Hank was found in the summer of 2006 as a tiny and sickly, stray little Golden Retriever puppy, just wandering around a neighborhood.  Fortunately, baby Hank made his way to an animal lover’s home who put him in her back yard and called NRGRR.  A volunteer rushed over to get him that day and promptly took him to our vet for a full medical exam.

Hank was quite sick and stayed in foster care for a number of months with one of our very experienced fosters.  His loving foster mom nursed him back to health, but just as we thought he was healthy enough to be adopted, he had an outbreak of demodex mange.   Poor baby Hank had to be treated for that and spent another six weeks in foster care.

While in foster care, Hank attended the 2006 Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue Reunion, where he was the star of the show.  He was the youngest dog in attendance, and we believe his destiny to become a star had begun to fulfill itself as the following pictures where taken and quickly used on NRGRR merchandise.

Hank's foster family adored Hank and took him everywhere.  They even took him on his first beach trip.  His foster mom fondly remembers what a smart little boy he was and how quickly he learned. 

When Hank was 4 months old he was finally pronounced healthy enough to be adopted.  Hank was quickly scooped up by an adoring couple who fell in love with him immediately.

Hank's parents took some beautiful pictures of him one day while he was out playing at the lake.  One of them was so amazing that Hank’s Dad decided to submit it in the Circuit City and Kodak “Find the Next Firedog” Contest on behalf of NRGRR.  Imagine his surprise when Hank was selected as one of the 20 finalists in the competition out of approximately 7,000 submissions.  This meant that NRGRR would receive a $1,000 donation and $1 for every vote.  If Hank received the most votes, NRGRR would receive the $50,000 Grand prize donation! 

NRGRR volunteers and friends flew into action to recruit votes for Hank.  “Vote for Hank” buttons were printed up and distributed to our volunteers who managed to get the word out with signs, flyers and e-mails. 

The news about Hank quickly spread all over our area. Colleges and several schools adopted Hank as a project.   He was posted on many different web communities, blogs, facebook pages, and distribution lists. Golden Retriever rescue organizations across the country posted him to their volunteer lists, newsletters and websites.  Our volunteers proudly wore their “Vote for Hank” buttons at the fairgrounds and encouraged people to vote. They set up laptops at the adopt-a-thon and concession sales to allow people to immediately vote. Hank was featured in two local newspapers and on three separate radio stations.

Volunteers posted flyers across the Triangle and posters in their car windows and on their mailboxes - anything to get out the vote.  Our supporters made speeches for Hank at civic clubs, posted him on company bulletin boards and asked each voter to send the news about Hank to all their friends.   We know Hank received votes from such far-away places as Canada, Singapore, Venezuela, Grand Cayman, Poland, Russia, England, Germany, France, Australia, Samoa and India. One voter told us if he ever decides to run for public office, he wants us as his campaign committee!

On January 28, 2008 the Firedog website announced the happy Golden Retriever from Raleigh had won the contest, and naturally, we have all been hysterical with joy ever since.  This was a very big deal, and our volunteers, families, friends and supporters were all so proud to be part of it and so proud of Hank and his parents.   As the next Firedog, Hank will star in a national Circuit City commercial and NRGRR will receive an amazing donation of $60,798 (the grand prize $50,000 donation, a $1,000 finalist donation plus $1 for each vote he received).

Read the Circuit City press release or the press release for NRGRR and North Carolina media.

Hank's win was the result of an amazing effort on the part of the community, adopters, friends, family, co-workers, fellow rescuers, businesses, acquaintances and strangers both locally and across the globe.