Every Christmas, Sailer’s Greenhouse in Minnesota transforms into something magical. Glittering lights cover the ceiling beams, poinsettias line the aisles, and the smell of pine and cinnamon drifts through the air. Families come not just for flowers but for something far more precious — the annual Santa meet-and-greet and holiday toy drive that has become a beloved tradition.

But this year, the celebration welcomed a very unexpected guest.

As children giggled in line waiting for their turn with Santa, greenhouse staff member Nikki Sailer noticed a flash of yellow weaving between the crowd. At first, she thought it was just another family dog enjoying the festivities. But something about this Labrador was different.

“She came bouncing in with a big stick in her mouth, tail wagging like she owned the place,” Nikki recalled. “She was so happy — but she didn’t seem to belong to anyone.”

The lab trotted freely around the nursery, greeting children, stealing attention from leashed dogs, and even knocking over a few potted plants in her excitement. Nikki began asking around:

“Is this your dog?” she asked customers one by one. Everyone shook their heads. Nobody knew where she had come from.

Moments later, a frequent customer pulled Nikki aside. “I saw her walking down the street alone,” the woman said. “She doesn’t seem to have an owner. I think she’s lost.”

Nikki’s heart sank. Outside, snow had already begun to fall, and the Minnesota night would soon turn bitterly cold. She quickly fetched a leash, slipped it over the dog’s neck, and secured her away from the bustle of the crowd.

The greenhouse posted her photo on Facebook, hoping her family would come forward. Within minutes, the post spread through the local community. That’s when Nikki learned the heartbreaking truth.

A woman called, her voice trembling. She had been searching all afternoon. The lab’s name was Daisy, and she had been reported missing just hours earlier. Daisy’s owner, an elderly woman, explained through tears that Daisy had slipped out when the door was left open. For hours, she feared the worst.

But Daisy hadn’t wandered into danger — she had wandered into Christmas magic.

Before being reunited with her mom, Daisy got to do something unforgettable: she met Santa Claus. Sitting proudly on his lap, wearing a red ribbon the staff had tied around her neck, Daisy posed for pictures as if she had planned the whole adventure. Children clapped, parents laughed, and even Santa whispered, “Well, aren’t you the best Christmas surprise?”

When her mom finally arrived at the greenhouse, Daisy leapt into her arms with the joy only a dog can show. Tears filled the woman’s eyes as she thanked Nikki and the entire staff.

“I thought I lost her forever,” she said. “But she just wanted to see Santa.”

That night, Daisy went home safe and warm, carrying with her not just the memory of her adventure but the hearts of everyone she met.

For Nikki, the story was a reminder of why Sailer’s Greenhouse continues its Christmas tradition year after year. “It’s about more than flowers and decorations,” she said. “It’s about community, hope, and love. And this year, it was about one very determined little dog.”

Daisy may have gone missing for a few hours, but she returned with something far more precious than a stick — she brought back the spirit of Christmas.