You can't help but notice the life-sized statue of a large black dog wearing a red collar and standing in front of the mansion. The story goes that in 1865 a dog gave his life when he chased down a runaway carriage with a young girl inside. The dog threw himself under the horses to stop them, saving the girl. To honor the brave canine, the girl's family purchased the statue and placed it in front of their home. When that house was torn down in 1967, the statue was donated to the Leavenworth Historical Society and moved to the Carroll Mansion. Due to vandalism of the original, a replica statue was made in 1975 and has been greeting visitors ever since.