"Bringing It All
Together"

Hank was quite sick and was in foster care for a number of months with one of our very experienced fosters. He had many medical issues and his loving foster 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.

Hank's foster family adored Hank and took him everywhere with them. Below are some pictures of his first trip to the beach. 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.

Hanks parents took some beautiful pictures of him one day while he was out playing at the lake. Shortly after, Hank’s Dad decided to send one of those pictures to the Circuit City and Kodak “Find the next Firedog” Competition on behalf of NRGRR. Imagine his surprise when Circuit City announced that Hank was selected as one of the 20 finalists in the competition out of almost 7,000 submissions. This meant that each of the 20 humane societies received $1,000 donations and $1 for every vote cast for Hank. Not to mention, the winning dog would receive the $50,000 Grand prize for his organization. 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, including professors and alumnae, while several elementary schools adopted Hank as a school 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 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 from Wake Forest 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 also 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). The Circuit City press release is here: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080130/new109.html?.v=22 And here is the press release for NRGRR and North Carolina media http://carolinanewswire.com/news/News.cgi?database=01news%2Edb&command=viewone&id=715&op=t 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. A little sickly stray puppy was saved by a rescue group, nursed back to health, adopted by a loving couple and then went on to pay back his benefactors with a $60,000 thank you. Hank is on his way to becoming the star he was always destined to be! It’s quite a story isn’t it???