Creative Social Media Helps Exonerate & Find Loving Home for Hank the Chocolate Lab

“Busting” a dog for animal assault on a stuffed animal, a shelter in Appleton, Wisconsin proceeded to assist Hank, a 4-year-old chocolate lab mix, to exonerate himself, and be reunited with his trusty companion. Arriving at Fox Valley Humane Association in June, Hank was accompanied by his plush friend Fuzzy Purple Hippo. According to an article by HuffPost, “the two were inseparable.”

Hank and his purple hippo are a bonded pair, so if you aren’t ready for a 4 year old Chocolate Lab to come home when you adopt your fuzzy Hippopotamus…well, sorry, we can’t approve your application. The hippo won’t let us get an age on her, but we don’t think she’s quite as old as Hank..They’ve been together a long time though. She IS spayed and current on vaccinations, but does seem a bit lethargic. Hank is most definitely not. They do say that opposites attract…. #fvha #foxvalleyhumaneassociation #adoptme #adoptdontshop #labsofinstagram #rescuedog #chocolatelab #shelterdog #fuzzypurplehippo

A post shared by Fox Valley Humane Association (@foxvalleyhumane) on Jul 7, 2017 at 9:30pm PDT

Seeing how Hank took to his stuffed animal, the staff at Fox Valley went as far as posting a picture of the two of them together on their Instagram page, hoping they would be adopted as a pair. Their posting read: “If you aren’t ready for a 4-year-old Chocolate Lab to come home when you adopt your fuzzy Hippopotamus…well, sorry, we can’t approve your application.” Friends to the end. Or so shelter staff thought…

UPDATE: Fuzzy Purple Hippo is resting comfortably (despite the cone of shame) back in her kennel with Hank this morning. She is groggy from pain medication and her demeanor seems a bit flat, but we are hopeful for a full recovery. Dr. Laura decided to leave her wounds open to allow for drainage and perform a full stuffing extraction to avoid future surgery (for Hank…shhhhh.) We will continue to keep you posted. #fvha #foxvalleyhumaneassociation #shelterlife #fuzzypurplehippo #adoptme

A post shared by Fox Valley Humane Association (@foxvalleyhumane) on Jul 12, 2017 at 8:06am PDT

Then, on July 11, something grisly happened in Hank’s enclosure. The staff noticed that Hank was suddenly left alone, with mere pieces of Fuzzy Purple Hippo left scattered on the floor. Quickly, the creative director at Fox Valley Humane Association sent Fuzzy Purple Hippo to the emergency unit at the shelter for what was hoped would be “lifesaving” surgery. Although its wounds ran deep, the medical staff were more than happy to help. The shelter’s communications director advised, “Surgeons at our hospital typically perform 40 surgeries a day. So it was a nice reprieve for them.”

UPDATE: Fuzzy Purple Hippo met with a therapist this morning to discuss whether or not she feels safe in her relationship with Hank. Although their love for one another is very apparent, we want to be sure that there are no underlying issues and that she is not suffering from any emotional scars from her injuries. HIPPO laws prohibit her therapist from disclosing what she said in their session. …wait…we meant HIPPA laws, sorry. **Domestic violence and PTSD are serious issues. If you or someone you know are are suffering, help is available! The National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE PTSD USA Helpline 877-717-PTSD #fuzzypurplehippo #fvha #foxvalleyhumaneassociation #shelterlife

A post shared by Fox Valley Humane Association (@foxvalleyhumane) on Jul 13, 2017 at 9:05am PDT

Thankfully, the prognosis for Fuzzy Purple Hippo was good, and survival was imminent. This didn’t stop the shelter from taking the opportunity to use their social media and creative genius to pitch for the pair again – this time, in the form of “investigation” photos, legal representation for Hank, counselling for Fuzzy Purple Hippo, and a full exoneration when all was said and done. Rebecca Klich, creative director at Fox Valley Humane Association, told HuffPost, “I have been told that the saga of Hank and his Fuzzy Purple Hippo has spread to Asia, India, Canada and all over the states. The exposure for our shelter has been incredible and has helped so many other animals in need find homes. We’ve even received donations from people who have been touched by the story, which has helped us save more lives!”

Photo: Facebook/Fox Valley Humane Association

Not only that, but Hank and Fuzzy Purple Hippo were adopted as a pair by a wonderful new family as a result. Creative thinking coupled with social media wins the day for Hank, as they often do for so many similar such circumstances in shelters across the U.S. and throughout Texas every day. And, it’s not just shelters that we can adopt from! Even the TSA has opportunities to give a loving home to a great pet, you might not even be aware of! If ever in doubt, remember the saying: adopt before you shop!