No one knows where he came from. With no microchip, no collar and no one coming to claim him, Hank the hound was alone, weak and extremely sick 鈥� just out of puppyhood at age 2.

He couldn鈥檛 have known his life was about to change for the best when he wandered into a local garage and collapsed.

Experienced dog rescuer Heather MacPherson, along with frequenters of the local Facebook groups, had seen Hank before, wandering around for at least a week before he came to a stop. He was clearly getting sicker and sicker and walked quite literally until he could walk no more, taking shelter in a neighbourhood garage one fateful day.

鈥淗e wouldn鈥檛 get up,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥�(The homeowner) posted he didn鈥檛 know what to do with this dog.鈥�

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With the help of a volunteer and a pickup truck, MacPherson whisked Hank off to Kent Veterinary Clinic. MacPherson said Dr. Laura Madsen stayed late with Hank, making sure he stayed hydrated. However, Hank鈥檚 condition deteriorated overnight.

鈥淗e started vomiting, he was very, very thirsty,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淲e brought him back in the morning, and he was very sick and extremely dehydrated.鈥�

Though Hank was dealing with a severe gastrointestinal infection, he seemed determined to keep going. Dr. Carli Ricka administered medication and gave Hank fluids via IV, a task MacPherson took over later that night when she took him home.

At that point, there was about a 20 to 25 per cent chance that Hank wouldn鈥檛 survive. Tests revealed his bowels were full of gas and he was not passing stool. There were fears Hank may have suffered from gastric torsion, a life-threatening and often fatal disorder in which a dog鈥檚 stomach fills with gas and it becomes twisted inside them.

All while Hank was fighting for his life, the community ramped up its collective generosity to donate money to help cover his veterinary bills along with a raincoat, bowls, dishes, towels, food and rides to the vet.

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鈥淧eople really came together. It was so encouraging,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 so incredibly amazing is it all came together. (The community) completely covered his vet bills, neutering and vaccines for the new owners. Hank kind of became Agassiz鈥檚 dog; he鈥檚 famous in Harrison Hot Springs, too!鈥�

After a few gruelling, long days, Hank was showing signs of recovery. A few days into recovery and he started eating a bit of solid food, much to MacPherson鈥檚 joy. The gas in his intestines started to go down and life returned to his eyes.

鈥淚t was pretty miraculous; he was on death鈥檚 door and very, very sick,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥淔or the first two or three days, he just stared into space. He could barely hold his head up, and he wouldn鈥檛 walk. We had to lift him up and carry him out.鈥�

Soon, the dog鈥檚 personality started to show through. A few of Hank鈥檚 quirks rose to the surface as he rested. For a dog who was clearly emaciated due to his condition, Hank proved to be a bit picky with food. It had to be turkey. Not veggies covered in turkey grease. Not turkey that had touched fish or veggies. Definitely not turkey with medication or vitamins in it. His keen sense of smell due to his hound heritage ensured he would get his turkey and accept no substitutes or alterations.

After a series of 鈥渉uge victories鈥� 鈥� with him walking on his own and passing stool 鈥� Hank was at long last discharged. There was no torsion detected in his bowels, and he began gaining weight and strength as he continued to fight the GI infection.

鈥淚t was pretty remarkable and pretty quick,鈥� MacPherson said of his recovery. 鈥淣ow he鈥檚 got lots of energy.鈥�

Hank now lives with Harry Maslin, a heavy mechanic who lives out in Harrison Hot Springs. Hank is a regular at Maslin鈥檚 Abbotsford workplace, traveling with his adoptive dad to work three times a week.

鈥淗e just seemed, honestly, like he wanted to love but was scared to love (at first),鈥� Maslin said of meeting Hank for the first time. 鈥淚f only a dog could talk, you know? He could tell us what he鈥檚 been through.鈥�

Maslin said it took Hank a little bit to warm up to the kids, but it was clear he had a very gentle nature.

Hank has since developed an unlikely friendship with the family cat and loves to be wherever his humans are. His favourite pastimes now include running and chasing balls, but the concept of fetch is something he鈥檚 still working on.

Hank is quick to make friends with other people and always has a smile on his face.

鈥淗e鈥檚 doing excellent,鈥� Maslin said. 鈥淗e loves animals, everyone and anyone. He definitely loves to run and be outside.鈥�

Hank enjoys walks in Harrison Hot Springs and has earned notoriety throughout the community.

鈥淗e鈥檚 famous,鈥� Maslin said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 walk him without someone recognizing him.鈥�

In MacPherson鈥檚 mind, quick action and a caring community saved Hank鈥檚 life.

鈥淚t further solidified for me that if you act in an emergent situation, things will come through,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 did not know what I was going to do or how to cover his vet bills. I learned that people really do care and have the ability to give however they can give.鈥�

MacPherson also wanted to encourage the public to not ignore stray animals.

鈥淭hese precious souls, they matter,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥淚f we have it in our capacity to help in any way, it鈥檚 very rewarding. I鈥檇 do it all again, in a heartbeat.鈥�

adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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