A small family pet chased off a trio of armed home invaders Sunday night after they attempted to rob residents at Woodland of Athens condominiums off Barnett Shoals Road, Athens-Clarke County police said.

The suspects appeared to be young males between 14 and 16 years old. Their intended victims - a 20-year-old resident and his parents, ages 52 and 57 - were in the living room of the home, with the front door open and blocked only by a baby gate, according to police.

About 10 p.m., one of the young bandits kicked down the baby gate and entered the home waving a handgun and saying, "Give it up, I'm not …. playing," according to the police report released Monday morning.

That's when the family pet came to its owners' protection, according to the report.

While pugs are often described as a small dog friendly to strangers, this particular pug reportedly ran barking toward the home invaders, who turned tail and fled, according to police.

Nothing was stolen and no one was injured, police said.

The would-be victims were unable to provide detailed descriptions of the suspects because their faces were concealed by their shirts, police said. At least two of the suspects were armed with guns, the victims told police.

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