A few years ago, Vanessa Marquette witnessed something that made her do a double take: her dog Nola had somehow climbed the 6-foot fence in their backyard.
It wasn’t a leap or a jump — it was full-on scaling, and Marquette couldn’t believe her eyes.
“I thought I was seeing things,” she told The Dodo. She even called her husband in disbelief.
The couple had adopted Nola as a puppy after she’d spent months being overlooked at a shelter, likely because she was blind in one eye.
But what Nola lacked in vision, she made up for in determination — and climbing skills, apparently.
They first heard about her curious behavior from a dogsitter, who reported that Nola was climbing the fence back at their old home. At the time, they didn’t buy it. Climbing a fence? That’s not something most dogs do.
Then they moved to New York, where their new backyard came with an even taller fence. Not long after settling in, their new neighbors mentioned seeing Nola’s head popping up over the fence — again.
This time, they saw it happen with their own eyes.
Over time, Nola honed her technique. She braces herself between a tree and the fence, slowly shimmying up the side, and perches at the top with her back leg planted firmly on the tree for balance. It’s become part of her daily routine.
“She does it around five times a day,” Marquette said.
And the reason? It’s not escape — it’s connection.
“She likes to say hi to the neighbor’s dog,” Marquette explained.
She also enjoys peeking in on the neighbors’ activities, earning her the playful nickname “Nosey Nola.” Far from being annoyed, the neighbors actually look forward to her little surveillance sessions.
“The first thing Nola does every morning is run outside,” Marquette said. “She literally can’t wait.”
To help save more dogs like Nola, visit North Country Pet Adoption Services here & follow along on Instagram.
You can keep up with Nola on Instagram & TikTok.
