how proud and smiley she was about what she'd done."

It's safe to say that Stella was happy owning up to her misbehavior, and since the video was posted on TikTok (@mike.and.stella.labianca) on February 19, it's already been viewed more than 1 million times, with over 156,100 likes. The caption layered over the clip reads: "POV: a crime has been committed on your front lawn and the main suspect casually returns to the scene."

"I had let Stella out in the front yard to run around and noticed it had become quiet outside for a few minutes, so I went to check on her. When I opened the front door, I saw the enormous hole in the yard and Stella standing with a huge grin on her face, covered in dirt on her paws, face and tongue," LaBianca, from Los Angeles, said.

It's not too often that Stella will dig the ground up, but when she does, she certainly likes the make the most of it, as LaBiana joked that "she goes wild and digs with reckless abandon."

Why Do Dogs Love to Dig?

Having a pristine yard can be difficult with a dog around, because no matter what breed they are, they will love getting their paws dirty. According to Hill's Pet Nutrition, there are a multitude of reasons why our furry friends love to dig up the yard, including seeking prey (such as rodents or small game), comfort in hot weather, boredom or anxiety, and even to hide their precious treasure—although they often forget where they buried it.

Another key reason is that digging is an instinctive behavior that dogs have learned from their wolf ancestors. Some pups might choose to dig up the freshly laid flowerbeds, or perhaps digging the sofa cushions or their own bedding before they have a snooze, either way, it can come naturally to them.

How Did Social Media React?

After Stella was "caught red-handed," LaBianca told Newsweek that the "reaction has been hilarious," and he's loved seeing how many social media users quickly came to her defense.

"The most common responses have been to either defend her, give her an airtight alibi, or offer up lawyer services to defend her in court. We're still looking for suspects for who could have possibly dug up the lawn since it obviously could not have been Stella," he said.

With over 850 comments on the viral post at the time of writing, plenty of people have urged LaBianca not to assume Stella is guilty without a thorough investigation. One comment reads: "Your honor, my client was trying to clean the mess left by the real culprit. We have a hero here."

Another person responded: "your honor my client was simply vibing."

While another TikToker joked that it was "Purely circumstantial."

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