Who can resist this little guy? Whether you're a Milwaukee Brewers' fan or a dog lover at heart, Hank has managed to prance his way into your heart. Hank has become so popular, he has his own fan "meet and greet" events as well as a Hank bobble head in the works. His popularity has outstripped the famous racing sausages and even Bernie Brewer. A Brewers fan's idea of nirvana might be meeting Bob Uecker while holding the adorable Hank and chowing down on something delicious courtesy of Miller Park....or (for a true fan of the game) beating the Cardinals....cue the booing.
It may be upsetting to real baseball fans that there are many people who currently take interest in the Brewers because of an adorable adopted stray dog. However, as stated in David Rosenfelt's book Dogtripping, dogs can bring us together. A mutual love and interest in dogs or a dog breed can bring about an understanding between two people who previously had nothing in common. Whether you happen to be an insane dog person (like David and his wife, avid rescue people who have had as many as 42 dogs at one time) or someone who is quite fond of the family pooch, there is a perception of common ground between both parties.Would a normal person travel across country with 25 dogs in three RVs? Probably not, but the Rosenfelts did it. Would a normal person drive to Miller Park because it's Hank's bobble head day or their kids are begging to meet the cute dog on TV? Maybe, if it was convenient. Does the average dog lover go to a dog shelter with the intent of looking at one dog and bring home three or four? Unlikely, but it happened to the Rosenfelts many times. After meeting Hank or hearing his spring training story, or seeing him race the sausages would the average person consider getting a rescue dog as a pet? Perhaps. The Brewers marketing team would most likely say that whether you're coming for the dog or the game, they're happy to use the buzz to get people into the seats and watching the game. If you have a good time and leave the stadium a fan, mission accomplished.
It's a reality check to read about the hundreds of dogs who get turned in to shelters due to age or health problems. In his book, Rosenfelt describes several of the memorable dogs that have charmed him and his wife. His vignettes about the dogs and their circumstances which led to them becoming a part of the "Rosenfelt pack" are the heart and soul of his book. The frame of the book, the desire to move to Maine with a huge pack of dogs that can only be transported by RV, that is a study in dedication to a cause (or a description of a vacation from hades).
One of the best things about Dogtripping is that it does NOT have the same sad ending as Marley and Me. (Book spoiler alert-everyone miraculously makes it to Maine in one piece, even the humans.) For fans of Hank and the Brewers there is hope that the publicity buzz of one little dog combined with a winning record and a rejuvenated roster will continue to build into a successful playoff run at the end of the season. If not, there's always next year; and who knows what next year will bring? Maybe an adorable stray cat will show up at spring training, bringing in a whole new fan base-the cat people.
