Hercules is our 2025 Calendar Cover Winner, who came from a terrible situation. Here is his story.
It’s not unusual for us to hear about dogs in need these days. Sometimes entire families of dogs need rescuing. That’s what happened last December when our Ohio volunteers learned about an abandoned farm with several Great Pyrenees. The conditions were shocking. Rescuers came in to remove the farm animals, but the dogs on the property also needed rescue. When our rescue team went in, we found dogs stashed everywhere, including one scared young male hiding under the floor, which had to be pried up to remove him.
Dogs Everywhere
Hercules was found locked in a horse trailer on the property. He was happy to be free of his prison. The 11 dogs from the farm were brought to Lucky Mutz Kennel in Springfield, OH to decompress, be assessed and get vetted. With all these dogs suffered, they came through with flying colors, proving to be well-adjusted, friendly dogs. As it was Christmas, they were given holiday names. Hercules was called Kris Kringle because he was such a charming, friendly boy. Weighing in at 85 lbs, he was underweight with skin and ear infections, mild erythema and dental issues.
The Road Home
Once Hercules was neutered and had his health issues sorted out, it was time to find him a foster home. Jennifer in Michigan, who had fostered seven dogs for us, had the perfect place for Hercules to go. Hercules moved there in late January and we began the search for his furever home.
As fate would have it, Tilly was also looking for her perfect match. She had lost her lab, Daisy, who wasn’t an easy dog. Tilly used clicker training to convert Daisy into a “fast” agility dog and a phenomenal dock diver. A few months after Daisy passed, Hercules came to Michigan. He was fostered near Tilly, so she filled out an application for him.
Deep in the Woods
When Tilly and Hercules met on March 3, it was love at first sight. Tilly harnessed Hercules up and the two of them started walking and exploring the nearby forest. Together, they strolled for five miles checking out trails, creeks, pastures, trees, ditches and wildlife. Hercules stopped, listened, observed and then calmly proceeded forward. From Day 1, Hercules became affectionately known as “Mr. Wonderful.” Together he and Tilly have covered 500 miles in forest strolls.
Loving His New Life
When Hercules needed to become acclimated to car rides, Tilly put him in the back of an old car with some stuffed Kongs. It didn’t take long until he was totally comfortable and the car could be started without scaring him.
Hercules is at his finest strolling around town—he consistently steals hearts by making everyone he meets feel incredibly special. He clearly has Tilly’s heart. She says he’s a big, white, fuzzy, story-book dog—a canine gentleman with a noble disposition. From his early days being locked in a trailer, Hercules has emerged as an affectionate social butterfly who enjoys his life with Tilly and his new-found role as GP ambassador.
